Santuario de Chimayo — Attraction in Four Corners States

Chimayó, New Mexico, is one of those rare places where history, faith, and natural beauty seem to breathe together. Nestled in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, just north of Santa Fe, the village is small and quiet, but deeply alive with meaning for those who come seeking peace, healing, or simply a connection to something beyond themselves.

At the heart of Chimayó is El Santuario de Chimayó, a humble but beautiful adobe church built in the early 1800s. It’s not flashy or grand, but the atmosphere inside is something you feel more than see. The soft earth tones, flickering candles, and the worn wooden pews give it a sense of deep time, of countless prayers offered in hope or in gratitude.

The story goes that a local man, Don Bernardo Abeyta, witnessed a mysterious light in the hills and uncovered a crucifix buried in the earth. That crucifix, which is now housed at the altar, refused to be moved. Every time it was taken to another church, it somehow made its way back. Eventually, a chapel was built right on the spot where it was found. That original chapel grew into the sanctuary that stands today.

What makes Chimayó so special to many is the small room at the back of the church that holds a pit of fine, reddish-brown soil. People call it the holy dirt and believe it has healing properties. Pilgrims scoop it up with their hands, rub it on aching joints, or take small amounts home with them. The Catholic Church doesn’t officially claim the dirt is miraculous, but the stories are everywhere. Photographs, canes, braces, and handwritten prayers line the walls, left behind by those who say they found healing here.

Every year, especially during Holy Week, tens of thousands of people make a pilgrimage to the Santuario. Some walk for miles along quiet desert roads to reach it. Others arrive in silence, carrying crosses or praying softly. There’s something profoundly moving about the way this place draws people together in a shared expression of devotion and longing.

But Chimayó isn’t just about the sanctuary. The village is also known for its weavers—families who have been making beautiful textiles for generations. You can visit small studios and see the looms at work, or pick up a handmade rug with traditional Chimayó patterns. And then there’s the famous Chimayó chile, a prized variety that locals have cultivated for centuries. It’s earthy, rich, and often used in the red chile sauces you’ll find in nearby restaurants.

Not far from the sanctuary is the Chapel of Santo Niño, dedicated to the Holy Child of Atocha. Inside, people leave tiny baby shoes as offerings, a tradition that started with WWII veterans who survived the Bataan Death March and believed the Holy Child protected them. It’s a tender place, full of emotion and quiet strength.

The landscape surrounding Chimayó is just as much a part of the experience as anything built by human hands. Rolling hills, dusty roads, juniper trees, and the scent of piñon in the air—it’s the kind of scenery that invites reflection and slows your thoughts. The light here changes constantly, casting long shadows in the afternoon and warming the earth with a golden glow before dusk.

Visiting Chimayó feels less like tourism and more like stepping into a moment of stillness. Whether or not you come with spiritual intentions, it’s almost impossible not to be touched by the layers of faith, memory, and tradition that have settled here like dust on adobe walls.

If you ever find yourself near Santa Fe, it’s worth taking the scenic High Road to Taos and making a quiet stop in Chimayó. Walk the grounds, sit beneath the cottonwoods, scoop a little dirt between your fingers, and feel what countless others have felt for centuries. There’s something quietly sacred here—and it tends to...

I have to say to everyone going to NM-333, I greatly urge you to stop here. It’s a place I needed to find. I lost my forty year old daughter two and a half years ago. My spirit was seeking to find her, my beautiful daughter who was gone to soon and under suspicion, as she had a very nice future that she was looking forward to. I give Chimayo credit for being the spiritual oasis I needed to find. The walkway is lined with so many crucifixes that were all along the fence. Large ones people carried a long way. Necklaces and notes. I even saw a pregnancy test on the fence. Probably for the loss of somebody else child. I felt reverent, peaceful, hopeful, and glad to have found such a special place to pray. I found what looked like an outdoor fireplace up the slop and it was lit to match the sunset. It was a perfect place to light a candle and pray. I then scattered some of her ashes at this magical healing place. The chapel here has a pit in which the healing sand that comes up on its own and although people can take some healing sand home to use whenever you’re ready to do so and Even though we all take a container of sand it continues replenishing itself. As if there is a never ending supply coming up from the earth’s wealth and deity. It’s spirituality rich and in my heart is only explained as a gift from God. I’m lighter in my grief now. I will never not miss my daughter and her love for me is as endless as the sand. Every building is in there for a reason. I’m going to return in the summer time and revisit this amazing place. It’s alive, it’s magical, it’s a spiritual miracle, and it is a very special place to see. I believe that if you go, you’ll never forget this experience. I know I never will.

This place is between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. America’s Highway route 66. And if you’re as lucky as I was that day, you’ll be able yo hear the song on the road. I think it’s on route 40 where you’ll find the musical highway. Roll down your windows and drive close or on the white line to hear it. Your speed should not exceed 45 mph in order to hear it. We went over it several times before I heard it. My friend drove several more times hoping to hear what I heard. She was Not as lucky that day, and We had a wonderful outing. I even checked Off one of the places on my bucket list. The Hall off Governor...

This is a Beautiful Place Steeped In Tradition, Far Away From The Beaten Path, To Some It Is A Holy Land Filled With Magic, a Pilgrimage Made From Miles Away Millions Come To Rub The Dirt On Themselves and Take Some Home, As Well As The Holy Water Many Have And Continue To Bring Photos and Momentoz Of Loved Ones Both In Need and That Have Passed The Place Has Changed So Much In The Last 30 Years But The Church Remains Basically The Same Unfortunatly You Can No Longer Take Photos Of The Inside Of The Church and The Photos Are No Longer Within The Contexts Of The Sacred And Holy Grounds Of The Church But Are Still Beautifully Displayed On The Campus Grounds For All To Pray For and Remember Unfortunatly Tbe Photo Area Was Clised Off And Licked When We Arrived And The Gift Shop and Eatery Clised Earlier Than Posted So Weren't Able To Purchase Blessed Items, Or Holy Water Recepticals For Loved Ones In Need Or Food Or Drink But Is Still A Beautiful Experience Will Just Need To Make The Cross Country Trek Again Sooner Than Later And When We Aked For A Blessing And Prayer From The Priest You Could Tell Had Been a Long Tiresome Day For Him But He Obliged We Will Return!...