El Santuario de Chimayo
An adobe chapel of 1816 in northern New Mexico with a pit of earth held to heal, drawing a large Holy Week pilgrimage.
Updated 1 September 2026
The chapel was built between 1813 and 1816 in adobe with a twin-belled facade, and what brings people is a small room off the sanctuary with a pit of loose earth in the floor - el pocito - which is held to heal. The earth is taken away by visitors and replenished by the shrine, which is open about it. The walls of the adjoining room are hung with crutches, photographs and letters left by people who came. During Holy Week tens of thousands walk here, some for many kilometres along the highway shoulder from Santa Fe and beyond, which is one of the largest Catholic pilgrimages in the country. The site is otherwise quiet, in a village known for weaving and chile.
What to look for
- An adobe chapel of 1813-1816 - with a twin-belled facade.
- El pocito - the pit of earth held to heal.
- Crutches and letters left behind - filling the adjoining room.
- The Holy Week pilgrimage - tens of thousands walking in.
When to go
April to October; Holy Week is the pilgrimage but also the crowd. Two hours.
Things to know
It is small and the visit is short outside pilgrimage. Holy Week brings road closures and heavy traffic. This is a place of active devotion - photography inside is restricted. The healing claim is a matter of faith and the site presents it as such.
Nearby
The High Road villages run north; Santa Fe is south-west.
What to pack for El Santuario de Chimayo
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- Modest clothing - Shoulders and knees covered - the single most common requirement. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A scarf or shawl - To cover the head or shoulders on entry; women especially at mosques. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
