They call it the Land of Enchantment, and that’s not an overstatement – the landscapes of New Mexico are nature at her best. From the roaring waters of the Rio Grande to the volcanoes, caverns and mountain peaks of the Sangre de Cristo mountain ranges, a hotel in New Mexico will give you a breath-taking range of natural features to enjoy. Hidden among the canyons, white desert dunes and towering mesa rocks of the Great Plains are some fascinating glimpses of history, from the Aztecs to the conquistadors to the Wild West and the Mexican-American wars. A feast for the eyes and soul.
Top New Mexico Hotel Locations
Albuquerque — The city with 310 days of sunshine a year became famous as the home of Walter White in the TV show Breaking Bad, but Albuquerque on the Rio Grande is a great based place to explore the Sandia mountains from. From your hotel you can hike in a lava field, discover snake secrets at the American International Rattlesnake Museum or find out about Native American culture.
Santa Fe — The second oldest city in North America is a blend of history and the avant garde. Santa Fe was founded in 1610 and the red, square adobe buildings give it a unique character. It’s also packed with museums, art galleries, pop-up theatres and a festival virtually every weekend of the year. With trails and ski slopes in the Sangre de Cristo mountains nearby, there’s never a shortage of things to do when you book a hotel in Santa Fe.
Taos — The small yet beautiful town of Taos has drawn philosophers, novelists and filmmakers here for decades. The extraordinary backdrop of snow-capped mountains and desert scrub means you’ll get visual treat with a hotel here – but there’s an enormous amount of history to discover here too, with more than 20 significant historical sites to discover.
Roswell — You don’t need to be a conspiracy theory buff to enjoy a stay in a Roswell hotel, although you can visit the International UFO museum here. There’s also historical sites to see, swimming in the Bottomless Lakes, birdwatching, and art to be found in Roswell.
How to Make the Most of Your Hotel in New Mexico
Fans of the hit TV series Breaking Bad will want to visit Albuquerque to see some of the filming locations – take a guided tour by car or bicycle to see places like Walt’s car wash and Los Pollos Hermanos. But once you’ve had your fix of Walter White, head to Carlsbad Caverns to see the most spectacular cave system in the world, then to Chaco Culture National Historical Park for an insight into Pueblo culture, or the Aztec Ruins National Monument. Make sure you drive through the state to see the landscape change from desert to canyon to forest to mountains.
Hiking and trekking are enormously rewarding in New Mexico. Trails in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Jemez volcanic mountains are superb in Summer and Autumn. Follow the Santa Fe Historical Trail or the La Luz Trail and visit the White Sands National Monument for gorgeous white dunes. Skiing can be excellent in a good snow year, and after you’ve finished with the pistes, try some spicy Mexican food. The landscape is great for ballooning and each October sees a balloon fiesta but there are opportunities at other times of year as well. Drop in on the arts scene in Taos and Santa Fe, and you can also visit some of the Native American communities in the state.