Home Activities USA Santa Fe Historic Santa Fe Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour

Activity Santa Fe, USA

Historic Santa Fe Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour

4.4 (61 reviews) 1–2 hours Free cancellation Private tour

out of 5

61 reviews

4.4

Historic Santa Fe Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Historic Santa Fe Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Embark on a captivating journey through Santa Fe with this self-guided walking tour. Start at the historic San Miguel Chapel, the oldest church in the U.S., then wander to the enchanting Loretto Chapel, known for its miraculous spiral staircase. The past comes alive in the Santa Fe Plaza and at the soaring Cross of the Martyrs, offering unparalleled views of Santa Fe. As you wind through the city’s old Spanish streets, you’ll relive the dramatic events of the Pueblo Revolt which forever changed this unique capital.

After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point.

New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.

This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.

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At a glance

Duration: 1–2 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Audio guide: English
Operated by: History with Action

Ages: Adults (5–100 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Support is available via chat, email, or phone if you need help.
Included: Planning tools, route maps, scenic stops, and area previews included.
Included: Just bring your phone and headphones; the app guides your walk.
Included: Lifetime access: use the tour anytime and keep it for future trips.
Included: Works offline with GPS route guidance and automatic audio stories.
Included: Flexible tour: start, stop, and pause anytime during your trip.
Included: Private walking tour experience for your family or group.
Included: Access your tour in our separate audio tour app after booking.
Included: Hidden gems and local stories included along the route.

Not included

Not included: No live guide. Entrance fees, parking, food, and car rental are separate.

Itinerary

Stop 1

Passing by

This tour begins outside the New Mexico Capitol Art Collection building at 415 Don Gaspar Ave, Santa Fe. If you're not already there, you should head there now. To get started, stand so the big circular Art Collection building is on your left. Then start walking straight down Old Santa Fe Trail.

NOTE: The tour is over 1.2 miles long, with more than 19 audio stories, and takes about 1-2 hours to complete.

New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
Santa Fe Plaza

10 min

We’re standing in the middle of Santa Fe Plaza. This obelisk in front of us is the Soldiers’ Monument, erected in 1867 to honor the Union soldiers from New Mexico who fought in the Civil War. It’s actually been a pretty controversial monument for decades. To hear more about that, click on Learn More.
Loretto Chapel

Passing by

Pause here and look to our right. Here stands Loretto Chapel, built in 1878. Though it doesn’t have as much history as something like the San Miguel Chapel, it does have its own claim to fame all the same. That would be the so-called “miraculous stair.”
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi

Passing by

Pause here. To our right stands the mighty Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, built in 1869. It sits on the site of a much older church which missionaries built back in 1610. That one burned down in 1680, but it might have survived to the present day if not for a fateful decision in 1675.
Stop 5

10 min

Santa Fe has long been a pivotal destination along many trails through the American west. That includes the Old Spanish Trail which connects Santa Fe to the California coast and El Camino Real, which extends all the way up from Mexico City. And it’s these ancient trails
San Miguel Chapel

Passing by

Pause here and look to the right. See that simple adobe chapel with a cross on top? That’s San Miguel Chapel. And guess what? You’re looking at the oldest church in the United States!
Palace of the Governors

10 min

Pause here. That adobe building across from us is the Palace of the Governors, the administrative center of Santa Fe since 1610. From here, the Spanish ruled over New Mexico for decades. And it’s here where Po’pay sets his sights when he leads his Puebloan forces into the city.
Chocolate + Cashmere

10 min

Look up ahead a little, on the left side of the street. Do you see the white sign that says “chocolate + cashmere”? That marks a stylish little boutique selling exactly what it says in the name… but the address itself has a much more surprising history.
Stop 9

10 min

After Otermín’s failed attempt at reconquest, a decade passes in relative peace. That is, until Diego de Vargas enters the scene. In 1692, Vargas marches on Santa Fe with only a few hundred men and a handful of cannons. But he isn’t there to fight. He offers the Puebloans a deal: If they allow Spain to retake control of New Mexico, they will all be granted clemency and will not be punished for their revolt. After much debate, the Puebloan leaders agree.
Stop 10

Passing by

Continue walking along the path. Remember to pace yourself if you need to. We’re currently more than 7,000 feet above sea level. That means the oxygen up here is a lot thinner than you might be used to! So if you start feeling out of breath, it’s okay to take a break!
Cross of the Martyrs

Passing by

Up ahead stands the Cross of the Martyrs, the most iconic feature of this park. This cross honors the 21 Franciscan missionaries and 380 settlers who were killed during the Pueblo Revolt of 1680.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Start near the New Mexico State Capitol Plaza at 458 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, with the metal art sculpture on a brick base by the sidewalk. This is the suggested starting point. We’re not affiliated with nearby businesses. Audio plays automatically—check your email/text for details.

End point

This tour will end at "617 Paseo De Peralta, Santa Fe, NM 87501".

Using your ticket

IGNORE THE QR CODE ABOVE

The QR code CANNOT be presented for a ticket onsite.

The QR simply contains your tour access instructions. Please follow these instructions BEFORE you’re onsite because they require WiFi/signal.

1. Download my Action Tour Guide app:

actiontourguide.com/app

2. Sign in/ register with your email (this is will automatically generate a one-time verification sent to your email. That code is NOT your tour password).

3. Go to “My Tours” and select “Enter Password”. Find your password in the instructions email sent by “Action Tour Guide” to you by email and text.

4. Download your tour NOW. Do not wait until you are onsite.

BEFORE YOU START

This is a self-guided audio tour. No guide will meet you.

Entrance tickets, attraction tickets, parking, and transportation are not included.

Your tour has lifetime access with no expiry. Use it on any date—no need to change your booking date.

For walking tours, we recommend headphones.

See how it works: actiontourguide.com/tutorial

NEED HELP?

Setup: actiontourguide.com/redeem

FAQs: actiontourguide.com/faq

Call: 1-508-506-1844

Email: [email protected]

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

Good to know

Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.
Private tour: Follow the route on your phone without an in-person guide or crowded group.
At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.
Works offline: Once downloaded, the tour works using GPS without Wi-Fi or cellular service.
Multi-device access: Use the same password on one device for each traveler included in your booking.
More ways to save: Choose a single tour, a nearby bundle, or access to 200+ tours.
Download in advance: Download the Tour Guide app by Action and tour while connected to Wi-Fi or a strong cellular signal.
Follow the route: Begin at the suggested starting point or join anywhere along the route shown in the app.
Lifetime access: Preview the tour before your trip and revisit the stories, photos, and details afterward.
Supported devices: iPhone with iOS 15+, Android with version 9+, or a GPS-enabled iPad/tablet with cellular capability.
Savings tips: Walking tours: couples can share a tour by using separate earbuds. We recommend using headphones or earbuds for clearer audio and to avoid disturbing nearby guests.