CopperCanyon
3
Day Itinerary •
Mexico
Three days on the El Chepe and in the Copper Canyon reveal the most extraordinary railway journey and canyon landscape in North America. The Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacifico climbs 2,400 metres from the Pacific coast through 87 tunnels and 37 bridges to the Sierra Tarahumara, a system of six canyons deeper than the Grand Canyon, home to the extraordinary Raramuri people who still run 200km barefoot through the barrancas. This route follows the El Chepe train from Los Mochis through the extraordinary canyon country to the Urique Canyon viewpoint above the deepest drop in North America, descends to the tropical canyon floor, reaches the extraordinary Divisadero panorama and finishes in Chihuahua with the Pancho Villa museum and the finest pre-Columbian ruins in northern Mexico at Paquime.
Best Time To Visit
October to May
Getting There
Fly into Los Mochis (LMM) or Chihuahua (CUU)
Getting Around
El Chepe Express train, local truck taxis, hired car
Budget Per Day
Approx 75 to 200 USD per person per day
Difficulity
Moderate, canyon descents and altitude
DAY 1
EL CHEPE TRAIN
MORNING
LOS MOCHIS AND THE EL CHEPE RAILWAY DEPARTURE, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY TRAIN IN MEXICO
The El Chepe Express, the Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacifico, is the most extraordinary railway journey in North America, climbing 2,400 metres from the Pacific coast through 87 tunnels and 37 bridges to the Sierra Tarahumara highlands. The departure from Los Mochis at dawn through the coastal plain and into the foothills of the Sierra Madre is extraordinary. First-class tickets approx 2,500 pesos. Book weeks ahead. Drive/Travel: 3 hours on train
MIDDAY
EL FUERTE, THE COLONIAL TOWN AT THE BASE OF THE BARRANCAS
El Fuerte is the finest colonial town on the El Chepe route, its extraordinary colonial mansions, the 17th-century fort and the extraordinary Museo de El Fuerte giving a remarkable introduction to the history of the Sinaloa sierra before the canyon ascent. The town is also known as the birthplace of Zorro according to local legend. The extraordinary El Fuerte River beneath the town is the finest birdwatching site on the route. Entry to museum approx 50 pesos. Drive/Travel: 4 hours on train
AFTERNOON
BAHUICHIVO AND THE DESCENT TO CEROCAHUI CANYON
The Bahuichivo station at 1,600 metres is the gateway to the extraordinary canyon of Urique, the deepest of the six Copper Canyon barrancas. The 45-minute truck descent to Cerocahui village passes through extraordinary pine and oak forest before emerging above the canyon floor. The extraordinary Mission of Cerocahui founded in 1680 by the Jesuits is the finest colonial church in the Sierra Tarahumara. Entry free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Tarahumara people, known in their own language as Raramuri meaning those who run, are the most extraordinary indigenous runners in the world, capable of running 200km in a single session through the canyon trails wearing only huarache sandals. The Raramuri ball race of rarajipari, in which teams kick a wooden ball through the canyon for days, is the most extraordinary sporting tradition in Mexico. The race is organised by the community and visitors can watch with arrangement through local guides.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Los Mochis market Extraordinary machaca beef and flour tortillas at the market near the station before the 6am departure. | Lunch: El Fuerte riverside restaurant Outstanding Sinaloa cuisine on the extraordinary river terrace. Fresh river fish and local tamales. | Dinner: Hotel Mision Cerocahui The finest hotel dinner in the Copper Canyon. Outstanding local beef and Tarahumara corn dishes.
DAY 2
URIQUE CANYON
MORNING
THE URIQUE CANYON VIEWPOINT, THE DEEPEST CANYON IN NORTH AMERICA
The Urique Canyon viewpoint above Cerocahui gives the most extraordinary vista in the Copper Canyon system, a 1,879-metre drop to the Urique river below, deeper than the Grand Canyon at its deepest point. The extraordinary morning light on the canyon walls changes colour from pink to amber to gold in the first hour after sunrise. The trail along the canyon rim through pine forest is extraordinary for birdwatching. Entry free. Drive/Travel: 1 hour truck descent
MIDDAY
URIQUE VILLAGE AT THE CANYON BOTTOM, THE TROPICAL FLOOR
The village of Urique at the bottom of the canyon floor sits in extraordinary tropical heat 1,900 metres below the pine forests of the rim, its mango trees, orange groves and subtropical vegetation in complete contrast to the cold sierra above. The Urique River running through the village is the finest swimming spot in the Copper Canyon. The extraordinary Tarahumara community at the canyon bottom maintains centuries-old farming terraces. Entry free. Drive/Travel: 2 hours truck back up
AFTERNOON
CREEL, THE GATEWAY TOWN AND THE TARAHUMARA HEARTLAND
Creel at 2,338 metres is the finest base town in the Copper Canyon, its extraordinary location in the heart of the Sierra Tarahumara giving access to the canyon system, the Rarámuri communities, the Valle de los Monjes rock formations and the Cascada de Basaseachi. The Museo de los Casas Grandes in Creel documents the extraordinary Paquime civilisation. The Tarahumara artisan market sells the finest pine needle baskets in Mexico. Entry to museum approx 30 pesos.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Cascada de Basaseachi in the Basaseachi National Park 100km from Creel is the highest single-drop waterfall in Mexico at 246 metres, its extraordinary plunge through a pine-forested canyon creating a permanent rainbow in the mist at the base. The park also contains the Cascada de Piedra Volada, the highest waterfall in Mexico at 453 metres, visible only from a viewpoint across the canyon. Entry approx 50 pesos.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel Mision breakfast Outstanding simple Mexican breakfast before the dawn canyon rim walk. The light at 6am is extraordinary. | Lunch: Urique village comedor Outstanding local food at the canyon floor. Fresh mango, fish from the river and extraordinary tortillas. | Dinner: Casa Margarita, Creel The most celebrated guesthouse in Creel. Outstanding home-cooked Mexican food. Book the canyon trek.
DAY 3
DIVISADERO AND CHIHUAHUA
MORNING
DIVISADERO, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY CANYON VIEWPOINT ON THE EL CHEPE ROUTE
Divisadero station is the most extraordinary stop on the El Chepe railway, its platform giving an immediate unobstructed view over three of the six Copper Canyon barrancas simultaneously. The extraordinary adventure park at Divisadero includes the longest zip line in the world at 2.5km crossing the canyon, a via ferrata canyon wall climb and an aerial tram. The viewpoint at dawn with cloud in the canyons below is one of the finest in Mexico. Entry to station free, activities from approx 800 pesos. Drive/Travel: 3 hours on train
MIDDAY
CHIHUAHUA CITY AND THE PANCHO VILLA MUSEUM
Chihuahua is the largest city in Mexico's largest state, its extraordinary Plaza de Armas, the finest baroque cathedral in northern Mexico and the Museo de la Revolucion in the house where Pancho Villa lived and was assassinated all essential. The extraordinary dungeon where Father Hidalgo was held before his execution in 1811 is beneath the Palacio Federal. Entry to Villa museum approx 60 pesos. Drive/Travel: 1 hour drive
AFTERNOON
PAQUIME AND THE GREATEST PRE-COLUMBIAN CITY IN NORTHERN MEXICO
The extraordinary ruins of Paquime near Casas Grandes are the finest pre-Columbian site in northern Mexico, a sophisticated city of extraordinary multi-storey adobe buildings, hyacinth macaw breeding pens and an extraordinary water system built by the Mogollon culture between 900 and 1450 AD. The UNESCO World Heritage site and its extraordinary museum are the finest in the Chihuahua desert. Entry approx 80 pesos.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Batopilas canyon, accessible by a 3-hour dirt road descent from Creel, is the most extraordinary hidden destination in the Copper Canyon system. The colonial silver mining town of Batopilas at the canyon bottom, accessible only by this single road, was one of the wealthiest towns in Mexico in the 19th century. The extraordinary Hacienda San Miguel ruins, the intact colonial streets and the Tarahumara community in the canyon are remarkable. Local tours from Creel approx 800 pesos.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Divisadero viewpoint stalls Extraordinary gorditas and atole from the Tarahumara vendors on the station platform. Buy before boarding. | Lunch: Restaurant in Chihuahua Outstanding northern Mexican cuisine. The extraordinary Chihuahua beef and chile con queso are legendary. | Dinner: La Casa de los Milagros, Chihuahua The finest restaurant in Chihuahua. Outstanding northern Mexican food in a beautiful colonial house.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Cerocahui, Night 1 Hotel Mision Cerocahui, the finest in the canyon country. Approx 80 to 150 USD including meals. Creel, Night 2 Casa Margarita or The Lodge at Creel. Approx 40 to 120 USD per night. Chihuahua, Night 3 Hotel San Felipe Real or Camino Real. Approx 60 to 150 USD per night.
Top Tips
1. Book El Chepe Express weeks ahead at chepe.mx. The train runs Wednesday and Saturday only from Los Mochis.
2. Sit on the right side of the train departing Los Mochis for the finest canyon views on the ascent.
3. The Urique Canyon viewpoint at dawn: the 6am light is extraordinary. Set an alarm and walk 15 minutes from the hotel.
4. Batopilas road: 4WD essential. The descent is safe but steep. Do not attempt after recent rain.
5. Divisadero zip line: book at the station platform. The 2.5km canyon crossing is extraordinary. Go first thing.
6. Chihuahua Pancho Villa museum: visit in the morning. The bullet-riddled car in which Villa was assassinated is extraordinary.
Total Budget
75 to 195 USD/day