Much of the territory of this region is controlled by one of the several American Indian tribes with ancestral homes in the region. (Incidentally, a poll of these tribes a few years ago indicated some preference for the descriptor "American Indian" compared to the neologism "Native American," although either is acceptable usage.) Some, but not all, of the pueblos and reservations are open to the public for visits; those listed below in bold face are relatively tourist-friendly. They are listed in geographical order (west to east and north to south). Española is a good jumping-off place for visits to most of the pueblos. For more detailed information on each of the pueblos, see New Mexico Pueblos.
Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation on the northwest side of the region, near Dulce on the Continental Divide and extending far to the south; some tourist amenities near Dulce
Taos Pueblo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and probably the most famous of the pueblos. Near Taos and described further in the article for the town.
Picuris Pueblo south of Taos
Zia Pueblo near Jemez Springs; generally not open to the public
Jemez Pueblo near Jemez Springs
Santa Clara Pueblo between Los Alamos and Española; excellent for American Indian arts and crafts
Ohkay Owingeh (Formerly San Juan) Pueblo north of Española; casino
San Ildefonso Pueblo south of Española, another excellent folk art center
Pojoaque Indian Reservation and Pueblo near the town of Pojoaque; gaudy casino that overshadows an otherwise minor pueblo
Nambe Pueblo southeast of Española
Tesuque Pueblo north of Santa Fe; casino
Pueblo territory continues into the central part of the state, with Laguna, Santa Ana, Sandia, San Felipe, Acoma and Isleta Indian Reservations.
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about North Central New Mexico
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in North Central New Mexico - updated May 2024
SAVE up to 75% on Last Minute deals! Search for discount North Central New Mexico hotels, motels, apartments, hostels, guest accommodations and vacation resorts. Book now and pay at the hotel. Instant email confirmation!
North Central New Mexico Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
