Established April 5th, 1851, San Luis is Colorado’s oldest, continuously inhabited town. The small rural community is located in South Central Colorado at Situated at 7,979 feet.
It’s the most populated town and county seat of Costilla County. The statutory town was originally called San Luis de la Culebra. In 2010 it has a population of 629.
History
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.
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.
Accommodations
Activities near San Luis
Federal Lands:
- Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge (36mi)
- Great Sand Dunes National Park (45mi)
- Great Sand Dunes Wilderness
- Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge (58mi)
- Rio Grande National Forest
- Sangre de Cristo Wilderness
Hot Springs:
- Joyful Journey Hot Springs (88mi)
- Sand Dunes Pool (62mi)
- Splashland Hot Springs (41mi)
- Valley View Hot Springs (97mi)
Landmarks:
- Cano’s Castle (38mi)
- Shrine of Stations of Cross
- UFO Watchtower (62mi)
Railroads:
- Cumbres & Toltec Railroad (39mi)
- Rio Grande Scenic (40mi)
State Wildlife Areas:
- Russell Lakes State Wildlife Area (87mi)
- San Luis State Wildlife Area (48mi)
- Smith Reservoir State Wildlife Area (18mi)
Towns:
- Alamosa (40mi)
- Antonito (38mi)
- Blanca (20mi)
- Bountiful (35mi)
- Capulin (48mi)
- Chama (4mi)
- Conejos (38mi)
- Fort Garland (16mi)
- La Jara (37mi)
- La Veta (50mi)
- Manassa (29mi)
- Monte Vista (58mi)
- Romeo (31mi)
- Sanford (30mi)
Waterfalls:
- Zapata Falls (40mi)
Wildlife:
- Colorado Gators Reptile Park (56mi)
Visit the town’s official website.
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