Place guide

Puye Cliff Dwellings

Ancient cliff dwellings of the ancestors of the Santa Clara Pueblo, now a tourable archaeological site.

📍GPS: 35.972449, -106.229659

Scenic view of Puye Cliff Dwellings

Puye Cliff Dwellings is an ancestral site of Santa Clara Pueblo, located west of Española on the Pajarito Plateau. The site includes cliffside dwellings, mesa-top ruins, and wide views across northern New Mexico. Visits are guided tours, with options ranging from easier ground-level viewing to guided walks along the cliffs and mesa. It is possible to buy tickets and tour same day but booking in advance is recommended. The experience overall is similar to visiting Bandelier National Monument, but with the added benefit of learning about the history and culture of the puebloans from a member of the Santa Clara Pueblo community.

Nearby places

Los Alamos Arch

About 7 miles away

A natural sandstone arch overlooking Los Alamos, offering stunning views of the valley below.

Los Alamos

About 7 miles away

A city built in secrecy and the birthplace of the world's first atomic bomb.