San Luis, Colorado

Established April 5th, 1851, San Luis is Colorado’s oldest, continuously inhabited town. The small rural community is located in south-central Colorado at 7,979 feet of elevation.

It’s the most populated town and the county seat of Costilla County. The statutory town was originally called San Luis de la Culebra and in 2020 it had a population of 665. Much of the surrounding area is used for agriculture, and it is a great cultural spot to visit if you’re in Alamosa.

History

cow pasture and hill — Rocks on the side of a hill welcoming you to San Luis, CO. Photo by: Photo by: facebook.com/thetownofsanluis

The town was established by Hispanic settlers from the Taos Valley. They founded a few different villages on the Rio Culebra in the San Luis Valley. A church was built in the central village known as La Plaza Medio in 1851. In honor of its patron saint, it was renamed to San Luis de la Culebra.

San Luis has strong cultural ties to Spain, and it is evident in the traditional celebrations they host around the holidays. Even the architecture and layout of the town are similar to that of historic Hispanic towns. It is notable for being the longest inhabited town in all of Colorado and proudly shows off its heritage.

Main Attractions

Shrine of the Stations of the Cross – The San Luis Shrine sits above a mesa in the center of town. There are 15 Stations of the Cross that depict the final hours of Jesus Christ’s life on the dirt trail up to the San Luis Shrine.

San Luis Community Park – A great outside space for the community to gather. There are multiple covered picnic spaces, barbecue grills, and a colorful playground for the kids.

Recreation

Reservoir with mountain range in the background — Sanchez Reservoir State Wildlife Area, with New Mexico mountains in the distance. Photo by: Jeffrey Beall

Camping –

The Sanchez Stabilization Park allows primitive camping on the property and is located about 7 minutes west on CO-159.
Rito Seco Park is at the end of Juarez Road (heading toward the mountains) and has a small campground with no water or toilets. A creek runs through the grounds and it is perfect for tent camping.

Fishing – The Sanchez Reservoir State Wildlife Area is 8 miles south of town and offers warm water fishing. Visitors must have a fishing permit to enter the SWA.

Hiking – Rito Seco is slowly expanding its trail network and if you’re feeling adventurous there are already a few unnamed trails to wander.

Accommodations

Entrance to motel — Entrance to SanLuis Inn Motel. Photo by: Expedia

There is only one place to stay in town, The SanLuis Inn Motel. It’s a no-frills motel with clean rooms, free WiFi, and friendly service for any traveler.

Booking.com

Dining

Graffiti of "Sonia's" on a wall — Art on the wall of Sonia’s Convenience Store in San Luis, CO. Photo by: facebook.com/SanLuisCheeseburgersAndMore

Mrs. Rios Restaurant – Offering a mix of Thai and Mexican food that locals and visitors alike rave about. They also serve great margaritas if you’re looking for an evening wind-down.

Piccadilly Circus Pizza – The go-to spot in town for fresh pizza at an affordable price. They have several options for dine-in or take-out to enjoy after a day of exploring.

Sonia’s Convenience Store – Quaint, locally owned store and cafe. There is a delicious menu with classic dishes like cheeseburgers, tacos, and chili fries.

Special Events

Festival crowd — Santa Ana y Santiago Fiesta at dusk in San Luis, CO. Photo by: facebook.com/thetownofsanluis

Jul – San Luis 10k – A great way to get some movement in while enjoying the company of your neighbors. This is a 10k race throughout the town with several refreshment stations for runners.

Jul – Santa Ana y Santiago Fiesta – Hosted by local churches, this is the largest event in town each year and draws current and past residents of San Luis to celebrate the town’s heritage.

Oct – Trunk or Treat – A safe trick-or-treating space for the families of San Luis. Come out to the Town Hall parking lot on Halloween night with a decorated car to hand out candy.

Dec – Manito Christmas – A unique, multi-day traditional celebration that is commonly found in Hispanic villages throughout southern Colorado and northern New Mexico. Multiple bonfires are lit during the ceremony and there is special singing from the children of the town.