El Rancho De Las Golondrinas

Activity Overview

El Rancho De Las Golondrinas (or "The Ranch of the Swallows" to English speakers!) is a living museum which aims to re-create for visitors the realities of life in the area during the 18th and 19th centuries. Located just south of Santa Fe some of the buildings at the Ranch are original constructions and date back to the early 1700s. Others have been constructed to faithfully represent buildings from that time in New Mexico. Docent volunteers don period dress and imitate workers, soldiers and peasants as would have once been seen here. Come here for a living, breathing and entertaining history lesson.

Things to Do

• You can book a special Horno Baking Class which takes place on Thursdays and Saturdays. Here you will learn how to bake in special outdoor ovens that had been used by the Spanish since the 1500s. Classes are limited to six people and usually last three hours so you should get a properly in-depth lesson.
• While you are here make sure to head to the Country Store which re-creates bartering, trading, buying and selling as it would have been done in a store during the 1880s.

El Rancho De Las Golondrinas Insider Tips

• The Ranch is a large facility which requires a good bit of walking and standing out in the sun to see everything. Be sure to wear a hat, sunscreen and some comfortable shoes too.
• To help guide you around the complex be sure to print out a map. They also provide a pdf of a self-guided tour which you can download off their website.
• The only pets allowed in the facility are guide dogs.