Visit Albuquerque

Albuquerque Neighborhood Highlight: the South Valley and Barelas neighborhoods ⭐

The South Valley area has been home to Spanish and Mexican families for centuries. This rich fertile valley has traditionally been a farming community and it is still crisscrossed by irrigation ditches linked to the Rio Grande. Some of the adobe homes in the area are 400 years old, and many of the area’s families have been living and farming here for generations. The South Valley’s bounty of rural charm makes it easy to forget you’re in New Mexico’s biggest city!

Just south of the Downtown area lies the historic Hispanic neighborhood of Barelas. Although Barelas is close to the heart of Downtown, it has retained its strong individual character. The Barelas neighborhood is home to the National Hispanic Cultural Center, the South Broadway Cultural Center and the ABQ BioPark zoo.