Taos, New Mexico is a cool little mountain town about 2 hours North of Santa Fe. It’s an art and ski lover’s haven. The uniquely New Mexican Adobe architecture mixed with the quirky Taos earth ships makes Taos stand out among the rest of New Mexico. It’s been known to be a place where artists and celebrities go to seek refuge from the hustle and bustle and live a much more relaxing life.
Although, at first glance, it may seem there’s not much to do in this small town, you simply need to know where to look for everything Taos has to offer. I’ve been visiting Taos since I was a kid and I make an annual ski trip every spring. So, over the years, I’ve compiled the unique must-sees & do’s of Taos.
First and Foremost, Getting To Taos:
By Air:
This obviously depends on where you’re coming from, but there are a few small airlines, Taos Air and Surf Air that run flights from quite a few locations directly into Taos. Although this is much more convenient, you are paying for the convenience; therefore, it’s the pricier option.
By Semi-Private Jet!
The newest option, which I most definitely suggest, is JetSuiteX. My flight flew from Burbank, CA directly into the Taos regional airport. It’s only an hour and a half flight and it’s AMAZING!!! The best part is, you get to bring your animal for free! You’re allowed a free small animal on your flight and you don’t even need to show the vet records etc.
If you buy this flight in advance you can get an INCREDIBLE deal! I only paid $400 roundtrip! Not only do you get your free small animal, but you also get, 2 free checked bags, a carry-on, complimentary alcoholic beverages throughout the entire flight, free snacks, and free Starlink wifi that works super well! They also provide a shuttle directly to the Taos Ski Valley, so you can fly in and ski on the same day! Another perk is, you only have to arrive at the airport 20 minutes prior to departure. It’s seriously SO easy!
The other option, if JetSuiteX isn’t flying during the season you’re visiting, is flying into Albuquerque, or Santa Fe New Mexico, and taking the shuttle to Taos.
There are a few shuttle options.
Groom Transportation Shuttle (Best Deal)
Taos Rides $100/way: 575-613-3256
Mountain View Shuttles $180 RT: 575-770-8759
Another option is renting a car and driving to Taos from either Albuquerque or Santa Fe Airports. This is obviously the best option if you don’t already have friends or family in Taos with a car you can borrow because you will need a car to get around Taos.
By Car:
If you live in one of the neighboring states, you can very easily drive to Taos too!
Where to Stay:
If you’re interested in the house that I stay in, message me here, or on my Instagram and let me know you’re interested. I may be able to make arrangements with the owners. It’s amazing and only 10 minutes from the ski mountain! It’s 3 separate apartments that have been adjoined. Two of them open up to make one big apartment and one is separate. It sleeps 8, potentially 10.
Otherwise, there are lots of cute Airbnbs if you want a house. There are also some cute, quintessential New Mexican hotels such as the La Fonda and the Taos Inn. Hotel Luna Mystica is a super quirky airstream glampsite that looks awesome! It’s connected to the Taos Mesa Brewery.
Where to Ski:
Taos Ski Valley is my favorite ski mountain I’ve skied thus far. With the high elevation, challenging runs, and beautiful weather, it has other mountains beat!
-If you purchase your tickets at least a day ahead of time you’ll save $45.
-Even better, If you have a friend or family member with a season pass, you can get a buddy pass and only pay $80 for a day pass.
-Or buy a season pass if you know you’ll be there often. It’s well worth it! Even if you only ski 5 days a year, it’s worth it.
There are some cool restaurants and bars on the mountain as well. They are mostly German-style Brauhauses with fire pits, good food, giant pretzels, sausages, and drinks! My favorite is The Bavarian! It’s an idyllic European alpine lodge. The giant beers are amazing and worth it!
Pro Tip– If you go to Bumps Market at the bottom of the mountain, you can get beer, wine, and snacks for much cheaper than at the restaurants.
Ski Mountain in the Summer:
The mountain and lifts at Taos Ski Valley are open in the summer as well for hiking and mountain biking etc. So you can ride the lift up with your bike and bike down.
Free & Paid Hot Springs:
Taos has some awesome natural hot springs by the John Dunn Bridge on the Rio Grande River. You can park at the top and hike down, or there’s a place to park right down by the river as well. (These hot springs are free!)
The very well-known Ojo Caliente Hot Springs and Spa is incredible as well.
-It’s $45 Monday–Thursday/$65 Friday–Sunday and on Holidays
(Locker & towel provided. Robe rental: $18.)
-The day pass includes access to changing rooms, showers, a dry sauna, a steam room, and communal soaking pools.
You’ll have the use of all of their different hot spring hot tubs and pools as well as the healing mud to lather your body in. (I highly recommend checking these out!) They also offer spa services and have a restaurant and bar there as well.
The Rio Grande River & John Dunn Bridge:
The Rio Grande River runs through Taos and is an incredible place to kayak, swim, and white water raft in the spring and summer and chill in the free hot springs by the river any time of year! You can also hop back and forth between hot springs and the river to cool off!
Restaurants & Bars:
Taos has some incredible food, but you definitely need to know where to look for it!
I love the restaurants in the small town of Arroyo Secco.
My favorites are:
ASEQ– ASEQ has great food and ambiance
Sabroso: Great food and drinks and the bar is super fun! On Wednesday nights they have live music. The guy that performs is awesome!
Bars/Winery/Happy Hours:
Medley: Has the best happy hour in Taos! They have incredible deals! The wine is only $5 and the mixed drinks are only $6. The happy hour is from 4-6.
Taos Inn also has a fun atmosphere and live music often. If you’re in town, definitely grab a drink there!
Shops:
There are many shops downtown, my favorite boutique is called Michelle’s. It has an array of 60s and 70s vintage looks mixed with newly designed clothes and shoes. It’s pricy but some things are worth it.
Side Trips from Taos:
There are countless side trips you can take from Taos to different places in New Mexico, such as, the very popular Santa Fe, but you can also hop over to Colorado which is right next door!
A cool Colorado adventure is Pagosa Springs. It’s about 3-hour drive from Taos and you can drive through the beautiful Carson National Forest on the way.
Pagosa Springs is the world’s deepest geothermal hot spring. It has 27 different pools ranging in temperatures from 84 degrees Fahrenheit to 114. The geothermal mineral waters are proven to dramatically help heal ailments and increase energy.
It’s $65 for a day pass that lasts from 9 am to 9:30 pm. Or if you stay at the mineral springs resort you can access the springs for 24 hours.
Or you can soak in one of the free hot springs that line the river in town! They have all the healing benefits but fewer people and no admission fee!
Thanks for Reading My Taos Travel Tips!
There you go! Everything you need to know! If I missed anything, let me know, and as always, have a blast if you go! If you liked this blog, you might also like my Lake Tahoe in the Winter ski guide!
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