copper canyon mexico travel advisory

Update May 10, 2024

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Mexico Travel Advisory

Travel advisory august 22, 2023, mexico - see state summaries.

Reissued after periodic review with general security updates, and the removal of obsolete COVID-19 page links.

Country Summary: Violent crime – such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery – is widespread and common in Mexico. The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in many areas of Mexico, as travel by U.S. government employees to certain areas is prohibited or restricted. In many states, local emergency services are limited outside the state capital or major cities.

U.S. citizens are advised to adhere to restrictions on U.S. government employee travel. State-specific restrictions are included in the individual state advisories below. U.S. government employees may not travel between cities after dark, may not hail taxis on the street, and must rely on dispatched vehicles, including app-based services like Uber, and regulated taxi stands. U.S. government employees should avoid traveling alone, especially in remote areas. U.S. government employees may not drive from the U.S.-Mexico border to or from the interior parts of Mexico, except daytime travel within Baja California and between Nogales and Hermosillo on Mexican Federal Highway 15D, and between Nuevo Laredo and Monterrey on Highway 85D.

Read the  country information page  for additional information on travel to Mexico.

Do Not Travel To:

• Colima state  due to  crime  and  kidnapping .
• Guerrero state  due to  crime .
• Michoacan state  due to  crime  and  kidnapping .
• Sinaloa state due to  crime  and  kidnapping
• Tamaulipas state  due to  crime  and  kidnapping.
• Zacatecas  state due to  crime  and  kidnapping .

Reconsider Travel To:

• Baja California  state due to  crime  and  kidnapping .
• Chihuahua state  due to  crime  and  kidnapping .
• Durango state  due to  crime .
• Guanajuato state  due to  crime and kidnapping .
• Jalisco state  due to  crime  and  kidnapping .
• Morelos state  due to  crime .
• Sonora state  due to  crime  and  kidnapping .

Exercise Increased Caution When Traveling To:

• Aguascalientes  state due to  crime .
• Baja California Sur state  due to  crime .
• Chiapas state  due to  crime .
• Coahuila state  due to  crime .
• Hidalgo state  due to  crime .
• Mexico City  due to  crime .
• Mexico State  due to  crime .
• Nayarit state  due to  crime.
• Nuevo Leon  state due to  crime  and  kidnapping .
• Oaxaca state  due to  crime .
• Puebla state  due to  crime  and  kidnapping .
• Queretaro state  due to  crime .
• Quintana Roo state  due to  crime .
• San Luis Potosi state  due to  crime and kidnapping .
• Tabasco state  due to  crime .
• Tlaxcala state due to  crime .
• Veracruz state  due to  crime .

Exercise Normal Precautions When Traveling To:

• Campeche state
• Yucatan state

Visit our website for  Travel to High-Risk Areas .

If you decide to travel to Mexico:

• Keep traveling companions and family back home informed of your travel plans. If separating from your travel group, send a friend your GPS location. If taking a taxi alone, take a photo of the taxi number and/or license plate and text it to a friend.
• Use toll roads when possible and avoid driving alone or at night. In many states, police presence and emergency services are extremely limited outside the state capital or major cities.
• Exercise increased caution when visiting local bars, nightclubs, and casinos.
• Do not display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry.
• Be extra vigilant when visiting banks or ATMs.
• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter .
• Follow the U.S. Embassy on Facebook and Twitter .
• Review the  Country Security Report  for Mexico.
• Mariners planning travel to Mexico should check for U.S. maritime  advisories  and  alerts , which include instructions on reporting suspicious activities and attacks to Mexican naval authorities.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .
• Visit the CDC page for the latest travel health information related to your travel. 

Aguascalientes state – Exercise Increased Caution

Exercise increased caution due to crime.

Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state.

There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Aguascalientes state.

Baja California state – Reconsider Travel

Reconsider travel due to crime and kidnapping.

Transnational criminal organizations compete in the border area to establish narco-trafficking and human smuggling routes. Violent crime and gang activity are common. Travelers should remain on main highways and avoid remote locations. Of particular concern is the high number of homicides in the non-tourist areas of Tijuana. Most homicides appeared to be targeted; however, criminal organization assassinations and territorial disputes can result in bystanders being injured or killed. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.

U.S. government employees must adhere to the noted restrictions:

• Mexicali Valley:  U.S. government employees should avoid the Mexicali Valley due to the heightened possibility of violence between rival cartel factions.  The boundaries of the restricted area are: to the east, the Baja California/Arizona and Baja California/Sonora borders; to the south, from La Ventana (on Highway 5) due east to the Colorado River; to the west, Highway 5; and to the north, Boulevard Lazaro Cardenas/Highway 92/Highway 1 to Carretera Aeropuerto, from the intersection of Highway 1 and Carretera Aeropuerto due north to the Baja California/California border, and from that point eastward along the Baja California/California border.
• Travelers may use Highways 2 and 2D to transit between Mexicali, Los Algodones, and San Luis Rio Colorado during daylight hours. Travelers may also use Highways 1 and 8 to transit to and from the Mexicali Airport during daylight hours.  Travel on Highway 5 is permissible during daylight hours.

There are no other travel restrictions for U.S. government employees in Baja California state. These include high-traffic tourism areas of border and coastal communities, such as  Tijuana ,  Ensenada , and  Rosarito .

Baja California Sur state – Exercise Increased Caution

There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Baja California Sur state.

Campeche state – Exercise Normal Precautions

Exercise normal precautions.

There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Campeche state.

Chiapas state – Exercise Increased Caution

There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Chiapas state.

Chihuahua state – Reconsider Travel

Violent crime and gang activity are common. Most homicides are targeted assassinations against members of criminal organizations. Battles for territory between criminal groups have resulted in violent crime in areas frequented by U.S. citizens and U.S. government employees, including restaurants and malls during daylight hours. Bystanders have been injured or killed in shooting incidents. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.

U.S. government employee travel is limited to the following areas with the noted restrictions:

• Ciudad Juarez:  U.S. government employees may travel to the area of Ciudad Juarez bounded to the east by Bulevar Independencia; to the south by De los Montes Urales/Avenida Manuel J Clouthier/Carretera de Juárez; to the west by Via Juan Gabriel/Avenida de los Insurgentes/Calle Miguel Ahumada/Francisco Javier Mina/Melchor Ocampo; and to the north by the U.S.-Mexico border.  Direct travel to the Ciudad Juarez airport (officially called the Abraham González International Airport) and the factories located along Bulevar Independencia and Las Torres is permitted.  Travel to San Jerónimo is permitted only through the United States via the Santa Teresa U.S. Port of Entry; travel via Anapra is prohibited.

U.S. government employees may only travel from Ciudad Juarez to the city of Chihuahua during daylight hours via Federal Highway 45, with stops permitted only at the Guardia Nacional División Caminos station, the Umbral del Milenio overlook area, the border inspection station at KM 35, and the shops and restaurants on Federal Highway 45 in the city of Ahumada.

• U.S. government employees may travel between Ciudad Juarez and Ascension via Highway 2.
• Nuevo Casas Grandes Area (including Nuevo Casas Grandes, Casas Grandes, Mata Ortiz, Colonia Juárez, Colonia LeBaron, Paquimé and San Buenaventura):  U.S. government employees may travel to the Nuevo Casas Grandes area during daylight hours via Mexico Federal Highway 2, and subsequently Federal Highway 10, to Nuevo Casas Grandes.  Employees are permitted to stay overnight in the cities of Nuevo Casas Grandes and Casas Grandes only.
• City of Chihuahua:  U.S. government employees may travel at any time to the area of the city of Chihuahua bounded to the north by Avenida Transformación; to the east by Avenida Tecnológico/Manuel Gómez Morín/Highway 16/Blvd.José Fuentes Mares; to the west by the city boundary; and to the south by Periférico Francisco R. Almada.
• U.S. government employees may travel on Highways 45, 16, and 45D through the city of Chihuahua and to the Chihuahua airport (officially called the General Roberto Fierro Villalobos International Airport). 
• U.S. government employees may travel to Santa Eulalia to the east of the city of Chihuahua, as well as to Juan Aldama via Highway 16 to the northeast.
• U.S. government employees may travel south of the city of Chihuahua on Highway 45 to the southern boundary of Parral, including each town directly connected to Highway 45, including Lázaro Cárdenas, Pedro Meoqui, Santa Cruz de Rosales, Delicias, Camargo, Ciudad Jiménez, and Parral itself.
• U.S. government employees may only travel on official business from the city of Chihuahua on Highway 16 to Ciudad Cuauhtémoc bounded by Highway 21 to the north and east, Highway 5 to the west, and Bulevar Jorge Castillo Cabrera to the south. 
• Ojinaga:  U.S. government employees must travel to Ojinaga via U.S. Highway 67 and enter through the U.S. Port of Entry in Presidio, Texas.
• Palomas:  U.S. government employees may travel to Palomas via U.S. highways through the U.S. Port of Entry in Columbus, New Mexico, or via Highway 2 in Mexico.

U.S. government employees may not travel to other areas of Chihuahua, including  Copper Canyon .

Coahuila state – Exercise Increased Caution

Violent crime and gang activity occur in parts of Coahuila state. 

U.S. government employees must adhere to the following travel restrictions:

• Zaragoza, Morelos, Allende, Nava, Jimenez, Villa Union, Guerrero, and Hidalgo municipalities : U.S. government employees may not travel to these municipalities.
• Piedras Negras and Ciudad Acuña:  U.S. government employees must travel directly from the United States and observe a curfew from midnight to 6:00 a.m. in both cities.

There are no other restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Coahuila state.

Colima state – Do Not Travel

Do not travel due to crime and kidnapping.  

Violent crime and gang activity are widespread. Most homicides are targeted assassinations against members of criminal organizations. Shooting incidents between criminal groups have injured or killed bystanders. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.  

Travel for U.S. government employees is limited to the following areas with noted restrictions: 

• Manzanillo:   U.S. government employee travel is limited to the tourist and port areas of Manzanillo.  
• Employees traveling to Manzanillo from Guadalajara must use Federal Toll Road 54D during daylight hours.  

U.S. government employees may not travel to other areas of Colima state. 

Durango state – Reconsider Travel

Reconsider travel due to crime.

Violent crime and gang activity are common in parts of Durango state.

• West and south of Federal Highway 45:  U.S. government employees may not travel to this region of Durango state.

There are no other restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Durango state.

Guanajuato state – Reconsider Travel

Gang violence, often associated with the theft of petroleum and natural gas from the state oil company and other suppliers, occurs in Guanajuato, primarily in the south and central areas of the state.  Of particular concern is the high number of murders in the southern region of the state associated with cartel-related violence. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.

• Areas south of Federal Highway 45D:  U.S. government employees may not travel to the area south of and including Federal Highway 45D, Celaya, Salamanca, and Irapuato.

There are no other restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Guanajuato state, which includes tourist areas in:  San Miguel de Allende ,  Guanajuato City , and  surrounding areas.

Guerrero state – Do Not Travel

Do not travel due to crime.

Crime and violence are widespread. Armed groups operate independently of the government in many areas of Guerrero. Members of these groups frequently maintain roadblocks and may use violence towards travelers. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping in previous years.

Travel for U.S. government employees is limited to the following area with the noted restrictions:

• Taxco:  U.S. government employees must use Federal Highway 95D, which passes through Cuernavaca, Morelos, and stay within downtown tourist areas of Taxco. Employees may visit Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park during the day with a licensed tour operator.

U.S. government employees may not travel to other areas of the state of Guerrero, including to tourist areas in  Acapulco ,  Zihuatanejo , and  Ixtapa .

Hidalgo state – Exercise Increased Caution

There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Hidalgo state.

Jalisco state – Reconsider Travel

Violent crime and gang activity are common in parts of Jalisco state. In Guadalajara, territorial battles between criminal groups take place in tourist areas. Shooting incidents between criminal groups have injured or killed innocent bystanders. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.

• Jalisco-Michoacan border and Federal Highway 110:  U.S. government employees may not travel to the area between Federal Highway 110 and the Jalisco-Michoacan border, nor travel on Federal Highway 110 between Tuxpan, Jalisco, and the Michoacan border.
• Federal Highway 80:  U.S. government employees may not travel on Federal Highway 80 south of Cocula.

There are no other restrictions on travel for U.S government employees in Jalisco state which includes tourist areas in:  Guadalajara Metropolitan Area ,  Puerto Vallarta (including neighboring Riviera Nayarit) ,  Chapala , and  Ajijic .

Mexico City (Ciudad de Mexico) – Exercise Increased Caution

Both violent and non-violent crime occur throughout Mexico City. Use additional caution, particularly at night, outside of the frequented tourist areas where police and security patrol more routinely. Petty crime occurs frequently in both tourist and non-tourist areas.

There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Mexico City.

Mexico State (Estado de Mexico) – Exercise Increased Caution

Both violent and non-violent crime occur throughout Mexico State. Use additional caution in areas outside of the frequented tourist areas, although petty crime occurs frequently in tourist areas as well.

There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Mexico State.

Michoacan state – Do Not Travel

Do not travel due to crime and kidnapping.

Crime and violence are widespread in Michoacan state. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.

Travel for U.S. government employees is limited to the following areas with the noted restrictions:

• Federal Highway 15D:   U.S. government employees may travel on Federal Highway 15D to transit the state between Mexico City and Guadalajara.
• Morelia:  U.S. government employees may travel by air and by land using Federal Highways 43 or 48D from Federal Highway 15D.
• Lazaro Cardenas:  U.S. government employees must travel by air only and limit activities to the city center or port areas.

U.S. government employees may not travel to other areas of the state of Michoacan, including the portions of the  Monarch Butterfly Reserve  located in Michoacan.

Morelos state – Reconsider Travel

Violent crime and gang activity are common in parts of Morelos state.

There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Morelos state.

Nayarit state – Exercise Increased Caution

Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout Nayarit state.

There are no restrictions on travel for U.S government employees in Nayarit state.

Nuevo Leon state – Exercise Increased Caution

Exercise increased caution due to crime and kidnapping.

Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.

There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Nuevo Leon state.

Oaxaca state – Exercise Increased Caution

Criminal activity and violence occur throughout the state.

U.S. travelers are reminded that U.S. government employees must adhere to the following travel restrictions:

• Isthmus region:  U.S. government employees may not travel to the area of Oaxaca bounded by Federal Highway 185D to the west, Federal Highway 190 to the north, and the Oaxaca-Chiapas border to the east.  This includes the cities of Juchitan de Zaragoza, Salina Cruz, and San Blas Atempa.  
• Federal Highway 200 northwest of Pinotepa:  U.S. government employees may not use Federal Highway 200 between Pinotepa and the Oaxaca-Guerrero border.

There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees to other parts of Oaxaca state, which include tourist areas in:  Oaxaca City ,  Monte Alban ,  Puerto Escondido,  and  Huatulco .

Puebla state – Exercise Increased Caution

There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Puebla state.

Queretaro state – Exercise Increased Caution

There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Queretaro state.

Quintana Roo state – Exercise Increased Caution

Criminal activity and violence may occur in any location, at any time, including in popular tourist destinations.  Travelers should maintain a high level of situational awareness, avoid areas where illicit activities occur, and promptly depart from potentially dangerous situations. 

While not directed at tourists, shootings between rival gangs have injured innocent bystanders.  Additionally, U.S. citizens have been the victims of both non-violent and violent crimes in tourist and non-tourist areas.

There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Quintana Roo state. However, personnel are advised to exercise increased situational awareness after dark in downtown areas of Cancun, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen, and to remain in well-lit pedestrian streets and tourist zones.

San Luis Potosi state – Exercise Increased Caution

Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state.  U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.

There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in San Luis Potosi state.

Sinaloa state – Do Not Travel

Violent crime is widespread. Criminal organizations are based in and operating in Sinaloa. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.

• Mazatlan:  U.S. government employees may travel to Mazatlan by air or sea only, are limited to the Zona Dorada and historic town center, and must travel via direct routes between these destinations and the airport and sea terminal.
• Los Mochis and Topolobampo:  U.S. government employees may travel to Los Mochis and Topolobampo by air or sea only, are restricted to the city and the port, and must travel via direct routes between these destinations and the airport.

U.S. government employees may not travel to other areas of Sinaloa state.

Sonora state – Reconsider Travel

Sonora is a key location used by the international drug trade and human trafficking networks. Violent crime is widespread. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping. Travelers should maintain a heightened level of awareness of their surroundings in all their travels in Sonora.  Security incidents may occur in any area of Sonora.

• Travel between Hermosillo and Nogales:  U.S. government employees may travel between the U.S. Ports of Entry in Nogales and Hermosillo during daylight hours via Federal Highway 15 only. U.S. government employees may not use ANY taxi services, public buses, nor ride-share applications due to a lack of secure vetting and/or dispatching procedures. Travelers should exercise caution and avoid unnecessary stops as security incidents, including sporadic, armed carjackings, and shootings have been reported along this highway during daylight hours. Travelers should have a full tank of gas and inform friends or family members of their planned travel.
• Nogales:  U.S. government employees may not travel in the triangular area north of Avenida Tecnologico, west of Bulevar Luis Donaldo Colosio (Periferico), nor east of Federal Highway 15D (Corredor Fiscal). U.S. government employees also may not travel in the residential and business areas to east of the railroad tracks along Plutarco Elias Calle (HWY 15) and Calle Ruiz Cortino, including the business area around the Morley pedestrian gate port-of-entry. U.S. government employees may not use ANY taxi services, public buses, nor ride-share applications in Nogales due to a lack of secure vetting and/or dispatching procedures and the danger of kidnapping and other violent crimes.  
• Puerto Peñasco:  U.S. government employees may travel between Puerto Peñasco and the Lukeville-Sonoyta U.S. Port of Entry during daylight hours via Federal Highway 8 only. They may not travel on any other route to Puerto Peñasco. U.S. government employees may not use ANY taxi services, public buses, nor ride-share applications in Puerto Peñasco. due to a lack of secure vetting and/or dispatching procedures and the danger of kidnapping and other violent crimes.
• Triangular region near Mariposa U.S. Port of Entry:  U.S. government employees may not travel into or through the triangular region west of the Mariposa U.S. Port of Entry, east of Sonoyta, and north of Altar municipality.
• San Luis Rio Colorado, Cananea, and Agua Prieta : U.S. government employees may travel directly from the nearest U.S. Port of Entry to San Luis Rio Colorado, Cananea (via Douglas Port of Entry), and Agua Prieta, but may not go beyond the city limits. Travel is limited to daylight hours only. Travel between Nogales and Cananea via Imuris is not permitted. U.S. government employees may not use ANY taxi services, public buses, nor ride-share applications in these cities due to a lack of secure vetting and/or dispatching procedures and the danger of kidnapping and other violent crimes.
• Eastern and southern Sonora (including San Carlos Nuevo Guaymas and Alamos):  U.S. government employees may not travel to areas of Sonora east of Federal Highway 17, the road between Moctezuma and Sahuaripa, and State Highway 20 between Sahuaripa and the intersection with Federal Highway 16. U.S. government employees may travel to San Carlos Nuevo Guaymas and Alamos; travel to Alamos is only permitted by air and within city limits.  U.S. government employees may not travel to areas of Sonora south of Federal Highway 16 and east of Federal Highway 15 (south of Hermosillo), as well as all points south of Guaymas, including Empalme, Guaymas, Obregon, and Navojoa.  U.S. government employees may not use ANY taxi services, public buses, nor ride-share applications in these areas due to a lack of secure vetting and/or dispatching procedures and the danger of kidnapping and other violent crimes.

U.S. government employees may travel to other parts of Sonora state in compliance with the above restrictions, including tourist areas in: Hermosillo , Bahia de Kino , and Puerto Penasco .

Tabasco state – Exercise Increased Caution

There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Tabasco state.

Tamaulipas state – Do Not Travel

Organized crime activity – including gun battles, murder, armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, forced disappearances, extortion, and sexual assault – is common along the northern border and in Ciudad Victoria. Criminal groups target public and private passenger buses, as well as private automobiles traveling through Tamaulipas, often taking passengers and demanding ransom payments.

Heavily armed members of criminal groups often patrol areas of the state and operate with impunity particularly along the border region from Reynosa to Nuevo Laredo.  In these areas, local law enforcement has limited capacity to respond to incidents of crime. Law enforcement capacity is greater in the tri-city area of Tampico, Ciudad Madero, and Altamira, which has a lower rate of violent criminal activity compared to the rest of the state.

U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.

• Matamoros and Nuevo Laredo:  U.S. government employees may only travel within a limited radius around and between the U.S. Consulates in Nuevo Laredo and Matamoros, their homes, the respective U.S. Ports of Entry, and limited downtown sites, subject to an overnight curfew.
• Overland travel in Tamaulipas:  U.S. government employees may not travel between cities in Tamaulipas using interior Mexican highways. Travel between Nuevo Laredo and Monterrey is limited to Federal Highway 85D during daylight hours with prior authorization.

U.S. government employees may not travel to other parts of Tamaulipas state.

Tlaxcala state – Exercise Increased Caution

There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Tlaxcala state.

Veracruz state – Exercise Increased Caution

Violent crime and gang activity occur with increasing frequency in Veracruz, particularly in the center and south near Cordoba and Coatzacoalcos. While most gang-related violence is targeted, violence perpetrated by criminal organizations can affect bystanders. Impromptu roadblocks requiring payment to pass are common.

There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Veracruz state.

Yucatan state – Exercise Normal Precautions

There are no restrictions on travel for U.S. government employees in Yucatan state, which include tourist areas in:  Chichen Itza ,  Merida ,  Uxmal , and  Valladolid .

Zacatecas state – Do Not Travel

Violent crime, extortion, and gang activity are widespread in Zacatecas state. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping.

• Zacatecas City : U.S. government employee travel is limited to Zacatecas City proper, and employees may not travel overland to Zacatecas City.
• U.S. government employees may not travel to other areas of Zacatecas state.

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Trip planning, travel destinations, destination highlights, mexico lifestyles, living & lifestyle, lifestyle planning, real estate, healthcare & wellbeing, leisure assistance, lifestyle assistance, insurance coverages, property assistance, about mexperience, mexico essentials, discover more, guide to experience the copper canyon in mexico.

About Copper Canyon

Barranca del Cobre , Copper Canyon, is a region in the desert of northwest Mexico that hosts some of the most spectacular and stunning natural scenery in Mexico’s inland territory.

The area known as Copper Canyon is a series of twenty canyons, formed over the years by six rivers. The area is sometimes compared to Arizona’s Grand Canyon, although the Copper Canyon region is at least seven times the size, and has different topography, flora and fauna to the Grand Canyon.

The Copper Canyon is in Mexico’s wilderness. The Tarahumara people, descendants of the Aztecs, still live a simple life in these canyons, as they have done for centuries. Today, they also sell their crafts and food to visitors who take the Copper Canyon Train Ride.

You can see the Copper Canyon by hiking, biking, trekking, horseback, or four-wheeling; however, by far the most popular is to take the Copper Canyon Train Ride, which runs from Los Mochis to Chihuahua City and back again.

The Copper Canyon railway is a stunning piece of engineering achievement. Opened in 1961 after decades of construction, the railway was designed to connect the Pacific Ocean with Mexico’s central desert territory and Chihuahua. The route continues to be a major freight connection between Chihuahua and the Pacific coast.

The railway line is over 390 miles (650 km) in length, crosses 39 bridges (the longest bridge is over 500 meters long) and 86 tunnels (the longest over 1,500 meters long).

The track starts at sea level at Los Mochis, and will rise to an altitude of around 8,000 ft (2,500 m) before descending into Chihuahua City which lies at around 2,500 ft (800 m) altitude. The line crosses some of Mexico’s most rugged terrain; hugging the edge of mountains and crossing deep ravines on its bridges. The scenery it travels through is truly breathtaking.

The journey on the first-class express takes around thirteen hours if you ride straight through, although most people alight the train about half-way and stay at least one night in the heart of the canyons. It is a spectacular journey and well worth doing. You may buy your ticket in advance or buy a seat on the train on the morning that you intend to travel (subject to available space).

Advance Railway Bookings Now Essential

Recent changes to the way the Copper Canyon railway is managed means that the railroad only puts on each day the number of cars for which they have advance reservations. If you just show up on the day you’re highly unlikely to get a ticket. Our travel service partner can arrange your Copper Canyon experience  and ensure your journey is planned to get the most out of your visit to the canyons.

High Season: If you plan to take the train journey between October and March, during the Easter Holidays or over Christmas/New Year, it’s essential to book your ticket in advance.

Seasons in the Copper Canyon: Seasonally, May and June tend to be the driest months in the canyons. July to November are months when the rains are most abundant and the canyons’ flora show-off their deepest greens.  Between December and May, the flora’s colors are in transition between the wet and dry seasons.  See Local Climate  information later in this guide for details about the weather and best months to travel.

The First Class Express train makes several stops before its final destination. You can stay at any of the places the train stops, and spend a night or two there while you explore the local area; and perhaps take a horseback ride into the Canyons for a closer look. See Key Attractions below.

You may just take the train ride for the view and experience as part of your trip to Mexico, or you could spend a few days to a week in the region, using the train line as your main route through the canyons and stopping overnight to explore and discover the local areas.

Whatever way you choose to experience Mexico’s Copper Canyon, the most important piece of advice is to book in advance. This is not a place you can just arrive at and expect to find a hotel room and a train ticket—especially during the busy periods.

A journey through Copper Canyon is one of the most rewarding journeys you can take in Mexico. The train ride itself is remarkable, the scenery is amazing, and the whole experience will become a lifetime memory for you and those traveling with you. This guide will give you an insight into what the Copper Canyon can offer and, hopefully, entice you to take this wonderful journey one day soon.

See Also: Flight Options to Reach Copper Canyon

Make your Copper Canyon experience something special

We work with long-established travel experts who know the Canyon intimately and will arrange an inspiring Copper Canyon experience for you . Contact us and we’ll help you make the most of your time visiting Mexico’s Copper Canyon.

Learn more about a customized Copper Canyon tour

Key Attractions

About the copper canyon train journey, class of service.

There are three classes of service on the Copper Canyon train:

First Class

Executive class.

• Standard Class

A luxury option for travelers, with more comfortable seats and panoramic windows to ensure you get the best views of the passing scenery through the mountains and canyons.  The first class train includes a dining car with a glass dome, a bar-terrace with lounge and stools, 96 reclining seats with central tables, luxury restrooms, and on-board waiters serving beverages and snacks, as well as a bar with a panoramic view.

An ideal option to enjoy a comfortable and relaxed family trip, with good views of the passing scenery as you travel.  Executive class ticket holders have access to the glass domed restaurant (subject to space), and the bar with the panoramic views. 240 reclining seats and access to luxury restrooms.  A snack and beverage service is available.

Tourist/Standard Class

Choose the tourist/standard service when you want to experience the train journey at the lowest price. Tourist class offers regular seats (256 in total), a standard restroom, and access to the domed restaurant, subject to space. Regular windows to see the landscape passing by.  A snack and beverage service is available.

El Fuerte vs Los Mochis

The eastbound train begins its journey at 6 a.m. (times may vary) from Los Mochis, and you can board the train from here if you want.   However, we recommend you consider boarding the eastbound train from El Fuerte , situated about an hour and a half by road from Los Mochis.  By traveling to El Fuerte from Los Mochis the day before your train departs, you can enjoy this pleasant colonial town, spend the night there, and board the train when it stops here around 8:15 a.m. – giving you extra time to enjoy your breakfast. You don’t miss any dramatic scenery on the train between Los Mochis and El Fuerte.

Many tour operators begin their itineraries from El Fuerte and arrange for their clients to be transferred from Los Mochis airport direct to El Fuerte, by-passing Los Mochis terminal completely. Our travel partners can help you to Plan Your Mexico Trip to the Copper Canyon .

The other consideration you will need to keep in mind is choosing where to start and end from.  There are three logical choices:

• Los Mochis (or El Fuerte) to Chihuahua City
• Chihuahua City to Los Mochis (or El Fuerte)
• Travel half-way and return your original start point

Most of the dramatic scenery of the canyon is situated between Los Mochis and Creel.  It’s a long journey from Creel to Chihuahua City and the scenery is not nearly as dramatic on this stretch.

Many organized tours start and end in Los Mochis/El Fuerte – they provide stay-overs and other activities at and around El Divisadero , and then return to Los Mochis. If subsequent travels from Los Mochis include going to Baja California, in addition to regional flights there is a regular ferry service (now upgraded to a faster Catamaran) from Topolobampo (near Los Mochis) to La Paz, which gets you to the Baja California peninsula.

Onward to Chihuahua City – Alternatively, you could re-board the train after a stay in/around Divisadero and then travel onward to Chihuahua City.

Train stops are brief in most places

Most stops only last a few minutes —not enough time to get off and wander around, except for the one at El Divisadero , where the train stops for 20-30 minutes. All stations have ambulant vendors, often Tarahumara Indians selling their fine handicrafts.

Buying your copper canyon train tickets

We highly recommend consulting one of the many tour operators in the Copper Canyon region for purchasing your first-class tickets. Not only will the tour operators procure your tickets, but they can also arrange a complete tour package, including meals and lodging.

There are ticket windows at the Los Mochis or Chihuahua City train stations, but they should be used only if you wish to purchase an Economy ticket, which can only be bought on the date of travel from the station one hour prior to departure. First Class tickets, if any are available , may also be bought this way.

If you plan to make a stopover (see Making Stopovers, below) then your seat (First Class) will only be guaranteed for the first leg of your journey. When you re-board the train, you will need to take pot-luck on seating.

You cannot buy an “open” ticket. You must specify what dates and times you intend to travel, and you will be issued with tickets accordingly. The sale of tickets is tightly controlled to ensure safety and comfort for all passengers, so work out your itinerary and stick with it, unless you’re on a very flexible holiday, and you are happy to take your chances with ticket availability on the days you feel like traveling.

First Class tickets may be bought up to 30 days in advance from tour agents, via telephone or on the Internet. It’s best to use the services of an agency when booking your journey and buying tickets, as you will also need to have transport and accommodation arranged at both ends of the journey.

Local Knowledge

Due to the nature of this destination, you are likely to get more out of your visit to the Copper Canyon by letting people who know this area and its attractions well plan and organize a journey for you .

Making Stop-overs

Lots of people like to spend a few days—some up to 10 days— exploring the Copper Canyon region, by riding the train through it, and stopping off at various points en route, taking up lodging for the night and spending the next day or two exploring the land before boarding the train to the next stop.

Getting off the train and adventuring into the valleys is a great way to see the Copper Canyon, as you’ll experience a lot of features and attractions that are not accessible from the train. The other advantage is that you’ll get time to take in the scenery around you. If you see something you like, you can stop to absorb it, instead of watching it disappear into the distance!

Local activities include horseback riding, helicopter trips, and canyon hikes. An agency can discuss the options with you and make arrangements according to your preferences and budget.

Most tour operators make use of the train coupled with detailed trips into the canyon and using a tour operator is the best way to get the most out of your journey to the Copper Canyon. See Guided Tours , below.

Terminus West: Los Mochis

Los Mochis (meaning “Place of Turtles”) is situated on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, about 310 miles (500 km) northwest of Mazatlán. It is an important industrial port on the Pacific. From a tourist’s viewpoint, there’s little to see and do here: Its primary tourist functions are to provide a ferry to La Paz and act as the Western Terminus for the famous Copper Canyon Train Journey.

Station: El Fuerte

This might be your starting point on the train journey if you didn’t start at Los Mochis. We recommend you begin your journey in El Fuerte, after one or two night’s stay here so that you may enjoy this beautiful place.

El Fuerte means “The Fort”, although only a replica of the fort that once stood here exists now; you can find it at the summit of the Mirador (lookout), which you’ll get to by climbing the hill there.  The view is well worth the climb.

El Fuerte was founded by Francisco de Ibarra , a Spanish conqueror back in 1564. The town was an important center in colonial times, and for some years it was the capital city of Sinaloa state.

The cobbled streets, colonial buildings (the plaza, palace, church) and colonial atmosphere make this one of the nicest towns on the train’s journey, and it’s well worth a stopover for a day.

Top Travel Tip

As mentioned earlier, we recommend you choose El Fuerte as your boarding point for the train, as the town is very accessible and much more picturesque than Los Mochis. Taking this option also means that you don’t have to get up excruciatingly early to catch a 6 a.m. train from Los Mochis. The train from El Fuerte departs at approximately 8:15 a.m. (times may vary) giving you extra time to rise and enjoy breakfast before your train journey. Most tour operators begin their itineraries from El Fuerte and arrange for their clients to be transferred from Los Mochis airport direct to El Fuerte, by-passing Los Mochis terminal completely.

Learn about how to arrange Copper Canyon tours in Mexico .

Station: Bauhichivo

Bauhichivo isn’t a town, it’s a train depot. The place never existed before the train line was built. However, just 6 miles (10 km) from this stop is Cerocahui (pronounced “seh-roh-KAH-wee”), a small village with less than 1,000 inhabitants and three luxury hotels. Cerocauhui is the first village inside the canyon wilderness, and apart from being a quaint little place to see and explore (it’s an old colonial hamlet) it’s a great place from which to explore deeper into the canyon.

The hotels here offer spectacular views, and all of them arrange excursions into the canyons: Horseback rides that take you through stunning scenery, marvelous waterfalls and secluded areas of natural beauty. You can also arrange for excursions to Cerro Gallego, which surrenders spectacular views of Urique Canyon. Urique is an old silver mining town.

Station: Posada Barrancas and El Divisadero

These two stations have been grouped together, as they are less than 2.5 miles (4 km) apart. If you are just taking the train ride and not stopping en route, then this is your only chance to get out and see a spectacular view of the Copper Canyon , as the train stops long enough to get off and see the scenery standing still. This stop leaves you about 7,500 feet (2,400 m) above sea level, on par with Creel— and for this reason, the views are breathtaking.

If you buy a package tour across the region , it’s going to include a stop-over from here, as the hotels offer great views and horse-back excursions into the canyon, which are very popular and come highly recommended by all who have experienced them.

If you’re traveling from Los Mochis, you’ll arrive at Barrancas first. If you are traveling from Chihuahua, then you’ll stop first at Divisadero. This is where the train stops for 20-30 minutes, and the place where you’ll get the views described above.

The Tarahumara Indians will be here selling their fine handicrafts, wood carvings, pine baskets and dolls—and much more besides. Don’t miss the opportunity to buy something really unique and special from these people. Cash only, in Mexican pesos.

All of the main hotels at Barrancas & Divisadero have mini-buses that pick up guests from the train station.

A tour operator can advise you further on this location and make arrangements for transport and accommodation on your behalf.

Station: Creel

With a population of less than 4,000, Creel is a small town at a high elevation, at the heart of the Copper Canyon train journey. The town is surrounded by pine forests, and is, in fact, a lumber town; the town’s mill is still there today, and during the summer months, the sweet, natural aroma of pine fills the air around you.

Enjoy Awesome Nature Tours Near Creel

The town is worth a stop-over in order to be able to take advantage of the excursions available from here. They include a day trip to Cascada de Basaseachi (waterfalls), claimed to be the tallest falls in North America; Recohuata Hot Springs Excursion; and Batopilas—an old silver mining town about 87 miles (140 km) away from Creel, so an overnight stay will be required there. Many of these tours will be very long days and could involve hiking.

Creel will afford you the opportunity to do a bit of shopping at some of the craft shops there, as well as to replenish your cash supply at the ATM in town.

A tour operator can make arrangements for an excursion, transport and accommodation on your behalf.

Terminus East: Chihuahua City

Chihuahua (pronounced “chee-WAH-wah” – the ‘h’ is silent in Spanish) is Mexico’s largest state, and Chihuahua City , its capital, is Mexico’s most prosperous city.

Its wealth is built on mining, livestock, timber and more recently, the modern assembly plants known as maquiladoras . When you arrive here, you’ll see lots of men in boots and hats— this is Mexico’s cowboy country.

The historical center has some handsome colonial architecture, wide roads and fine colonial buildings, and its cathedral, completed in 1789, is admirable. Pancho Villa, the famous revolutionary, lived here; you can visit the house which is also a museum about the Mexican Revolution.

Discover Chihuahua and connect to hotels and local services there using the Mexperience guide to Chihuahua City .

Horse riding

Most of the hotels inside the Copper Canyon region can arrange for you to take a horse ride into parts of the canyon. Some of the hotels are actually ranches, and the horses are provided by the hotel itself. Regardless of your horseback riding experience, you’ll have the opportunity to experience this great region on horseback, an eco-friendly and exciting way to see the Copper Canyon wilderness! A tour operator can make arrangements for transport and accommodation on your behalf.

Helicopter Rides and Adventure Tours

Helicopter rides above the canyon wilderness are available from certain places.

Getting There & Around

By Air to Los Mochis – You can fly to Los Mochis from various airports in northern Mexico and from Mexico City, as well as a small number of US cities. Los Mochis Airport is about 12 miles north of the city; ground transportation and taxis are available into town; most tour operators arrange for you to be picked up from here and transferred directly to El Fuerte. For detailed information about flights and flying, see the Mexperience guide to Air Travel in Mexico .

By Ferry to/from Los Mochis – There is a ferry service that crosses the Sea of Cortez (also known as the Gulf of California) to and from La Paz to the port cities of Mazatlan and Los Mochis ( Topolobambo ). The ferry trip to/from Mazatlan takes 18 hours and does not run daily; sleeping cabins are available with advance bookings. The ferry to/from Los Mochis ( Topolobambo ) takes around 8 hours and does not sail daily either. A catamaran ferry service is available on some dates and routes which cuts down the journey time considerably. Check the Ferry’s web site at: http://www.ferrytmc.com/ for details of routes, schedules, prices and contact details.

By Air to Chihuahua – Chihuahua City’s airport is well served by all main airports in Mexico as well as a good number of cities in the USA. Ground transportation and taxis are available from the airport into the city center – which is about a 30-40 minute journey. For detailed information about flights and flying, see the Mexperience guide to Air Travel in Mexico .

By Bus to Los Mochis – Los Mochis is not as well served by buses as Chihuahua City, but you can get there by bus and then either take a short cab ride or a local bus connection to the train depot which is on the outskirts of town. Note: the train leaves early in the morning from Los Mochis so it’s advisable to arrive the day before.

By Bus to Chihuahua – Chihuahua is very well served by buses from all major routes in northern Mexico as well as from Mexico City. For detailed information about bus transportation read the Mexperience guide to Bus Travel in Mexico .

By Car – Highway 15, which runs along the coast connecting the US border, from Los Mochis and then all the way down to Guadalajara is a fast, well maintained toll road. Chihuahua is well served by good roads from all four compass points. Try to do your driving during daylight hours and where possible, stay on the toll roads to speed your journey. Click the links for more information about Driving in Mexico and Mexico’s Toll Roads .

Guided Tours and Excursions

Most people who travel to and through the Copper Canyon will use the services of a specialist agent or tour company; they are run by people who know the canyon intimately, and who have many local contacts that provide the necessary transport and accommodation services as well as a wealth of local knowledge and experience.

Getting the Most from Your Visit to Copper Canyon

Although it’s possible to arrange your train and hotels directly and visit the canyon independently, by using the services of a professional tour company, you are likely to get the most out of your visit here.

The canyon region really is vast and the local knowledge that specialist tour operators have will ensure that the limited time you have available will be well programmed through a tried-and-tested itinerary and local guidance given by experienced tour guides.

Practical Information

Telephone:  Connect to the guide about Communications in Mexico on Mexperience for detailed information about keeping in touch while you’re in Mexico.

Exchanging Currency: Plan your currency requirements carefully if you’re traveling in the Copper Canyon. Banks with ATM machines can be found in Los Mochis, Chihuahua City and Creel (inside the canyon area), but very few places besides . Read about currency exchange in Mexperience’s Money Section . Be sure to carry sufficient cash to cover the cost of buying things from people and places unlikely to accept cards or traveler’s checks in the Copper Canyon—in other words, everywhere except good quality hotels.

Travel Insurance: We recommend that you are adequately covered with travel medical insurance and/or travel assistance insurance when you are visiting Mexico. Read the Mexperience guide to Travel Insurance in Mexico for full details and links to specialist insurance suppliers.

Internet Access: You’ll find Internet cafes quite easily downtown in Chihuahua and Los Mochis. Inside the Copper Canyon, access to the internet is scarce; some of the hotels located inside the canyon may offer internet services.

What to buy in Copper Canyon

Don’t miss the opportunity to buy fine art and craft work from the local Tarahumara Indians in the canyon.

Their specialized works include pine baskets, dolls, violins, rugs and blankets, flutes, drums, pottery and traditional clothing and wood carvings.

Everything is unique and hand-made. Stock up with plenty of pesos in cash before you set out on your journey: traveler’s checks and plastic are no good for purchases made from the indigenous traders living in the canyon.

Remember to take cash with you — in Mexican Pesos — as the local artisan traders will not have credit card facilities and prefer local currency.

Local Climate

The climate in this region changes with the seasons and heavily influences the times when most people travel through the canyon.

Seasonally, May and June tend to be the driest months in the canyon. July to November are months when the rains are most abundant and the canyons’ flora show-off their deepest greens.  Between December and May, the flora’s colors are in transition between the wet and dry seasons.

March & April and October & November are the two busiest times at the canyon. This is because they are times of the year when the climate is at its most temperate.

During the high summer months, temperatures in Los Mochis and El Fuerte are hot and humid.  In the winter, some snow may fall in higher areas of the Canyons, although that does not impede tours and activities.

If you don’t want to be among the high number of visitors here, then you should travel July through September. This is the rainy season, but the rains will be monsoon-like: thunder, lighting, drenching downpours, and then it’s gone. They cool down the hot days perfectly. The other big advantage of these rainy months is that the abundance of water makes the canyon come alive—its flora become lush with hues of deep emerald green, and its rivers deep and gushing.

May and June are generally dry months: Water shortages are common, the land is arid, dry, dusty, and less inspiring. It’s best to avoid the area in these months, unless you have no other choice, or have been before and want to see the contrast.

Weather & Climates in Mexico

Learn more about the weather and climates through the seasons and regions by connecting to the Mexperience guide about Weather and Climates in Mexico

Custom Tour

Take a Custom Tour to Experience Mexico’s Copper Canyon

An expertly crafted custom tour of the Copper Canyon ensures your time is spent absorbing this outstanding train journey...

Flights for Copper Canyon

Flight Options and Routes to Reach the Copper Canyon

To visit Copper Canyon, you'll need to fly into Los Mochis, Chihuahua, or Mazatlán. This article shares flight options...

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Explore Copper Canyon

Plan your trip to copper canyon: best of copper canyon tourism.

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Essential Copper Canyon

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Copper Canyon Is Great For

• Hotel Barrancas del Cobre
• Paraiso del Oso Lodge
• Motel Real Del Bosque
• Cabanas Darely
• Hotel Mision Cerocahui
• Sierra Tarahumara
• Cusarare Falls
• Batopilas Canyon
• Recohuata Hot Spring
• Valley of the Monks

The Copper Canyon

Travel guide.

• Things to Do
• Visitor Information
• Escorted & Package Tours
• Getting Around

Planning a Trip in The Copper Canyon

The principal airports for the region are Los Mochis and Chihuahua, the two terminal points of the railroad. Connecting flights are available out of both cities, which makes entry into the region fairly easy. But once you arrive, you have to take precautions. Los Mochis is in the state of Sinaloa, home to two violent drug cartels. Chihuahua is the capital of the most violent state in the country, home to one cartel, and disputed territory in the drug wars. Carjackings are not uncommon in both places, making it much safer to fly into this area and move around town by taxi and in daylight. Taking the train through the Copper Canyon is still relatively safe, but getting off and hiking through the area is now a bit more iffy.

It used to be the case that going in high season meant planning an itinerary well in advance, including reserving both train tickets and hotel rooms. Now, with the decrease in travel to the region, limited hotel space is less of a problem. You can make arrangements on your own or go through a travel agent or tour operator. It's possible to buy train tickets as you need them and make last-minute reservations or no reservations at all. There is a small risk that you might run into a large group that has taken all the hotel rooms, but in most locations now, somebody usually has an inexpensive cabin for rent. The most plentiful lodging is to be found in Creel.

Troubled Times In Chihuahua & Sinaloa

Conflicts between drug gangs, and the Mexican government's attempts to eradicate them, have led to increased violence in parts of the states of Chihuahua and Sinaloa. The violence has taken the form of killings, kidnappings, and carjackings. The U.S. Department of State (www.travel.state.gov) has issued a travel warning for the Mexican border area that specifically mentions Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua City, and the Copper Canyon. It doesn't say not to go to the area, but it urges travelers to practice caution and avoid traveling at night. The Mexican government has sent in the military to aid federal and local police. Checkpoints can now be found on many area roads. If you decide to go to the Copper Canyon, be prepared to find added security in and around the cities and on the highways. Don't travel in a way that will make you a target. That means don't drive a personal vehicle, especially a pickup or SUV, which are highly desired by gangs, and don't travel alone into areas of the canyon that are too far off the beaten path.

The canyon lands are prime growing areas for marijuana. This didn't used to be a source of anxiety for tour operators. And travelers driving or hiking through the canyons didn't used to be a concern for the local growers. But violence in the region has escalated, there have been shootings in some of the small towns, and everyone's nerves are on edge. Travelers through the canyon should consider limiting their outings to areas that are seen primarily as tourist destinations.

Going Solo On Foot: Not A Good Idea

If you're planning to hike in the Copper Canyon, it's a good idea to have company, especially someone who knows the area and speaks Spanish. To be on the safe side, don't go too far from the main parts of the canyon.

Note : This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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Explore Copper Canyon

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The Best Time to Visit Copper Canyon, Mexico for Weather, Safety, & Tourism

The best times to visit Copper Canyon for ideal weather are

November 5th to March 25th

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

Copper Canyon Travel Guide

Temperature.

• Perceived Temperature
• Rain and snow
• Humidity and wind
• The busiest and least popular months
• Overall travel experience by time of year

Other Copper Canyon Travel Info

Weather in copper canyon.

Average temperatures in Copper Canyon vary greatly. Considering humidity, temperatures feel hot for most of the year with a low chance of precipitation most of the year. The area is less temperate than some — in the 37th percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above . If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Copper Canyon, the hottest months are June, May, and then July. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally early to mid June where highs are regularly around 106.8°F (41.6°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 75.1°F (23.9°C) at night.

Copper Canyon Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Copper canyon temperatures (celsius), “feels-like” temperatures.

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

Copper Canyon Perceived Temperature (F)

Copper canyon perceived temperature (c), average copper canyon temperatures by month.

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Show celsius, precipitation (rain or snow).

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Copper Canyon are April, May, and then March. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around early February. For example, on the week of February 5th there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in mid July with an average of 3 days of significant precipitation the week of July 16th.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Copper Canyon.

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Copper Canyon (in).

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show inches, show centimeters, humidity and wind.

Copper Canyon has some very humid months, and dry months in the opposite season. The least humid month is May (26.3% relative humidity), and the most humid month is September (70%).

Wind in Copper Canyon is usually extremely calm . The windiest month is May, followed by June and April. May’s average wind speed of around 2.9 knots (3.4 MPH or 5.5 KPH) is considered “light air.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in late May to early June where average top sustained speeds reach 8.3 knots, which is considered a gentle breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Copper Canyon.

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Average Wind Speeds

Show wind speeds.

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Is it safe to travel to copper canyon.

Our best data indicates this area is somewhat safe, but with extra warnings in a few regions. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are travel warnings and regional advisories for Mexico; exercise a high degree of caution and avoid some areas. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories . This advisory was last updated on Dec 04, 2023.

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in Copper Canyon, Mexico is June, followed by May and January. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Copper Canyon in December. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

Most popular months to visit, overall copper canyon travel experience by season, spring (march through may).

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel warm. Highs range from 105.6°F (40.9°C) and 91.1°F (32.8°C) with warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is nonexistent with roughly 0 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is the second busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.

Summer (June through August)

The middle-year months have hot weather with high temperatures that are quite warm. These months see the most precipitation with 3 to 10 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the busiest season for tourism in Copper Canyon, so lodging and other accommodations may cost more than usual.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 99°F (37.2°C) and 88.4°F (31.3°C), which will feel very nice given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a normal amount: 1 to 7 days per month. Tourism is the slowest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be affordably priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is perfect this time of year in Copper Canyon to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 91.9°F (33.3°C) and 82.9°F (28.3°C). On average, it rains or snows a smalll amount: consistently 1 times per month. These times of year are fairly slow with tourists.

Best Times to Travel › Mexico › Copper Canyon, Mexico

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How to Get to Copper Canyon Mexico: Itinerary Planning and Tips

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Figuring out how to get to Copper Canyon, Mexico, can be a hassle. Many prefer to take an official tour through an agent or tour company. And getting around takes a lot of coordination and various modes of transportation.

Thus, this post will help you figure out how to get to Copper Canyon, Mexico, including everything you need to consider when planning your trip. I rode the El Chepe Express here and planned my entire trip as a solo traveler. But these tips can help you decide if you want to make this a solo or group trip!

Table of Contents

Where is Copper Canyon?

Copper Canyon, also known as Barrancas del Cobre in Spanish, is located in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. There are six canyons, and the Tarahumara people inhabit the land. Copper Canyon is four times the size of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA and spans 25,000 square miles. 

Where do you fly into Copper Canyon?

Chihuahua City is the largest airport in the region if you want to take the train from Creel. Yet, you can also fly into Los Mochis and take the El Chepe Express to Copper Canyon the opposite direction. Some tours start and end in either city or in El Fuerte. Another alternative is to fly into Mexico City, explore there for a few days, then fly to Los Mochis.

Is it safe to visit Copper Canyon in Chihuahua, Mexico?

Safety is always a big concern when tourists think about visiting Mexico. However, Copper Canyon is a safe place to stay. I did my trip solo and had a safe and relaxing time in the area. The guides and hotel staff are friendly, helpful, and accommodating. And before you think it, no, I did not interact with or see any cartels. 

When is the best time to visit Copper Canyon?

The best time to visit Copper Canyon depends on what experience you want to have here. If you are a traveler who loves to see snow-capped mountains, January and February are ideal times to visit. However, for travelers who want a milder experience with minimal rain, March to April is the time for you. 

However, September and October are hailed as the best time to visit Copper Canyon as that is the end of the rainy season. May to August can be hot and rainy, but ideal for travelers who want to experience the heat of the canyon. If you do choose the summer, pack bug spray and shorts!

Copper Canyon facts

Visiting Copper Canyon isn’t a place many tourists outside the U.S. know about. But it’s gorgeous and full of rich history, adventure, and culture. So now that you know how to get to Copper Canyon, Mexico, here are some fun facts about Copper Canyon.

• Copper Canyon is 4x the size of the Grand Canyon
• Though it does have an adventure park, Copper Canyon is not a national park
• Copper Canyon is home to the Tarahumara (or Raramuri) people, who are the fastest long-distance runners in the world
• The El Chepe Express for tourists that runs through Copper Canyon was created in 2018
• The zip rider in the Copper Canyon Adventure Park is the longest in Mexico and one of the longest in the world

How to visit Copper Canyon by train

The most popular way to visit Copper Canyon is by taking the El Chepe Express. You can take three different train classes from Los Mochis to Creel or Creel to Los Mochis. After that, you would need to stop in Divisadero to visit the adventure park. However, if you book a full Copper Canyon tour, you may stop in Bahuichivo first and then take a tour bus or shuttle to stay in Divisadero. For more on the El Chepe Express experience, read this post next.   

Things to do in Copper Canyon

Get an adrenaline rush on the zip rider

Most of the activities you physically do are at the Copper Canyon Adventure Park. The zipline is the most famous and popular thing to do in Copper Canyon. It is the longest zip line in Mexico and only takes three minutes to go from the beginning to the end.

At the Copper Canyon Adventure Park, you ride the longest zip line (over 8,300 ft) and take the cable car back for $1000 MXN, roughly $54 USD for one hour. You can also do all seven ziplines, the suspension bridges, and the cable car for the same price for two and a half hours. 

Test your limits on the via ferrata

The most extreme adventure at Copper Canyon Adventure Park is the Via Ferrata. The activity includes a “Tarzan Jump,” crossing five suspension bridges, and entering caves. The entire experience is two hours minimum. It costs $600 MXN, which is roughly $33 USD. 

Take in the views

Copper Canyon has some of the most gorgeous sunrises and sunsets I’ve ever seen. The canyon goes on and on for miles. If you travel after the rainy season, it will be lush and green, which goes perfectly with the pink and orange skies.

You can also enjoy the views from a few hotels in the area. As part of the Hotel Balderamma Collection, Hotel El Mirador is where you get one of the most stunning views of Copper Canyon. However, book Hotel Divisadero for a slightly cheaper stay with similarly breathtaking views. An entire hotel breakdown is below.

Ride the cable car

If hopping on the Ziprider is not for you, take the Cable Car (the Teleférico). You get the same views without the life-threatening adventure. The ride is smooth and takes under 20 minutes roundtrip. There are panoramic windows, and as you go up and down. You can also see (and hear) the zip riders as they fly by! This is an excellent alternative for those not feeling the danger and adrenaline of ziplining. 

Hike various trails

After figuring out how to get to Copper Canyon, Mexico, and riding the zip rider, you should take a hike. Many hotels offer hikes with local guides, including the Raramuri people. Therefore, some are more difficult than others, and remember that there are lots of loose rocks, so be careful. Wearing sturdy shoes is necessary.

Make your way through the aerial forest

Another activity in the Copper Canyon Adventure Park is the aerial forest. It includes ten suspension bridges through the woods and trees and small-scale ziplining and canopy activities. To get through the entire activity takes just under two hours and costs $300 MXN, which is $17 USD. 

Do wine tastings at the Balderramma Hotels

The Balderramma Hotels is a collection of luxury hotels in and around Copper Canyon. Their hotel with the vineyard is located in a neighboring town near Bahuichivo called Cerocahui at their Hotel Misión . However, they offer wine tastings at their Hotel El Mirador in Divisadero if you don’t want to travel to Bahuichivo.  

Hotel recommendations for Copper Canyon in Divisadero

There are multiple options to choose from for your hotels in Copper Canyon. The three outlined below are more of fancier and more comfortable experiences. Of the three outlined below, Hotel Divisadero Barrancas is the cheapest, and Hotel El Mirador is the most expensive. Regardless, they are all viable options for your Copper Canyon/El Chepe Express experience. 

Hotel Divisadero Barrancas for easy access

Hotel Divisadero Barrancas is a perfect choice for your stay in Copper Canyon after taking the El Chepe Express. It is located across the street from the El Chepe Divisadero train stop and the Copper Canyon Adventure Park entrance. They offer guides to take you over and hiking opportunities around the hotel. Travelers can also add meals to their stays for $350 MXN per person, roughly $20 USD per meal (drinks not included).

I spent my first and last nights in Divisadero here to take the train. You can also buy handmade goods outside the hotel from the Raramuri people selling their crafts. Although, when you exit the train, there is a little store to buy snacks, and locals sell street food cheaper than hotel food. Depending on the room, they range from $150-$180+ USD per night with breakfast included. 

Hotel El Mirador for a luxury experience

As mentioned above, Hotel El Mirador has the best canyon view. It is a salmon-pink luxury hotel with rooms that include a balcony to sit, relax, and enjoy the fresh air and views of the canyon. They also offer activities such as horseback riding, wine tasting, hiking, visiting the adventure park, and more. 

You need at least three people for some of the activities, so it may be difficult for solo travelers to do everything. Meals are $495 MXN per person, which is $27 USD. Breakfast is a buffet, and lunch and dinner are three-course meals. Drinks are not included in the price, and a double room with a balcony is $243 USD per night with breakfast included. 

Hotel Barrancas del Cobre for a cozy stay

If you want the views of Hotel El Mirador but need help affording it – Hotel Barrancas del Cobre is for you. Just up the street from El Mirador, Hotel Barrancas is the sister hotel in the Hotel Balderamma Collection. When you book this hotel, the rooms are similar to El Mirador, without the view. You also take the shuttle to El Mirador for all your meals if you purchase them during your stay. Hotel Barrancas del Cobre is $163 USD per night, including breakfast.

Transportation around Copper Canyon/Divisadero 

Coordinating transportation is necessary when figuring out how to get to Copper Canyon, Mexico. Though I will note that I did not drive at all. Unless you are comfortable driving in other countries, I suggest you not go on a tour to hop around or arrange other transportation. You are still in a canyon, and the roads can get narrow and curvy. Additionally, traveling to and from different hotels will cost between $5-$8 USD since there aren’t any daily buses. 

What to pack for your Copper Canyon itinerary

Packing for a few days to a week in northern Mexico means you probably won’t be wearing flip-flops and shorts by a beach. Instead, it is a place where layering is key as the mornings are cold, midday warms up, and it goes back to the cold later in the day. Though in the summer, with the open air and sun, it can get hot. However, whether cold or hot, rain or shine, here are the ten essential things you must pack for your trip to Copper Canyon.

• Light rain jacket
• Sweater or fleece 
• Hiking shoes or tennis shoes
• Book (just in case you get rained out)
• Long sleeve shirts (layering is vital) 
• Sweatpants 
• Jeans 

Copper Canyon travel guide: final tips

Visiting Copper Canyon is an excellent addition to your Mexico bucket list. The train, adventure park, and many towns you can stay in between make it an extraordinary adventure. Plus, Chihuahua is an area visited by few tourists, making it a unique place to stay in Mexico. So, if you have been contemplating whether or not to make it work, this is your sign to plan it yourself or book a Copper Canyon Tour today!

Are you still deciding whether to add a trip to Mexico City to your itinerary? Read this post for inspiration.

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Sojourner White is a remote social worker, train travel queen, and award-winning travel journalist. Hailing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin she has been a digital nomad and called both Spain and Germany home. Through her platform Sojournies, she helps 9-5ers fulfill their career goals and bucket list dreams to find freedom and flexibility outside the office. Sojourner has been featured in Buzzfeed, PopSugar, The Matador Network, HuffPost, and Thrillist and written for Travel + Leisure, USA Today, Fodor’s, Insider, Lonely Planet, Viator, and more.

El Chepe Train Route: How to Take the El Chepe Express

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• Mexico City
• Copper Canyon
• Guadalajara
• Huasteca Potosina
• San Cristóbal de las Casas
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• 5-Day Mexico City Itinerary
• 10-Day Baja California Road Trip
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El Chepe Train: My 2024 Guide to Copper Canyon by Train

• by Nellie Huang

El Chepe train is lauded as one of the world’s most exciting rail trips. Here’s the ultimate Copper Canyon guide including the train route, schedule and more!

Copper Canyon in northern Mexico is one of the wildest and most ruggedly beautiful regions in the country. Located in the Sierra Madre Occidental Mountains, Copper Canyon (also known as Barrancas del Cobre in Spanish) is actually a group of six distinct canyons that together make up a system that is larger and deeper than the Grand Canyon in the United States .

The best way to traverse the Copper Canyon is on the scenic Ferrocarril Chihuahua Pacífico, also known as “ el Chepe train “. Considered one of the greatest rail journeys in the world , El Chepe weaves through the ragged canyons, revealing stunning views of waterfalls, towering cliffs, and rugged ridges of the Sierra Madre Occidental.

As part of my research/writing work for Lonely Planet, I went on an epic Chepe train journey recently and took a deep dive into this largely under-explored part of Mexico. Any trip to Copper Canyon is an adventure, and one that I highly recommend to those who love veering off the beaten trail.

Table of Contents

Best Time to Visit Copper Canyon 

The new copper canyon airport, el chepe train route, mexico travel requirements, how long is the chepe train journey, is the copper canyon train safe, who travels on el chepe train, best copper canyon train tours, el chepe express, el chepe regional , el chepe express prices, el chepe regional prices, how are the chepe trains like, which direction of el chepe train to take.

• Chepe Express Schedule

Chepe Regional Schedule

How to book el chepetrain tickets, my copper canyon train itinerary, highlights of the chepe train journey, where to stay in creel, 2. divisadero/posada barrancas, where to stay in divisadero, 3. bahuichivo/urique, where to stay in urique , 4. el fuerte, where to stay in el fuerte, what can you skip, what to eat on el chepe train, what to pack for el chepe train, final tips for taking el chepe train, enjoy your chepe train trip, about el chepe train.

Traversing the high-atltitude mountains of northern Mexico, El Chepe train offers the opportunity to feast on some of the most dramatic landscapes in Mexico. Climbing from the Pacific Coast to the high Sierra Madre mountains, it snakes through the vast, rugged landscapes of Mexico’s largest state, Chihuahua.

This 656km track is a true engineering feat, boasting 37 bridges and 86 tunnels, and was completed after 60 years of construction in 1961. Not only is the railway impressive for its engineering prowess, but it also provides breathtaking views of the stunning canyons along the way.

Planning a trip on the Copper Canyon train can be tricky — it requires lots of research. In this article, I share details on which Copper Canyon train to choose, how to book the Copper Canyon train etc.

Overall, the best time to visit the Copper Canyon is during the spring (March-May) or fall (September-November) when the weather is mild, with comfortable daytime highs around 20-25°C (68-77°F). I traveled the Copper Canyon in mid-November and the weather was only slightly chilly and there was hardly any foreign tourist.

It can get pretty cold in the winter months (December-February) with temperatures ranging from 0-20°C (32-68°F). This is the only spot in Mexico when it actually snows. So if you’re looking to have a white Christmas, this is the place to go! Even though I was there close to winter, the weather was glorious – with sunny skies and comfortable temperatures.

The summer months (June-August) are the hottest, with temperatures ranging from 25-35°C (77-95°F). I’d avoid the Mexican holidays such as Semana Santa (Easter) and Dia de Muertos ( Day of the Dead ), as many Mexicans travel around then.

TIP : It hardly gets crowded in the Copper Canyon , many people seem to be deterred from this region due to the narcos-related crime (more on that later). I barely saw any foreign tourists on my trip! If you’re looking to go off the beaten path, this is it.

How to Get to the Copper Canyon

The nearest major airports to the Copper Canyon are located in Chihuahua and Los Mochis . It depends on which direction of the Copper Canyon train you decide to travel; if you’re going eastwards, fly to Chihuahua; if you’re going westwards, start your trip in Los Mochis.

Both cities have international airports and are well connected to other major cities in Mexico such as Monterrey , Guadalajara and Mexico City. A round-trip flight from New York to Chihuahua costs around US$500 while domestic flights from Mexico City to Chihuahua or los Mochis cost no more than $100 return.

Search for Flights to Chihuahua.

TIP: I recommend starting your journey from Chihuahua (like I did) as the cowboy town is a lot more pleasant than Los Mochis and there are plenty of things to do in Chihuahua. Los Mochis on the other hand is an uninteresting, modern city with nothing worth seeing .

The US$65-million Creel International Airport has been under construction for years and is set to open in 2024. It was supposed to be completed in 2016, but disputes with local Tarahumara ejido owners have caused major delays.

While the Copper Canyon is the most roadless region in Mexico, the roads here are generally well-maintained and easy to navigate. But as the cartels control some areas here, it is important to exercise caution and take common-sense safety precautions while driving in Mexico.

If you don’t intend to take the Copper Canyon train, it’s best to rent a car from either Chihuahua or Los Mochis. The drive from Chihuahua is approximately 6 hours, and the drive from Los Mochis is approximately 4 hours. I recommend option for a 4WD if you plan to drive down to the canyon floor.

I always book my car rental from  Discover Cars  as they offer the best prices and excellent customer service. An  economy rental car in Chihuahua  costs around $325 for a whole week, which is  less than $50 a day .

There are several bus companies that operate regular services to the Copper Canyon from Chihuahua and Los Mochis. Search for buses here . Buses are cheaper, faster and more frequent than the Copper Canyon train — but you’ll be missing out one of the world’s coolest train journeys!

To explore the canyon-bottom villages like Urique and Batopilas, buses are the best way to go. The train only traverses on the canyon rim and not to the bottom, so you’ll need to catch the dusty, shared colectivos or buses to get there. They usually meet the trains when they arrive and leave only when full.

It is possible to reach the Copper Canyon from Baja California. There is a ferry service that crosses the Sea of Cortez to and from La Paz to Los Mochis (the nearby ferry terminal Topolobambo is just 30 minutes away). The ferry to/from Los Mochis ( Topolobambo ) takes around 8 hours and does not sail daily. Check the ferry’s web site for details of routes, schedules, prices and contact details.

The Copper Canyon train essentially runs between Creel and Los Mochis (and in the other direction). Creel is located in the Chihuahua highlands, while Los Mochis is on the Pacific Coast. You’ll be traversing the high-altitude mountains of the Sierra Madre Occidental, with every twist and turn of the train revealing dramatic landscapes.

It is important to know that there are actually two trains that run the Copper Canyon route:

• Chepe Express Train  – This train is specifically for tourists making the Copper Canyon train tour. It runs from Creel to Los Mochis (and the other way).
• Chepe Regional Train – This train is more catered to commuters and locals, although tourists can also take it. It goes from Chihuahua to Los Mochis (vice versa).

El Chepe Express runs a more direct route from Creel to Los Mochis (or vice versa), making just 4 stops along the way. El Chepe Regional starts in Chihuahua, before heading to Creel and ending in Los Mochis. It makes 15 stops so the whole journey is much longer. I will go into details about each train later on.

• Mexico has no travel restrictions, and there’s no need for proof of vaccine or PCR tests on the plane. Anyone is welcomed to travel to Mexico.
• However, I always recommend travelers to buy travel insurance, whether you’re traveling for a year or a week. These days, it is particularly important to have travel insurance that covers COVID-19. Read my travel insurance guide.
• Safety Wing  is the most popular travel insurance company for COVID19-coverage. I use their  Nomad Insurance plan , which covers COVID-19 as any other illness as long as it was not contracted before your coverage start date.

You can actually take the train right through from Chihuahua to Los Mochis (or the other direction) in 10 hours — but the Copper Canyon is worth so much more of your time!

I spent a week on the Copper Canyon train , stopping at various points for 1-2 nights and then hopping back on again. It was a fantastic way to venture deep into the canyon, do some hiking, and get to know the indigenous Tarahumara people living here. (See my Copper Canyon itinerary. )

If you only have 2 days, I suggest stopping a night at Divisadero station and hopping back on the next day. Most people spend 5 days on the Copper Canyon train, making two stops (Divisadero and El Fuerte). I’ll talk in detail about what to do at each stop below.

The Copper Canyon train itself has a good safety record, with no major accidents or incidents reported in recent years. The train is operated by Ferromex, one of Mexico’s largest railroad companies, and undergoes regular safety inspections.

In recent years, there have been isolated incidents of violence in the Copper Canyon region, mostly related to drug trafficking. Drug cartels have long used the remote mountains to plant illicit crops of marijuana and opium poppies. 

In the 2000s, the cartels expanded into illegal logging on Raramuri lands, driving out or killing anyone who opposed them. At least a half dozen Raramuri environmental activists have been killed in Copper Canyon. The most recent incident happened in June 2022: two Jesuit priests and a tour guide were murdered in Cerocahui by the cartels. 

To ensure the safety of tourists, the Mexican government and local tour operators have implemented a number of security measures, including increased police presence and surveillance along the train route. I personally felt safe on my Copper Canyon trip and didn’t encounter anything risky.

Considering how close the Copper Canyon is to the US border, I was surprised to see very few foreign travelers. Sadly many foreigners are deterred from traveling around northern Mexico because of the narcos-related crime that plague the region. Most of the violence is still concentrated around the border areas; I personally didn’t feel unsafe at all here.

When I traveled Copper Canyon in November, the trains were mostly full. There are many Mexican tourists exploring the area, with a good mix of seniors and multi-generational families. Mexicans in general are so friendly and outgoing; I met many incredible people on the journey — like the trio of ladies from Mexico City who warmly invited me to join them for dinner; the group of older gentlemen whom I watched the sunrise with; and the family who shared with me tips from Durango.

I’m a travel writer and seasoned traveler — but planning out the Copper Canyon train trip was tricky even for me. Because different trains run on different days and times, and there are over 15 stations in the route (which one to pick?!), it takes time and effort to draw out a plan and itinerary. 

That’s why so many people prefer to travel on a Copper Canyon tour where all the logistics are taken care of. I traveled independently so I don’t have any personal experience to speak of here; these are what I’ve found from research. 

• Mexico Copper Canyon Tours runs well-priced tours that include all your train tickets, meals, tours and accommodation. They have pretty good reviews. Prices start at US$678 for a 5-day trip. 
• Copper Canyon Adventures seem to be a more established tour operator with a wide range of tours to choose from, though their tours are more expensive. They also do custom, private tours.
• Chepe Explora is an in-house agency from El Chepe who can draw up itineraries for you and offer a full package that include train tickets and hotels.

Which Copper Canyon Train to Take?

The main differences between the two trains are the onboard facilities, the stations they service, the schedule, and of course the price. The best way to make the most of your time in Copper Canyon is to take a combination of different trains.

Most foreign tourists take the Chepe Express as it’s the much easier to book Express tickets online. It’s also faster than Chepe Regional as it doesn’t stop as often. Chepe Express stops at most of the must-sees, so you won’t be missing out if you just take the Express.

They run on different days, so essentially you should decide which train to take based on your schedule. But in terms of comfort level and amenities, there really isn’t that much of a difference between the two. I found both to be comfortable and well designed.

Here are the main differences:

Duration  – A direct journey takes 10 hours, without stopping.

Stops  –  There are 4 stops on this route and you can stop at any, and book and pay for individual legs.

Booking – Tickets can be easily booked online, on the Chepe website . It’s best to book in advance as they do fill up. 

Facilities  – This high-end train has the Urike restaurant cabin, with a menu designed by renowned chef Daniel Ovadía. Try local delicacies such as chile relleno (stuffed pepper), the tamale de chayote, or the poblano chili soup. Meals are surprisingly not too expensive (around 200-300 MXN or $10-15 per dish).

The Regional train takes longer as it makes more stop. It is also cheaper, but you can only buy tickets either by email/phone or in person at the train station. The train itself is still comfortable and well-equipped with a restaurant and rest rooms.

Duration  – A direct journey takes 16 hours, but the trains are often delayed and can take much longer.

Stops  – There are 15 stops along the journey and you can hop off and on, but you need to book for individual legs.

Booking  – Regional tickets can only be booked by email ( [email protected] ) or from the ticket counter at either Chihuahua or Los Mochis station (in advance is recommended).

Facilities  – The tourist class cabins have a dining room, while the economy class has a canteen; both serve simple food and snacks.

El Chepe Train Prices

In general, it’s not cheap to ride the Copper Canyon train; but it can be done on a budget if you plan well. While the prices are high, the trains are just as comfortable as those in the US and Europe. However, they aren’t quite as punctual and reliable and both trains often experience delays.

I took the Chepe Express (tourist class) mainly and the Chepe Regional (tourist class) twice, and honestly didn’t see a lot of differences between the two in terms of comfort level — the main difference was the price. For instance, to go from Creel to Divisadero, it costs 1,063 MXN (US$60) on the Chepe Express, and 662 MXN (US$38).

There are three different classes on the Chepe Express. These are prices for each leg (from one stop to the next) and straight-through from the first to the last stop.

• Tourist Class: each leg 1,063 MXN (US$60) or end-to-end for 2,598 MXN (US$148)
• Executive Class: each leg 1,306 MXN ($74) or end-to-end 3,374 MXN ($192) 
• First Class*: each leg 1,700 MXN ($97) or 4,820 pesos ($274) [First Class passengers have access to an open-air viewing carriage with panoramic views.]

TIP: Although the cost of each leg is around US$60-100, if you book 3/4 legs, the total will come up to be around the same price as an end-to-end journey.

There are two classes on the Chepe Regional, though technically tourists are only allowed on the tourist class. These are prices for the entire, direct journey with no stops. [You can see the price for each leg in the photo below.]

• Tourist Class: 1,970 pesos ($112)
• Economy Class: 1,034 pesos ($59) 

Both the Chepe Express and Regional trains are relatively comfortable (thou dated), with air-conditioning and proper cushion, reclinable seats. There’s plenty of luggage storage space in each cabin, as well as overhead compartments for your daypack. Both trains have restrooms in each cabin, and restaurant cabins.

If you opt for the first class seats on the Chepe Express, you’ll have access to a bar carriage with panoramic views. One thing to note: the Express train doesn’t allow passengers to walk from one cabin to another; while the Regional train allows you to stand in the open area between carriages (great spot for photography).

You can choose to go either westwards (Creel to Los Mochis) or eastwards (Los Mochis to Creel) — honestly the views you see are the same. I traveled westwards, Creel to Los Mochis , using a combination of Chepe Express and Regional trains.

Most people choose to travel eastwards , from Los Mochis to Creel, as the train schedule allows you to see the most scenic leg of the journey – between El Fuerte and Bahuichivo – in daylight. I planned my Copper Canyon itinerary such a way that I still managed to see that gorgeous leg in daylight.

I liked going in this direction as the train goes from the Chihuahua highlands up into the high-altitude mountains before descending to the Pacific coast. In the first leg, you’re basically trundling through pine forests and higher into the mountains. Once you’re past Divisadero, the train is teetering on the cusp of the Copper Canyon. There’s an exciting build-up before the train whizzes past the most dramatic landscapes a few hours after passing Bahuichivo.

TIP : If you choose the westbound train , make sure to book a seat on the LEFT side for the best views. Similarly, book the right side on the eastbound train. 

El Chepe Train Schedule 2024

The Chepe Express runs from Creel – Los Mochis on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays (leaving at 8am); from Los Mochis to Creel on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (leaving at 8am). During the low season, the train doesn’t run Wednesdays and Thursdays.

The Chepe Regional train runs Chihuahua – Los Mochis on Wednesdays and Saturdays (leaving at 7am); and Los Mochis – Chihuahua on Thursdays and Sundays (leaving at 6am).

It’s important to know that El Chepe trains change their schedule often, so please check on the official site before planning your trip. The low season runs from Jan 11- March 1, May 1 – June 30, and Sept 1 and Nov 30.

C hepe Express Schedule

TIP: It’s important to know you cannot buy an “open” ticket. You must specify what dates and times you intend to travel. The sale of tickets is tightly controlled to ensure safety for all passengers, so work out your itinerary and stick with it.

Since 2022, you can book Chepe Express train tickets online, make payment on their system, and get an immediate confirmation. Ignore what some outdated sites say – you no longer need to email and send your credit card details online. 

Head straight to chepe.mx and click on ‘Book Train’. Choose the class of ticket you want and select your origin and destination, and date of travel. The system only shows dates when the train runs. You can add more legs by clicking ‘Add Stop’. Once you fill up the form with your name, email address etc and make payment, you’ll receive your ticket in your email.

You can only book Regional tickets by email ( [email protected] ) or from the ticket counter at either Chihuahua or Los Mochis station (in advance is recommended). I bought my Regional ticket in Chihuahua 2 days in advance of my trip.

TIP: I booked my Chepe Express tickets just 2 weeks before my trip started and some trains were full. I suggest booking earlier to make sure you get the train and the seats you want.

It can be tricky to plan out your Copper Canyon train itinerary due to the train schedule as both trains run on limited days. I suggest planning out your itinerary before booking your flights to your starting point. 

At the start of my train journey, I spent 3 days in Chihuahua before taking the bus to Creel . I then boarded my first Chepe train in Creel, then I spent a night in Divisadero, 2 nights in Urique and 2 nights in El Fuerte, before ended the journey in Los Mochis. 

Was my itinerary perfect? No, but it was the best plan I could have come up with considering the time constraint. I would have preferred to spend 1 more night in Divisadero and 1 less night in El Fuerte — but the train schedule didn’t allow for that. That said, 1 week on the Chepe train was the perfect amount of time to explore the Copper Canyon and experience the rail journey.

Read my Copper Canyon itinerary for full details. Here’s a summary of it:

Day 1 Saturday: Creel – Divisadero (Chepe Regional)

Day 2 Sunday: Divisadero – Bahuichivo (Chepe Express) + Bus to Urique 

Day 3 Monday: Stay overnight in Urique

Day 4 Tuesday: Bahuichivo – El Fuerte (Chepe Express)

Day 5 Wednesday: Stay overnight in El Fuerte

Day 6 Thursday: El Fuerte – Los Mochis (Chepe Express)

Day 7 Friday : Stay overnight in Los Mochis

In my opinion, the most scenic leg of the train journey is from Bahuichivo to El Fuerte , as the train hugs the sides of the steep canyons and makes a spectacular zigzag descent into a tunnel above Témoris. 

A must-stop along the entire Copper Canyon train is Divisadero , where the train halts for 15 minutes and allows you to hop off and stare into the actual Copper Canyon from a viewpoint next to the station. Stay overnight at a canyon-edge hotel at Divisadero so you can hike the canyon-rim trail to the nearby Parque de Aventura Barrancas del Cobre.  

The next most exciting stop is Creel , a charming mountain town with a picturesque location and sprinkled with lots of interesting natural sights. There are many things to in Creel to keep you busy for two nights, so I highly recommend arriving a few days before your Copper Canyon train starts to have time to explore.

Best Copper Canyon Train Stops

As the main hub for Copper Canyon tours , Creel is a charming mountain town with lots of restaurants and stores. The town is home to several indigenous communities, including the Tarahumara people (known by Mexicans as Rarámuri, which means ‘those who run fast’), who have inhabited the region for centuries. Read my Creel travel guide .

Most of the coolest attractions in Creel are in the surrounding mountains, which you can easily see in a loop day trip (starting at the Valley of the Frogs and ending at Lake Arareko). If you have more than a day here, make sure to do a day trip to Cascade de Basaseachi .

Best Things to Do in Creel:

• Museo Tarahumara — an excellent spot to learn about the Tarahumara culture and history.
• Valle de las Ranas (Valley of the Frogs) and Valle de los Hongos (Valley of the Mushrooms) — groups of natural rock formations resembling frogs and mushrooms.
• Valley of the Monk — surreal rock formations that tower over the valley, resembling a group of hooded monks.
• Aguas Termales Rekowata Hike or bike to these glorious hot springs deep in the wilderness. Book your day trip here.
• Cascada de Basaseachi — Mexico’s highest full-time waterfall tumbles 246m to the azure pools below, where you can swim. Book your day trip.

Budget: Hotel Ecologico Temazcal 

This hotel offers comfortable and affordable rooms with private bathrooms and free Wi-Fi. It is located in the center of Creel, within walking distance of the train station, restaurants, and shops. Check rates.

Mid-range: Hotel Colibri 

Located along the main highway, this hotel has new, spanking clean rooms with comfortable beds and modern amenities. The knowledgable owner is more than happy to arrange tours for you. I stayed here and highly recommend it! Check rates.

Luxury: The Lodge at Creel Hotel & Spa 

The best hotel in town features cozy and spacious rooms with rustic decor, a spa, and an on-site restaurant. It’s got a central location right in town, yet its rooms are tastefully designed in a rustic, elegant country style. Check rates.

If you only have time for one stop on your Chepe train journey, make it Divisadero , as it’s perfectly poised on the canyon rim, at an altitude of around 2,400 meters (7,800 feet). The trains stop here for at least 15 minutes, so even if you’re not spending a night here, you have time to hop off and walk to the viewpoint just steps from the train tracks.

The Parque de Aventuras Barrancas del Cobre is an easy 1.5km walk from the station (along a gorgeous canyon-rim trail). The adventure park plays host to the ZipRider, the world’s second-longest zip-line, spanning a remarkable 2.5km in length. With seven lines available, you can soar through the air from an altitude of 2400m down to Mesón de Bacajípare where you can catch a cable car.

Around 3.3km away from Divisadero is a small town called Areponápuchi (locals call it Arepo), where you’ll find more accommodation. Arepo is served by the Posada Barrancas station, but only the Chepe Regional train stops here. If you’re taking the Chepe Express, catch a local bus to Arepo from Divisadero station.

Budget: Hostal Font’s

A spacious and sparkling clean hostel right by the Arepo station, Hostal Font’s is a great option for budget travelers looking to meet others. There’s a shared kitchen and lots of lounging space. Check rates.

Mid-range: Hotel Barrancas del Cobre 

Located next door to Posada Barrancas station, this beautiful hacienda-style hotel has spacious, attractively decorated rooms and gorgeous green gardens. Prices are also surprisingly good.  Check rates.

Luxury: Hotel Divisadero Barrancas

This is the ONLY hotel in Divisadero and it’s right outside the train station. I stayed here and found the rooms to be outdated and overpriced, but the spectacular views right outside my window was priceless. They run free guided hikes for guests, as well as other activities like quad-biking and horseback riding. Check rates.

The next stop on the Copper Canyon train route, Bahuichivo, is a small village consisting of just a few homes, hotels, and a church. From here, I suggest continuing onto Urique, a village located at the bottom of the deepest canyon and along the west bank of the Rio Urique. Tthe journey down the treacherous but scenic descent can take up to 3.5 hours on a local bus. To get the bus, make arrangements with your hotel in Urique.

Urique is an ideal base for hiking, with easy day hikes available along the riverside dirt road. Choose to walk 7km upriver to the next village of Guadalupe Coronado or hike 4km downstream to Guapalaina, where a beautiful trail leads to the azure natural pool, Charco Verde. Though swimming is not permitted as the water is consumed by the local communities, it is still a great trek past several Tarahumara homes and up the canyon walls.

Budget: Entre Amigos

This budget-friendly hostel offers basic accommodation and camping surrounded by luscious farmland and beautiful outdoor space. I met a young backpacking couple who stayed here and loved the owners who run it. Check rates here.

Mid Range: Villa del Urike 

I stayed at this newish, riverfront hotel and really enjoyed the pleasant location. It has a nice outdoor pool, and spacious brick-walled rooms with rustic decor and beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. Check rates here.

El Fuerte, where the legendary Zorro was born, is the second last stop on the Copper Canyon route and close to the Sinaloan coast. El Fuerte, meaning “the fort” in Spanish, was once a fort. While the original fort is no longer there, a replica has been built on the hill where it once stood. The replica also houses a museum showcasing the history of the city and offers good views of the town and river from the top.

An excellent day trip to do from El Fuerte is a boat trip along Río Fuerte , a top birding destination. You can easily spot kingfishers, ospreys, and flycatchers by the riverbank. I booked my boat tour that included a hike to Cerro de la Máscara (Hill of Mask), where over 300 petroglyphs are found. These 2000-year-old engravings were created by the ancient Yoremes (Mayos) natives.

Budget: Hotel El Fuerte

Located next to the fort museum, this colorful hacienda-style hotel has seen better days, but offers great value for money with its big rooms. The beautiful patio and lounge area definitely make this a great spot to stay. Check rates here.

Midrange: Mansion Serrano Hotel

This hotel is located just a few blocks from El Fuerte’s main square and it’s housed within a historical complex. Rooms are outdated but spacious and comfortable. I stayed here and wouldn’t mind staying here again. Check rates here.

Hotel Posada Del Hidalgo

This charming hotel is located in a historic building in the heart of El Fuerte’s colonial district. It offers comfortable, air-conditioned rooms with traditional Mexican decor. The hotel also has a courtyard with a swimming pool and a restaurant that serves regional cuisine. Check rates here.

The terminus of the Copper Canyon train route, Los Mochis, is a sprawling modern city in Sinaloa. It’s honestly nothing to write home about, without many interesting historical attractions or sights. I spent 2 nights in Los Mochis and kinda wish I had left earlier. I would suggest skipping this town and catching your flight home from here right after the train.

Technically, no food is allowed on any of the Copper Canyon trains. But I have seen people snacking and chowing on tamales. All the trains have dining cabins or canteens with plenty of snacks and food. For the restaurant cabins, the waiters come around to take your order in advance. It’s pretty organized and prices are surprisingly affordable.

Only some stations have food options right at the platform. Divisadero actually has a big food market steps from the train tracks, with lots of vendors serving up chile relleno , enchiladas and tacos on their sizzling komal . Creel has an actual restaurant (Restaurante el Tungar) at the train station with great soups and quesadillas. 

Regardless of when you visit Copper Canyon, pack lots of layers as it can get really sunny in the day and chilly at night. If you’re taking the Copper Canyon train in winter, you’ll definitely need a proper winter jacket with thermals and thick socks. Make sure you pack a wide-rimmed hat, lots of water, and sunscreen. I was there in November and kept warm with just my down jacket, fleece and hiking pants.

• Down jacket
• Merino tee or thermals
• Hiking pants
• Hiking shoes
• Hiking t-shirt
• Lightweight daypack
• Sunscreen  – SFP50+ if possible
• Wide-rimmed hat 
• Water bottle  (2 liters)

• I’ve said this many times: book your Chepe Express tickets well in advance if you want to get the best seats.
• If you’re planning to take the Chepe Regional, buy your tickets at the station as soon as you get to Chihuahua and Los Mochis.
• Be sure to get to the platform about 30 minutes early, but also be prepared for delays. 
• Plan a stop in Divisadero and spend the night at the canyon-rim Hotel Divisaderos Barrancas for spectacular views.
• Schedule in a few days at Creel because it’s at the start (or end) of the Chepe train journey and there are plenty of things to do in Creel .
• Brush up on your Spanish; knowing some basic phrases can go a long way when interacting with Mexican travelers onboard the Copper Canyon train.

I hope this guide to el Chepe train has answered your question. Let me know if you have any questions on Copper Canyon train travel in the comments field below. I’d be more than happy to help you plan your trip!

Read my articles on Mexico below:

• 10-Day Copper Canyon Itinerary
• Creel, Chihuahua: Gateway to the Copper Canyon
• 30 Things to Do in Monterrey
• Oaxaca Road Trip Itinerary
• 30 Best Things to Do in Oaxaca City
• Guanajuato Road Trip Itinerary
• Yucatan Road Trip Itinerary

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links i.e. if you book a stay through one of my links, I get a small commission at NO EXTRA COST to you. Thank you for your support!

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22 thoughts on “El Chepe Train: My 2024 Guide to Copper Canyon by Train”

Thank you so much for current complete chepe info. Many sites are only express info, including el chepe official site. Other blog writers seem unaware that there are two different trains. So far I have had no luck trying to book an express ticket – I get no response at any official e address. I plan to be there mid- October. It will be low season so can I buy tickets in chihuahua the day before? Thanks, Lea

hi Lea! Thanks for the kind words! Yes there have been lots of changes to the Chepe train routes/schedules/services after COVID. I was there in late 2022 so my info is still pretty updated.

You can actually book an Express ticket directly on the website — have you tried here: https://chepe.mx/reservaciones/express/seleccionar ? Just put in your travel date, which stops you want to travel from/to, and pick your seat. You can pay by credit card and get a confirmation right away.

If you want to take the Chepe Regional, then yes you can just book the tickets in Chihuahua. I bought my tickets 2 days before traveling at the train station.

Hope this helps! 🙂

Having now spent a year and a half worth of days exploring the Sierra Tarahumara, I can share that your blog was easily the most relevant and accurate for anyone looking to ride the Chepe. Of course of bunch I might add but good stuff. You only had one miss – Gorditas – this is the pleasure to enjoy off the Divisadero platform. Entre Amigos is awesome too. The Ultra Caballo Blanco is in March, a famous Endurance Running event

Hi, wonderful info! I want to buy a gift certificate as a gift for the train. Is there anyway to contact someone about this by phone? Thank you Heide

hi Heide, you can reach them on this number in Mexico: 1 800 1224 373. But I think it’ll be easier to email them at [email protected] or fill up this contact form: https://chepe.mx/contactanos/ .

Hi Nellie, A little closer to trip date and two questions, if you can help. I now have long covid brain scramble and chepe is confusing. Must I buy part of my trip on the express? This is stated somewhere. You mention that the canyon was not busy with tourists but the express was sold out. Would this be true for October? Thank you.

hi Lea, you can take only the Chepe Express train if you like or only the Regional, or as most people do, a combo of Chepe Express and Regional. Only the Chepe Express train tickets can be booked online. The Chepe Regional tickets have to be bought in person or by phone/email.

Sorry to have confused you! I’d meant that the trains are busy with tourists, but not foreign tourists. They’re mainly Mexican tourists. When I tried booking tickets in November, one or two of the Chepe Express trains were already full. I’d recommend booking the Chepe Express trains online now if you can.

If it’s easier, check my itinerary ( https://mexicotravel.blog/copper-canyon-mexico-10-day-itinerary/ ) and you can book the exact same trains I did.

Hello again, Can you use u.s. dollars to pay in person for train tickets? Are u.s. dollars accepted in general for small and large purchases? Thank you. Lea

hi Lea, I used my credit card to pay for the train tickets in person, but I think they accept US dollars. To be safe, I would get some Mexican pesos at the airport or hotel before going to the train station. In Mexico, you can never be sure if the internet is working or if something is broken so always have pesos with you.

Thank you, Nellie. I had read that foreign tourists must buy the longest segment of a total trip on the express. I will now happily go on the regional.

I am going to take the Copper Canyon tour with Caravan later his month. I would like to print your guide as a reference to take with me but it is protected.

hi Joe, I’m afraid I don’t have the printing feature yet. I work really hard on providing free content to readers, and I make a living from readers scrolling on my site and reading the articles. Perhaps you could bookmark my page and refer to it on your phone or iPad while you are traveling? 🙂

Hi Nellie. Thanks for your great blog. I am a bit confused by this tip from your itinerary post:

TIP: Since you’re traveling on the eastbound train, make sure to book a seat on the RIGHT side for the best views. If you’re traveling the other direction (from Los Mochis to Chihuahua), book a seat on the left side.

You have said sit on the right side on the Eastbound train – meaning Los Mochis to Chihuahua, and then said “…..other direction….” – wouldn’t that be Chihuahua to Los Mochis Westbound train?

thanks for any clarification

hi Catherine, yes you’re right! Sorry for the mistake, I’ll amend it. The other direction (westbound) is Chihuahua to Los Mochis.

Hey! Thank you for your very detailed explanation! You already helped me a lot planning my trip in January.

I just have one question. Is it also possible to do large parts of the canyon by bus? I thought about just taking the first leg until divisadero of el chepe. And then explore the canyon and making my way to chihuahua by normal public transport as I would like to be more independent from the very confusing and arrythmic train schedule.

Thanks before hand!

Hi Timo, yes for sure! All the stops along the Chepe train route are connected by bus. In fact most locals take the bus to commute in and out of their villages as it’s cheaper and leaves more regularly. I used the bus to get to Urique as well as from El Fuerte to Los Mochis. They’re reliable and affordable.

Hey Nellie,

Thanks for the great blog article–super informative. I saw you mentioned using bus and the link is very useful. I am debating between staying in Bahuichivo vs. Divisario as one stop in the middle. I see the link shows one daily bus from Divisario to Creel but it does not have a dropdown option for Bahuichivo. Is there a bus from Bahuichivo to Creel at all?–searching the web in English it was hard to find bus schedule along the copper canyon. I am also slightly worried that the adventure park area is a bit too artificial for hiking, though it seems the logistics for stopping and hiking in Bahuichivo is a bit more complicated & requires more time as Urique might be the right place to be–would you say that is the case?

Thanks so much!

hi Brandon! Thanks for the kind words! If you’re making only one stop, I’d suggest Divisadero as hiking trails are so accessible right from the train station and hotel. I stayed at the Hotel Divisadero Barrancas and joined a few free guided hikes with them. The hike to a nearby Tarahumara cave was particularly interesting and the views along the way were spectacular. If you’re an experienced hiker, you can definitely do hikes on your own around the area and on the canyon rim. Yes the adventure park is artificial but beyond that there’s plenty of wilderness in the Divisadero area to explore.

As for buses to Bahuichivo, they leave regularly, but they’re local buses so you won’t be able to find the schedule online. Even if you miss the bus, there are often colectivos along the way. It’s almost amazing how you can find local transport everywhere in Mexico, even in the rural mountains of the Copper Canyon.

Urique is at the bottom of the canyon and it takes 4hours on a colectivo to navigate the sharp, hairpin bends to get there. It’s a long, dusty drive. You’ll need to liase with the hotel you’re staying in Urique to make sure the colectivo picks you up. It’s easy to go hiking on your own there, but the scenery is not quite as dramatic as it is on the canyon rim.

I hope this helps! Regards, Nellie

Thank you for the helpful information, Nellie! I was able to finalize the itinerary.

Hello, I use a manual wheelchair, but I can also walk. Can I assume the train is not wheelchair accessible?

hi Cyndi, thanks for dropping in! I’m not 100% sure, but I don’t think the train is wheelchair accessible. It might be wise to email them (I included their email address above). Nonetheless, the train staff (especially on the Chepe Express) are very helpful and will probably help bring your wheelchair in.

Hi Nellie Looks like the Chjepe Express has changed from Thursday to Friday leaving Creel – from chepe website: 8:00 a.m. Departure from Creel (Tuesday, Friday and Sunday) 4:40 p.m. Arrive in Los Mochis. Regards Dean

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Divided from Baja California by the Sea of Cortez, Mexico’s northwest mainland is something of a bizarre – and initially uninviting – introduction to the country, despite containing one of the region’s most alluring natural attractions. The Sierra Tarahumara is wonderfully wild, pristine and remote, concealing six dizzying chasms known collectively as the Barranca del Cobre (or Copper Canyon). Mexico’s last surviving passenger train, nicknamed “El Chepe”, steers a phenomenal course around its rim – one of the world’s ultimate train rides. Other highlights include Álamos, once a silver-mining city and now a charming retreat for expats and artists, and El Fuerte, another colonial town rich in history.

Northern Sinaloa

The copper canyon.

Travelling in this part of Mexico can be incredibly rewarding, but beyond the coastal resorts you’ll see very few tourists. At once fertile, wealthy and heavily Americanized, in parts it is also strikingly impoverished, drab and barren – drug violence in Sinaloa and Sonora has further weakened its appeal, though the risk to visitors is slight. The climate is not exactly welcoming, either – summer temperatures can hit 50°C, while winter nights in the desert drop to freezing levels.

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Mazatlán lies at the southern end of the vast state of Sinaloa, a landscape of scrubby desert and jagged mountains spilling into pristine beaches along the Sea of Cortez. The main city in northern Sinaloa is Los Mochis, an uninteresting destination in itself, but as the western terminus of the Copper Canyon railway, an important transport hub. Many train passengers prefer to head inland to El Fuerte, a tranquil colonial backwater some two hours east. In recent years Sinaloa has garnered a reputation as a centre of drug cartel violence, with a subsequent drop-off in tourist numbers, but despite the scary statistics the places of interest remain safe for visitors.

The rugged mountains of the Sierra Tarahumara rise from the Sinaloa coast and crumple into the southwestern part of the state of Chihuahua, encompassing the beautiful region known as the Copper Canyon. Confusingly, the area actually contains six rivers and over eleven major canyons – the actual Barranca del Cobre usually refers to the northern valley of the Río Urique. The main gorges boast depths of more than 2000m, and if you include the whole area the Grand Canyon is tiny in comparison.

Scenically, however, it’s very hard to compare this region with the great canyons of the southwestern US. Part of the difficulty is in getting a true sense of its size and beauty: though the Copper Canyon railway cuts across some spectacular valleys, you only get a glimpse of the actual Barranca del Cobre once, at Divisadero. The train only brushes the northern edge of the Parque Nacional Barranca del Cobre, which is hard to access: there are no well-marked hiking tracks and official campsites, and serious hikers need to devote the best part of a week to their endeavours. Creel makes a sensible base from which to organize further exploration.

Sierra Tarahumara

Once in Creel, most travellers take the bus or continue on the Copper Canyon railway to Chihuahua, but exploration of the Sierra Tarahumara around Creel is highly recommended. The rugged scenery is exceptionally wild and beautiful. If you’re not up to strenuous activity, or have only limited time, an organized tour is the best way to see the canyons (though these normally require four to six people).

San Ignacio de Arareko

Many tours from Creel take in attractions belonging to the ejido (a collectively owned community) of San Ignacio de Arareko, a Rarámuri land-owning cooperative on the edge of town. To see them independently, follow López Mateos towards the highway, take a left onto the dirt road and continue past the cemetery and uphill into the pine forest.

A few kilometres from the ejido entrance, you’ll encounter the eighteenth-century Misión de San Ignacio and a series of otherworldly rock formations, including the Valley of the Mushrooms, which contains surreal structures closely resembling giant toadstools, and the Valley of the Frogs, with its squat amphibian-like boulders. The Valley of the Monks lies 5km away, and has tall upright stones revered by the Rarámuri as symbols of fertility. Serene Lago de Arareco, 7km from Creel on the main highway to Batopilas, is a beautiful spot for fishing (largemouth bass) and camping – you can stay in a cabin on the lake (see Complejo Eco-Turístico Arareko).

Recowata hot springs

The Recowata hot springs are 22km from Creel at the bottom of Tararecua Canyon, within biking or riding distance; follow the road to Divisadero for 7km and look for the turning on the left. Here you can bathe in seven different concrete pools of steamy, clean, sulphurous water. Note that the steep 3km descent to (and return from) the pools can be very strenuous, and shouldn’t be undertaken by the faint of heart (or when it’s wet – it’s a cobblestone trail). Rarámuri quad bikers are sometimes on hand to provide rides up and down.

Cascada de Cusárare

The Cascada de Cusárare, 30m-high and most impressive during the rainy season (but just a trickle in April/May), lies some 22km from Creel on the Batopilas/Guachochi road, and a forty-minute walk from the highway. You can reach the falls and village by bike, or on the daily Batopilas/Guachochi buses, though you’ll have a long hike back to Creel if you don’t stay overnight. Hitching is a possibility, though you should exercise the usual precautions.

The village of Cusárare itself is 3km further along the road from the Cascada de Cusárare, and contains the eighteenth-century Jesuit Misión de Cusárare adorned with Rarámuri wall paintings completed in the 1970s; the mission’s original art, including a set of twelve rare oil paintings by Miguel Correa (scenes from the life of Mary, painted around 1713), were painstakingly restored in the 1990s and are now housed in the Museo de Loyola next door.

If you want to get a true idea of the scale and beauty of the Sierra Tarahumara, consider a trip to isolated BATOPILAS (460m). Located 123km south of Creel, the town is more accessible now the new road has been opened, though the journey still takes at least four hours (at the time of research the final section of the road was still being paved, but traffic was allowed to pass). The route rises and falls through four of the sierra’s six canyons before commencing a final, convoluted descent to the floor of Batopilas canyon. Founded in 1632, the town emerged as a prosperous silver-mining centre, with production peaking in the nineteenth century under the auspices of the American-owned Batopilas Mining Company. After the Mexican Revolution began in 1910, the town went into a permanent decline and the population plummeted. Today Batopilas is a subtropical place with a population of about 1200 – resplendent with bougainvillea, palm and citrus trees and strung along a single 2km road by the Río Batopilas, it’s a world away from the fresh pine forests of Creel. Though it has garnered a reputation for drug cartel activity in recent years, tourists are never affected and the town is being spruced up in preparation for a mini-tourist boom when the road is finally complete (it was made a Pueblo Mágico in 2012).

Hacienda San Miguel

Just outside Batopilas you can visit the romantic ruin of Hacienda San Miguel, once the opulent home of Batopilas Mining Co founder (and ex-Washington D.C. governor) Alexander Shepherd, who washed up here in 1880. Shepherd is a fascinating and somewhat controversial figure in the US, admired for his social reforms and essentially creating modern D.C., but eventually fired for bankrupting the city. The house itself dates back to the seventeenth century and had been used by mining magnates years before Shepherd took over the place. Abandoned in the 1920s (Shepherd had died in 1902), the hacienda has been in a state of elegant decay ever since, one tower virtually engulfed by a sprawling bougainvillea. To reach the site, walk upriver for around thirty minutes, crossing the bridge when you see the ruins.

There are several worthwhile hikes here, leading from Rarámuri villages as well as to abandoned mines and waterfalls. The best of these go to the “Lost Cathedral”, the eighteenth-century Misión de San Miguel de Satevó, 8km away in a desolate landscape of cacti and dust. A longer, three-day trek leads to the town of Urique, and can be organized with an operator in Creel.

Rustic GUACHOCHI, about 170km to the south of Creel, is an unattractive ranching town of around twelve thousand that nonetheless provides access to the sierra’s most remote and awe-inspiring locale, the Cañon de la Sinforosa (a further 18km south). Some of the hikes in Sinforosa are fairly hardcore – the canyon is 1830m deep and a trek along its length, for example, can take up to three weeks – while easier walks lead to stunning vantage points overlooking the valleys. There are also various hot springs and waterfalls in the region; the most spectacular is the Cascada Rosalinda with an 80m drop. Rarámuri culture is thriving here, with Norogachi, 60km from Guachochi, one of the last remaining Rarámuri ceremonial centres, especially renowned for the vivid celebrations that occur during Semana Santa.

Cascada de Basaseachi

The jaw-dropping 312m Cascada de Basaseachi (also “Basaséachic”), is the second-highest waterfall in Mexico (though the highest, Piedra Volada, a day’s hike from Basaseachi, only flows during the rainy season). The falls make a long, but spectacularly rewarding day’s excursion – about four hours’ drive to the north of Creel (163km via San Pedro), followed by two hours on foot. It’s best to visit in the rainy season (mid–June to Aug), when the falls are fullest. There are two viewpoints; the first is above the falls beyond the otherwise sleepy village of Basaseachi itself, while the second lies on the other side of canyon, affording the best views (trails connect both viewpoints). The falls are located within the largely unexplored Barranca de Candameña, the widest canyon in the region, with staggering sheer rock walls.

Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico

The 653km, fifteen-hour train journey along the Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico (Copper Canyon railway), which starts on the sweaty Pacific coast at Los Mochis, fights its way up to cross the Continental Divide amid the peaks of the Sierra Madre Occidental, then drifts down across the high plains of Chihuahua, is one of the world’s most extraordinary rail journeys. Mesmerizing views come thick and fast as the line hangs over the vast canyons of the Río Urique and its tributaries, with jagged peaks smothered in dense forest, and narrow, precipitous gorges falling away on both sides.

From Los Mochis or El Fuerte, the start of the journey is an inauspicious grind across the humid coastal plain. As the line breaks into the mountains the train zigzags dizzily upwards for six hours, clinging to the canyon wall, rocketing across bridges and plunging into tunnels, only to find itself constantly just a few metres above the track it covered twenty minutes earlier. Eventually, you arrive at Divisadero, where there’s a halt of about fifteen minutes to marvel at the view of the Copper Canyon itself. There are a couple of expensive places to stay here and a few bare-bones cheaper ones as well, but for most people it’s all too rapidly back on the train, which clanks on for an hour to Creel, just past the halfway stage and, at 2330m, close to the highest point of the line (note, though, that after Divisadero the scenery is far less scintillating). This is the place to stop if you seriously want to explore the Sierra Tarahumara and the canyons.

From Creel, the train takes a further six hours to reach Chihuahua – though beautiful, it’s not a truly spectacular run, and at the time of research one of the proposed El Chepe changes was to cut this section entirely. In any case, there’s a regular bus service from Creel to Chihuahua: it’s cheaper than even the second-class train fare, is quicker and covers much the same ground.

Founded in the sixteenth century, EL FUERTE is a tranquil, verdant town of handsome colonial architecture and lush mango trees. In the 1800s it became rich from mining, and was made a city in 1906; the Revolution devastated the place and it’s been a backwater ever since. In 2009 the town joined Mexico’s burgeoning Pueblos Mágicos programme, and since then the otherwise doomed-to-decay Spanish architecture near the plaza has gradually been restored. Though several boutique hotels have opened up, thanks to low tourist numbers El Fuerte has yet to see a full-scale transformation – the commercial area along Juárez remains just as scrappy as ever, the plaza relatively tourist-free and most of the restored buildings are still empty. Bizarrely, recent attempts to market El Fuerte as the home of Zorro – the fictional character whose adventures were set in California – seem to have worked, with nightly shows at the Posada del Hidalgo.

Located 75km northeast of Los Mochis on the rail line, El Fuerte certainly makes a pleasant alternative start (or end) to the Copper Canyon train ride, and is a far more appealing place to stay than Los Mochis. Just make sure you take insect repellent – Fuerte’s bobos (tiny two-winged insects more officially known as Paraleucopis mexicana) are a real pest in the spring.

The town centre is small and easy to navigate, being focused on the elegant portales of Plaza de Armas, with its grand Palacio Municipal (1907), the modest Iglesia Sagrado de Corazón (1745) and the fort (fuerte) itself, a short walk south (and clearly visible).

The Rarámuri

Even when the bare mountain peaks here are snow-covered, the climate on the Copper Canyon floor is semitropical – a fact that the indigenous Rarámuri (also known, incorrectly, as the Tarahumara), depend on, migrating in winter to the warmth of the deep canyons. The Rarámuri, who were driven here after the Spanish Conquest and whose population now totals some sixty thousand, live in isolated communities along the rail line and in the surrounding Sierra Tarahumara, eking out an existence from the sparse patches of cultivatable land. Although their isolation is increasingly encroached upon by commercial forestry interests, ranchers and growing numbers of travellers, they remain an independent people, close to their traditions. Despite centuries of missionary work, their religious life embraces only token aspects of Catholicism and otherwise remains true to its animist roots, their chief deities being the gods of the sun, moon and rain. Above all, the tribe is renowned for running: a common feature of local festivals are the foot races between villages that last at least one day and sometimes several on end, with the runners kicking a wooden ball ahead of them as they go (Norogachi is one of the best places to see this, as is Urique, the home of the Copper Canyon Ultramarathon).

Once nothing more than a rough-and-ready backwater, CREEL (2330m) has rapidly transformed into a full-blown mountain resort of ten thousand people. Indeed, Creel is yet another Pueblo Mágico and has seen tourism all but replace logging as its main industry; on most days (but especially Sunday) you’ll be greeted by a weird juxtaposition of laidback Western backpackers, smartly dressed locals, rich Mexican tourists in their 4WDs and ragged Rarámuri trinket sellers and their children, trying to make a buck or two. In July and August the town is invaded by Mexican tour groups – the best hotels often get completely booked up at this time. This is not to say that the town has become completely commercial; beneath the facade of development, Creel is still a rural mountain town at heart, and an ideal base from which to explore the area. Note that construction of Creel’s airport – Aeropuerto Regional Barrancas del Cobre – was delayed in 2014 after protests by the local Rarámuri, but should be operating sometime in 2016.

The Mennonites

Towards the eastern end of the Copper Canyon rail line, the city of Cuauhtémoc contains Mexico’s largest Mennonite community (around fifty thousand). You’ll come across Mennonites throughout Chihuahua and Durango – the men in bib-and-tucker overalls and straw stetsons, as often as not trying to sell the tasty cheese that is their main produce, and the women, mostly silent, wrapped in long, nineteenth-century dresses with a headscarf. The Christian sect, founded in the sixteenth century by a Dutchman, Menno Simons, believe only in the Bible and their personal conscience: their refusal to do military service or take national oaths of loyalty has led to a long history of persecution; today there are famously large communities of Mennonites (and their Amish cousins) in Pennsylvania, US. The Mennonites arrived in Mexico in the 1920s from Manitoba, Canada, but among themselves they still speak a form of German, although so divergent as to be virtually unintelligible to a modern German-speaker. Note that the Mennonites of Cuauhtémoc are not as traditional as their American cousins these days – indeed, they own local banks, stores and restaurants.

The runners of Copper Canyon

Popularized by Chris McDougall’s best-selling book Born to Run (2009), the Copper Canyon Ultramarathon or "Ultramaraton Caballo Blanco" was established in 2003 by extreme runner Micah True (his nickname was Caballo Blanco, or “White Horse”). True (who died in 2012) wanted to draw attention to the plight of the impoverished Rarámuri in the region, and the 80km race, though now open to anyone, still provides food vouchers and blankets to Rarámuri runners. In large part thanks to the book, the race has become a legend in the world of ultra-running, attracting around a hundred international runners each year. Usually held in February in Urique, in 2015 the race was cancelled due to concerns about drug-related gang violence in the valley – check norawas.org for the latest.

Another Pueblo Mágico , the enchanting town of ÁLAMOS offers a tranquil slice of colonial Mexico and a welcome break from the dusty cities along the main north-south highways. It’s a great place to do nothing for a while: a tour of the town takes no longer than a couple of hours, and there’s little else to do but soak up the languid atmosphere.

In the cooler winter months, Álamos is also a good base for exploring the fairly distinct ecosystem hereabouts; the meeting of Sonoran and Sinaloan deserts, at the foot of the Sierra Madre Occidental, has created a home for a broad range of flora and fauna. In particular, this is a birdwatching paradise, boasting several hundred different species.

Around 16km west of Guaymas, the small town of SAN CARLOS is gradually becoming a larger resort geared towards a mainly retired North American clientele. The main activities here are diving and fishing , though the chief attraction above the water is the scenery: the resort is dominated by the barren, jagged peaks of Cerro Tatakawi, and the scorched desert landscape makes a stunning backdrop to a series of inviting bays, beaches and cobalt-blue waters. Founded only in the 1960s, San Carlos sports a seasonal population of around seven thousand today.

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written by Andy Turner

updated 26.04.2021

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Purchasing the Right Travel Insurance for Mexico

Travel insurance is a must for anyone leaving their home country or, in many cases, even leaving their home province/state. Finding the right travel insurance for Mexico will depend on what kind of coverage you’re looking for, where you’re from and where in Mexico you’re going, a very important and often overlooked factor. In this article we’ll cover:

• The main types of travel  insurance
• The questions you need to ask before making a purchase
• Insurance specifically for the Copper Canyon
• Insurance providers depending on your country of residence
• Tips to prevent a denied claim

Types of Travel Insurance Coverage for Mexico

The term ‘travel insurance’ is fairly general and in most cases you’ll need to specify what you’d like coverage for when purchasing insurance for travel to Mexico. Listed below are the primary options offered by most insurance companies. Usually you can choose just one or a combination but always read the fine print to know exactly what is covered, as it varies from company to company.

Emergency Medical

Covers or reimburses medical expenses up to a certain amount in case of emergency. Extreme sports and activities are not always covered by emergency medical plans. Depending on the emergency the insurance company may wish to fly the patient back to their home country for medical attention. In this case, transportation costs should be covered by the insurer. Once back in their home country the travel insurance will no longer cover medical expenses.

Trip Cancellation/Interruption

Covers or reimburses expenses incurred after unexpected cancellations or delays in travel plans. There are often many stipulations with this coverage such as how many hours the trip was delayed or reasons for cancellation. For example, many insurers will not cover a cancelled trip because of civil unrest if there was already a ‘do not travel’ advisory when the trip was booked. On the other hand, most will cover costs for a trip cancelled because of a change in travel advisory from ‘safe’ to ‘do not travel’.

Check your country’s government travel advisories for Mexico before purchasing insurance for your trip. If unsure about whether you’ll be covered, call the insurance company before purchasing.

The earlier you purchase this type of coverage, the more likely you are to be covered in the case that your trip is cancelled. Some companies even require this coverage be purchased within 24 hours of the initial trip deposit.

Lost, Stolen or Damaged Luggage

Reimburses expenses for essential purchases in the case of lost luggage or covers personal items lost, stolen or damaged in travel. Check the single article limit before purchasing, as many insurance policies have a maximum of a few hundred dollars, which is not enough to cover most cameras, phones or computers.

Never check luggage with valuable items such as cameras, computers, or jewellery. Always keep your valuable items with you on flights, buses and trains.

How to Find the Best Travel Insurance for Mexico

Everyone should ensure they have Emergency Medical Insurance for any trip they take outside their country but whether or not you purchase Trip Cancellation or Lost Luggage Insurance is up to you.

There are many insurance companies and each one has multiple plans available so it can be tough to know which to choose. Here are a few questions you should answer before purchasing your travel insurance for Mexico.

Pre-existing conditions are the number one reason claims are denied. Some insurance companies will exclude coverage for any pre-existing conditions. Others will provide coverage if the condition has been stable for a certain amount of time but you usually need to purchase the insurance immediately after booking the trip.

The single article limit with most insurance policies is too low to cover these items and an additional insurance policy will likely be needed.

Once you’ve answered the questions above you should have a better idea of what you’d like covered and what to look for in an insurance provider.

Travel insurance for Copper Canyon and Other Travel Advisory Regions

Considering there are travel advisories for the Copper Canyon region (Chihuahua and Sinaloa) it’s important to know what kind of coverage you can expect when in this area.

To find out more about safety concerns in the Copper Canyon click here .

There are stipulations in many insurance policies with regards to coverage in areas with travel advisories. At the time of writing this, the Canadian and American governments have “avoid non-essential travel” advisories for the Copper Canyon region.

Check your government travel advisory page for Mexico by clicking on your country below or visiting your government website.

AUSTRALIA | CANADA | U.K. | U.S.A.

If you’ve already purchased insurance take a very close look at your policy or call them to determine whether this may affect coverage.

Due to these government travel advisories, an insurance company may deny any claims for injury or illness while in the affected areas, even if unrelated to the travel advisory reason. It’s best not to take the risk and find a company that will provide coverage regardless of the advisory.

I called my insurance company to find out what kind of coverage I can expect and was told that it would be dealt with on a case-by-case basis and it’s likely they won’t cover expenses incurred while I’m in an area with a travel advisory, such as the Copper Canyon. As a result, I’ve found alternative coverage for when I travel in that region.

I did some research to find companies that, at the time of writing this, will provide coverage in the Copper Canyon. I mention them below in the next section, Country of Residence .

Country of Residence

Insurance costs and coverage vary depending on your country of residence so click on your country below to see specific companies.

Canada | U.K. | U.S.A.

This site contains some affiliate links. Making a purchase through an affiliate link does not affect prices but I’ll make a small commission. Income from these links helps me continue to grow the site and keep it up to date.

Canadian Residents – Travel Insurance for Mexico

For my travels throughout most of Mexico and as a Canadian with provincial health care coverage I find I get the best prices for Emergency Medical Insurance through Travel Cuts . I’ve only ever made one claim, and it was small, but the process was very easy and fast. They’re my go-to when I’m buying medical coverage only, however, they do offer trip cancellation insurance as well.

For travel in the Copper Canyon , a region with a travel advisory for Canadians, I prefer to use Blue Cross , as they don’t mention stipulations with regards to travel advisories in their policies. Always double-check the fine print before you purchase.

To compare quotes from different insurers use Kanetix and find a provider that suits your budget and needs.

Many credit card companies offer varying travel insurance options either already included with your card or at an additional fee. Check with your credit card company to see what they offer and what’s covered.

Regardless of which provider you choose make sure you read the policy carefully to know exactly what you’re covered for.

U.K. Residents – Travel Insurance for Mexico

Aviva is a big name in UK insurance and they’re a safe bet when it comes to travel insurance too. They keep things simple with a single plan and optional add-ons depending on what you want to be covered for, like lost baggage, or trip cancellation. They’re not the cheapest but they have good reviews within the industry and better medical coverage than some of the cheaper plans.

Once again, it’s important to read the fine print to be sure that you’re covered for what you need.

Click here to get a quote from Aviva Travel Insurance.

U.S. Residents – Travel Insurance for Mexico

Allianz Global Assistance provides American travellers with a multitude of plans to choose from with good prices. Under certain circumstances they’ll also cover pre-existing medical conditions.

I like Allianz Global Assistance because they provide insurance for Travel Cuts in Canada, which is the insurance I always purchase for myself. I’ve made a small claim in the past and required multiple refunds when returning from trips ahead of schedule and they’ve always been quick and easy to work with.

Allianz is great if you’re NOT travelling to a region for which the U.S. has issued a travel advisory. If that’s the case for you then click here to find the plan that works best for you. And don’t forget to read the fine print to ensure you’ll be covered for everything you need.

However, for travel to the Copper Canyon , or any region of Mexico with a travel advisory, RoamRight is a better choice. They provide a few different travel insurance plans and will cover pre-existing medical conditions under certain circumstances (one of which is paying for the insurance within 24 hours of your first trip deposit, and insuring all trip costs).

RoamRight policies don’t contain any stipulations with regards to travel advisories so you’re much more likely to be covered for unexpected medical expenses.

It’s underwritten by Arch Insurance Company, which has a very good credit rating. You can click here to get a quote from RoamRight . Always read the fine print in the policy before making a purchase.

Tips to Prevent a Denied Claim

Whatever company you choose to buy your travel insurance for Mexico from, it’s important to know how to make a claim before you leave for your trip. Otherwise you may risk having your claim denied.

The first thing to do is read the literature that comes with your policy as each company has their own procedure. Next, follow these tips to help avoid issues if you ever need to make a claim.

Keep all your receipts for flights, hotels and tours. If you need to buy essentials because of lost or delayed luggage, make sure you keep all of the receipts.

If your luggage is delayed or lost, have the airline provide written proof of the situation.

Have your travel insurance contact information handy so you or someone else can call if you’re in need of medical help. Some insurers need to pre-approve an expense and failure to call before getting treatment may result in a reduced reimbursement. Many companies will also help you find a health care professional nearby.

Know beforehand whether your insurer will pay any medical provider directly or if they only guarantee payment, in which case you may need to pay fees out of pocket and provide receipts to the insurance company for reimbursement. Calling the insurance company prior to seeking treatment can help avoid these out of pockets payments.

Know what circumstances count as a trip cancellation in your policy. If it’s not in the policy it won’t be covered.

Ensure you’ve acknowledged any pre-existing medical conditions prior to purchase. Otherwise, any expenses related to a pre-existing condition are unlikely to be covered by your travel insurance.

It’s unlikely that any medical costs will be covered or reimbursed if they are the result of an injury while intoxicated.

If travelling to a region where your government has issued a travel advisory , be sure that your insurance company will still provide coverage. Check the policy for exclusions or give them a call.

Choosing and purchasing your travel insurance for Mexico may seem like a chore but it does bring peace of mind and is well worth a small investment of time and money.

Happy travels!

Related Posts

10 Facts About Mexico’s Copper Canyon

Topolobampo and Los Mochis Sinaloa

Travelling to Copper Canyon, Mexico – Safety Considerations

Things to do in El Fuerte, Sinaloa

Things to do in Divisadero, Mexico

Things to do in Chihuahua

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