New Mexico Hostels
Located in the north central region of New Mexico, Taos is a small traditional New Mexican village rich in history and culture – and even some urban legends. The Taos hostel is located near the Taos Pueblo, an adobe Native American village (and tribe) from which the town takes it name. Inhabited for more than 1,000 years, the Taos Pueblo is made entirely of adobe, a mixture of earth and water which is then sun-dried – electricity, running water, and indoor plumbing are all prohibited in the village. The village’s North-Side Pueblo is the largest multistoried Pueblo structure still in existence and continuously inhabited. The Taos tribe estimates that the main part of the present buildings were constructed between 1000 and 1450 A.D. Guided tours of the Taos Pueblo are given daily. Taos is also known for its art and resident artists – murals and outdoor sculptures located throughout the town depict the story of Taos, in addition to the town’s 80 art galleries and 6 art museums.
The Taos Ski Valley slopes are a short drive away from the hostel, as well as the Carson National Forest, an ideal site for whitewater rafting on the Rio Grande, llama trekking, horseback riding, mountain biking, fly fishing, hiking, or just plain sight-seeing. While in Taos, keep your eyes open for the phenomena known as the Taos Hum, a series of persistent low-frequency humming noises that many claim they can hear. These hums have been reported worldwide, including the Southwest U.S., UK, and Northern Europe. The source and the cause of the sounds are a mystery.
Northern New Mexico receives more than 300 sunny days per year; average summer temperatures are in the mid 80s, while winter temperatures average in the mid 40s during the day and in the teens at night. Taos’ annual rainfall is about 12 inches, with the rainy season spanning May through October, when bouts of rain roll in and then clear up for the remainder of the day. Taos experiences about 35 inches of snowfall per year, most falling in December through February.
