The Santuario
The adobe chapel with its carved and painted altar screens, among the finest in New Mexico.
El Santuario de Chimayó
An adobe chapel in the hills north of Santa Fe whose "holy dirt" draws pilgrims from far and wide, many walking for days to arrive on Good Friday.
El Santuario de Chimayó is a small adobe chapel in a valley of the Sangre de Cristo foothills, built between 1813 and 1816. It is the most visited Catholic pilgrimage site in the United States, drawn by the pocito, a small pit of earth in a side room believed to heal.
Pilgrims take a little of the holy dirt home, and the walls of the side room are hung with crutches and notes of thanks. Each Holy Week, tens of thousands walk here, some for days, to arrive on Good Friday.
- Best Time
- Spring and fall; Holy Week for the pilgrimage
- Time Needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost Level
- $$$$
- Open
- Every day; check holychimayo.us for hours
- Getting There
- About 45 minutes north of Santa Fe, on the High Road to Taos.
What to See
2 of 2 are freeEl Pocito
The small room with the well of holy dirt. Bring a small container if you'd like to take some.
Know Before You Go
- It's a place of prayer. Photography isn't allowed inside the chapel.
- Entry is free; the gift shops sell crosses and local weavings.
Where to Stay
Visit from Santa Fe or Taos.
Where to Eat
Our picks are on the way.
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Last checked 2026-10-31. Part of the Southwest list.