New Mexico Pueblos
Photo: Peter Fitzgerald, OpenStreetMap [1], CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
One of the primary attractions of New Mexico is its large and diverse collection of American Indian (or, Native American—both terms are used in the state) pueblos, reservations, artwork, and of course, people. The 19 pueblos are spread across north central, central, and northwest New Mexico. Each pueblo is unique, with their own distinct artistic styles, attractions, and customs.
Understand"Pueblo" - the Spanish word for "town" or "village" - is used in New Mexico to refer to the series of small Native American communities in the state, most of which were established along the Rio Grande.
RespectMany, but by no means all, of the pueblo communities welcome visitors, usually with some restrictions. Following are some tips if you're planning to see the sights of these communities:
Get inThere are a variety of ways to get in to New Mexico - see the Get in section on the New Mexico article for further details - but once you get in, you'll need a car to travel to and between the pueblos.
SeeThere are also several museums across the state that, while not operated by the pueblos, offer a lot of great pueblo-related artworks and information. Here are some of the best ones:
DoAll of the pueblos (excluding Zuni) hold feast days, an annual celebration in which the pueblo's patron saint is honored.
BuyJust about anywhere where there's plenty of tourists in New Mexico, there will be plenty of Native American art for sale.
Eat"New Mexican" cuisine (see the Eat section of the New Mexico page) is popular among pueblo peoples; after all, it is influenced by both the native and Hispanic cultures who have lived in the area for centuries.
DrinkGiven how remote many of the pueblos are, you won't be able to find a significant amount of nightlife without traveling to Albuquerque or Santa Fe.
SleepOhkay Owingeh, Pojoaque, Santa Ana, Sandia, Isleta, Laguna, and Acoma Pueblos have hotels on-site, and nearly all of them are attached to their large casinos.
ConnectSome of these pueblos are quite remote. While you should do okay maintaining a cell phone signal in these parts, don't be surprised if you do lose it.
Go nextThe pueblos are just one of the many things to experience in New Mexico. However, if you're hankering for more Indian culture, head out to the Navajo or Apache reservations in the state.
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "New Mexico Pueblos" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: Peter Fitzgerald, OpenStreetMap [1], CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons