El Santuario de Chimayó

During a walking pilgrimage, each step makes us conscious of the direction of our lives, of where we are going. As we walk we see how our lives are like a voyage filled with joy, effort, beauty, suffering, surprises, goals, adventure, love and expectation. But our life is not only “like” a pilgrimage, it is in fact a pilgrimage from birth to death; in this world we are only “strangers and sojourners” (1 Pe. 2:11). “For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it.” (1 Tim 6:7) We are all pilgrims, and this life, this passage, is the time we are given to reach the eternal goal.

Pilgrimages have enjoyed a resurgence in recent years, perhaps as a counterbalance to modern-day culture.  They offer a mindful escape from the frenetic pace of modern life and promise a space for silence and reflection that a standard “vacation” does not typically have.  One of these pilgrimages is the “camino” to El Santuario de Chimayó.

One of the best parts of pilgrimage is living a simple life for a week. That being said, you will stay with some of the most hospitable people in all of New Mexico! Our hosts show us how good it is to be received as a pilgrim.

Because this is a pilgrimage, conditions may not exactly be 5 star, but there will always be a safe shelter to rest your head for the night. Typically, we stay on church floors and big parish halls so make sure to bring your own sleeping pad and bag!

We highly advise training as much as you can before this pilgrimage! Also advised is training in the same shoes you will wear while walking to Chimayo, this allows your feet to become accustomed to your shoes and not get blisters.

All Creatio Guides are trained Wilderness First Responders.

In general, we do not have an official age limit on our Creatio trips, rather an ability limit, especially depending on the trip.We have an expectation that all participants are able to maintain a walking pace that will allow them to finish the 15+ mile day trek in a timely manner.

We're walking anywhere from 7-10 hours a day and if someone falls too far behind, it can be a safety problem. We've had many people over the age of 50 join our trips and are very successful, but ability is up to the individual's discernment.