San Luis, County seat in Costilla County, Colorado, United States
San Luis is a town in southern Colorado located in the San Luis Valley at an elevation above 2,400 meters. The surrounding area features agricultural lands and mountain ranges that give the place a quiet, rural character.
The town was founded in 1851 by settlers from the Taos Valley and stands as Colorado's oldest continuously inhabited town. This early Hispanic heritage shaped the community and continues to define its character.
The town lives Hispanic traditions through annual celebrations like the Santa Ana y Santiago Fiesta and Manito Christmas with traditional bonfires. These gatherings shape community life and remain important to many residents today.
The town sits at high elevation, so visitors should take activity slowly and drink plenty of water when exploring. The nearest larger town with more services is some distance away, so it helps to plan ahead.
In the town center, a path with fifteen bronze statues ascends a mesa depicting the final hours of Jesus Christ. This remarkable art installation serves both as religious testimony and gathering place for visitors.
Location: Costilla County
Inception: April 9, 1851
Elevation above the sea: 2,432 m
Website: http://townofsanluisco.org
GPS coordinates: 37.20190,-105.42200
Latest update: December 20, 2025 14:33
Culebra Peak
22.7 km
Fort Garland
24.7 km
Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge
38.8 km
Pike's Stockade
35.9 kmSan Luis Hills
28.7 kmSmith Reservoir
23.3 km
Red Mountain
23.6 km
A. A. Salazar House
293 m
San Luis Bridge
1.2 kmMcIntire Ranch
36.2 km
Rito Seco Creek Culvert
421 mCerro del Yuta Wilderness
38 km
San Luis Southern Railway Trestle
23.4 km
Capilla de San Isidro
8.3 km
Monument Lake Park Building and Hatchery Complex
33.2 kmSangre De Cristo Heritage Center
361 mFort Garland Museum & Cultural Center
24.8 kmOld High School
379 mCostilla Reservoir
37.7 kmMountain Home Reservoir
21.6 kmHansen Bluff
36.4 kmForbes Park Lake
34.3 kmBox Canyon
38.7 km
Costilla Crossing Bridge
32.7 kmMonument Lake
33.3 kmSan Luis
566 mCapilla de Todos Los Santos
716 mGrotto of Our Lady of Guadalupe
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