01 Nov Santuario de Chimayo: Holy Dirt, Pilgrimages, and More

The Santuario de Chimayo is a popular pilgrimage site located in New Mexico. It was first constructed in 1813 after a crucifix was found half buried on the hillside and then mysteriously kept returning to the hillside after people removed it. Additionally, there was a small hole nearby with dirt/mud inside (now known as the “holy dirt”) that is said to have had miraculous healing properties. The people began to recognize the location as sacred and then built a small shrine, which has now developed into the popular Santuario. Visitors can see the crucifix as well as take some of the holy dirt for their own ailments or protection when visiting the Santuario de Chimayo.

While many people visit for the sole purpose of a pilgrimage, others visit to explore the Santuario grounds and show their appreciation to the saints. All visitors are welcome to explore the grounds, and no entrance fee is required though donations are appreciated. I visited while on a road trip from Pennsylvania to California with friends, and thus we visited to view the chapels and appreciate the culture and history inherent to the Santuario.

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Contents:

1) Location of Santuario de Chimayo – Holy Dirt and More

2) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

3) The Best Time to Visit

4) Quick Facts

5) Background 

6) What to See While Visiting

1) Location of Santuario de Chimayo – Holy Dirt and More

The Santuario de Chimayo is located in Chimayo, New Mexico. For reference, it is approximately 30 minutes north of Santa Fe and an hour and a half northeast of Albuquerque.

If you are driving from Santa Fe, you will need to hop on US-84 W/US 285 N. Then turn right onto NM-503/High Road to Taos/Nambe Road. Drive for about seven and a half miles (~12 kilometers) before then turning left onto High Road to Taos/Juan Medina Road. Lastly, turn right onto Santuario Drive, and the destination will be on the right.

Additionally, the Santuario is fairly close to Bandelier National Monument. Whether you are trying to fill only two hours or an entire day, you should heavily consider adding Bandelier to your itinerary. It has dwellings that the Ancestral Pueblo people built back in the 1100s that visitors are allowed to explore.

Parking for Santuario de Chimayo – Holy Dirt and More

There is a small parking lot available right beside Santuario de Chimayo. Parking spaces are generally quite easy to come upon. For example, we visited on a weekday in the late afternoon and easily found parking.

Nearby Lodging

There are not many lodging options available in the town of Chimayo. However, if you still want to stay close to the Santuario, you can stay in Española. However, the majority of accommodations in the area are found in the city of Santa Fe.

Nearby Airports

The closest airport is the Santa Fe Regional Airport, which is 40 minutes south. Additionally, the closest international airport is the Albuquerque International Sunport, which is an hour and a half southwest. There is no public transportation available to the Santuario. You will thus need to rent a car or utilize a ride share service such as Uber if you plan to fly into one of the airports.

Chapel doors at Santuario de Chimayo

2) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

Santuario de Chimayo is (generally) open daily from 9:00am to 5:00pm. However, some hours differ based on the time of year as well as for the different chapels. Check their site for more detailed information.

Additionally, they offer masses as well as confessions and blessings. The times for each of those events can also be found on the link included above.

Entrance Fee for Santuario de Chimayo – Holy Dirt and More

There is no entrance fee here. However, donations are welcome and gladly accepted.

Crosses lined up in the outdoor garden

3) The Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit depends on what you are visiting for. Santuario de Chimayo holds masses, and you can look on their site for information on the mass schedule. However, if you want to avoid crowds and visit the chapels on your own time, be sure to visit outside of the scheduled masses. Additionally, you will need to visit when the priest is available if you want to engage in a confession or blessing. You can find information on priest availability in the link above.

Furthermore, it is a popular pilgrimage site, and thus large groups visit now and then. However, you cannot generally know when they will stop here on their pilgrimage. Easter is a popular pilgrimage time, but others make the journey here at different times of the year.

More of the outdoor garden at Santuario de Chimayo

4) Quick Facts 

1. The Santuario is a fairly popular pilgrimage site within the United States.

2. The Santuario holds masses as well as confessions and blessings for visitors.

3. Over 300,000 people visit the Santuario per year, many of them for pilgrimages.

4. Arguably the most well-known aspect of the Santuario is the “holy dirt”, which people believe has miraculous healing properties.

Top of a chapel at Santuario de Chimayo

5) Background 

The Santuario de Chimayo has quite an interesting history behind its creation. Hint – it involves a crucifix that mysteriously changed locations overnight…multiple times. Keep reading below to find out all the details of Santuario’s creation. Additionally, it is also known as the “Lourdes of North America”.

For another interesting attraction in the area, be sure to check out La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs.

Discovery of the Crucifix 

The Santuario was built in the early 1800s, in 1813 to be exact. Before its construction, some men found a crucifix on the land where the Santuario now stands. The crucifix is said to have belonged to the Lord of Esquipulas. The interesting story, however, is concerning how the men found the crucifix. Some men were out one night when they saw a light in the distance. After following the light, they realized it originated from a hillside. They wandered over to the hillside and found the crucifix half buried in the ground.

The men who found the crucifix then alerted the priest. The priest went to the site, examined the crucifix, and decided to carry it back with him to the church. However, that is not the end of this story. The priest woke up the next morning to find the crucifix gone. Where did it go? Well, right back to where they found it on the hillside. The priest tried carrying it back with him two more times, but guess what? The same thing occurred. Each time the crucifix was gone the next morning, only to be found back on the hillside where it originated.

Three times of the crucifix mysteriously moving back to the hillside was all it took to convince the priest that maybe it belonged there. They no longer tried to move it.

Discovery of the Holy Dirt – Santuario de Chimayo

Around the same time they discovered the crucifix, they also discovered a small hole nearby. Legend says the dirt within the hole has miraculous healing properties. Some people from back then, including one of the first people who found the hole, asserted the dirt healed them of varying ailments. Many others have declared the same throughout the past 200 years and up until today.

Just a few short years after the discovery of the crucifix and holy dirt, they built a small shrine in the area, now known as the Santuario de Chimayo. They have since upgraded the Santuario multiple times due to its increasing popularity.

Pilgrimage Site

The Santuario de Chimayo is a popular pilgrimage site. The largest pilgrimage groups arrive on Good Friday and other days surrounding Easter. For example, some groups walk 90 miles (~145 kilometers) from Albuquerque to Santuario during the Easter holiday. You might see people walking barefoot or carrying crosses on their backs.

Approximately 300,000 people visit the Santuario per year, many of them visiting from a pilgrimage. Those on pilgrimage can visit for a variety of reasons, for example seeking answers, giving thanks, etc.

More of the crosses lined up in the outdoor garden

6) What to See While Visiting

The Santuario de Chimayo does not have a shortage of attractions for visitors. For example, there are four different chapels on the grounds, though the Christ of Esquipulas Chapel is arguably the most popular due to the fact it holds the crucifix and holy dirt. The other most popular chapel is the Holy Child of Atocha Chapel, for it is the destination site of pilgrimages for many people. Furthermore, there is an outdoor garden, welcome center, and two gift shops.

Christ of Esquipulas Chapel – Santuario de Chimayo Holy Dirt

The Christ of Esquipulas Chapel is the most well-known chapel on the grounds. It contains the original crucifix found all those years ago that mysteriously kept returning to the grounds when the priest removed it. Additionally, it contains a variety of objects that individuals have left to show their appreciation and/or to tell their stories.

The most famous aspect of this chapel and the Santuario de Chimayo overall is what is known as the “holy dirt” or “el pocito”. Before they built the shrine around the newly discovered crucifix in the early 1800s, they also discovered a small hole nearby. According to legend, this small hole contained dirt/mud known to produce miraculous healings. In today’s day and age, people from all over come to the Santuario de Chimayo to experience the holy dirt. While some are skeptical that the dirt can actually produce miracles, others fully believe in its miraculous properties and claim to have experienced them firsthand.

Visitors are able to take a small handful of the holy dirt to do with as they please when visiting the Santuario de Chimayo. Some rub it on themselves while others mix it into their food or drink. However, they recommend to rub the dirt on yourself rather than to ingest it. You are welcome to bring a small container in which to store the dirt.

Holy Child of Atocha Chapel

The Holy Child of Atocha Chapel is also known as the Santo Niño de Atocha Chapel. The chapel holds historical significance as a pilgrimage destination that goes back for generations, as it was built in 1857. U.S. soldiers and sailors would pray to the Santo Niño throughout the Bataan Death March. Then when they returned to the U.S., they went on a pilgrimage to Chimayo to give thanks and pray to the Santo Niño for their safe return.

Additional Chapels

There are two more chapels found on the grounds: (1) Holy Family Chapel (2) Native American Chapel. While these chapels do not have as much historical significance as the two mentioned previously, they are still beautiful chapels that you should make a point to see during your visit.

Outdoor Garden

Behind the Christ of Esquipulas Chapel is an outdoor garden. While walking through the garden you will see a variety of religious artwork. For example, there are large stone crosses constructed along the path.

Welcome Center

A visit to the welcome center is well worth your time whether you are visiting just to check out the Santuario or you are on a pilgrimage. It offers general information on the Santuario. This is even more beneficial if you did not do any research beforehand. Though if you have made it this far in the article, I would say you have already learned a bit about its history and general visiting information.

Gift Shops – Santuario de Chimayo – Holy Dirt and More

There are two gift shops on the property. The first is the Santuario gift shop. The second is the Santo Niño gift shop. If you are looking for a small souvenir to help remember your visit, stop by one or both of the gift shops.

Another chapel at Santuario de Chimayo

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