Chihuahua...

Located in the northern region, Chihuahua is Mexico’s largest state. Due to its indigenous and European influences, this state, known for its hot climate, offers an interesting cultural mix in its towns, cities and wonderful countryside. In the city of Chihuahua, the state capital, you can walk along the streets and check out the elegant plazas built in the colonial era and during the mining boom in the 19th century. In border city Ciudad Juarez, you can visit modern museums and entertaining recreational areas.

The state of Chihuahua also offers interesting archaeological zones like Paquime, a mysterious pre-Hispanic city of adobe constructions. In the surrounding areas, you can visit diverse nature parks, such as Medanos de Samalayuca, which is ideal for mountain bike riding, or the Cascada de Basaseachi, an excellent spot for rappelling and rock climbing. And then of course there’s the famous Copper Canyon, one of the largest canyon systems in the world. In this region you can attend various sports events or go hiking to observe a wide variety of plant and animal species. If you’d like the full tour of the canyon, we recommend that you take Chihuahua-Pacifico train route, also known as CHEPE, which makes stop in the towns of Creel and Cuauhtemoc, where you can visit the largest Mennonite community in the state and try their excellent cheeses. During the tour, you can also buy traditional crafts made by the Tarahumara (also called the Raramuri) people.

ECOTOURISM
The canyon system has more than 500 flora species, including 15 pine and 25 oak varieties. It is also the habitat of 300 bird species, 87 reptile varieties, 20 types of amphibians and 50 kinds of freshwater fish. Needless to say, it is one of the most biologically diverse regions in the world. In addition, the canyons have impressive waterfalls, which you can appreciate up close or from various lookouts.

Barranca del Cobre (Copper Canyon). Located between the towns of Urique and Creel, in the central part of the Parque Natural Barrancas del Cobre. This canyon has a depth of 1300 meters (4,290 feet) and it gets its name from the copper that was mined in the area. From the top of the Mogotabo lookout you’ll see an amazing steep and a beautiful pine and oak forest.

Barranca de Sinforosa. Located in the southeastern part of the Parque Natural Barrancas del Cobre, 16 km (10 mi) from the town of Guachochi. This canyon is 120 km (74 mi) in length and has a spectacular lookout called Cumbres de Sinforosa. The highest point of the canyon’s rim is the Cumbres de Guerachi, which is 1830 meters (6,039 feet).

Barranca de Urique. Located in the central part of the Parque Natural Barrancas del Cobre, near El Divisadero. This is the deepest canyon with a drop of 1879 meters (6,200 feet). To arrive here, you’ll find ground transportation departing from Creel. From the lookout points you can appreciate a large pine and oak forest, which is the habitat of eagles, woodpeckers, deer, raccoons and coypu, among other animal species.

Barranca de Batopilas. Located in the southern part of the Parque Natural Barrancas del Cobre, between the towns of Creel and Guachochi. This canyon’s La Bufa lookout, which offers a breathtaking view, is 1800 meters (5,940 feet) high.

Barranca de Chinipas. Located in the southwestern part of the Parque Natural Barrancas del Cobre, near Urique. You can arrive by train at the Temoris station. At the bottom of the canyon, which is 1600 meters (5,280 feet) deep, you’ll see the Chinipas River, which is part of the Rio Fuerte river basin. In this canyon, you can also visit the oldest mission town in the Sierra Tarahumara, which was founded in 1626.

Barranca de Oteros.Located in the northern part of the Parque Natural Barrancas del Cobre, between the towns of Uruachi and Maguarichi. From the Maguarichi lookout you can hike along a beautiful trail that leads to thermal springs.

Barranca de Candameña. Located in the northern part of the Parque Natural Barrancas del Cobre, within another park called the Parque Nacional Cascada de Basaseachi, which covers some 625 hectares (1,543 acres). This place has forests, canyons, streams and the Basaseachi Waterfall, which is 246 meters (812 feet) high. It is one of Mexico’s biggest waterfalls, the fifth tallest in the Americas and ranks 21st worldwide. From the Ventana lookout you’ll get a spectacular view of the waterfall.

Cascada de Piedra Volada. Located in the northwestern part of the Parque Natural Barrancas del Cobre, 7 km (4 mi) from Basaseachi, in the Candameña Canyon. This rocky waterfall is 453 meters (1,495 feet) tall. The lookout offers a view of the 700-meter (2,310-foot) cliff and a pine and oak forest.

Discover more…
A surprising tourist route in the north of Mexico! The Chihuahua-Pacific railway comprises of 656km of tracks that traverse deep canyons, connect Chihuahua with Los Mochis in Sinaloa and constitute one of the best designed means of transportation in the world.

The Chihuahua-Pacific railroad, which is one of the best tourist railroads in Mexico, is the only way to travel across one of the world’s biggest ravine networks.

This train that is popularly known as "CHEPE", travels a total of 656km between the city of Chihuahua, other cities in the same state and Los Mochis in the state of Sinaloa, traversing some of most spectacular areas of the Barrancas del Cobre (the Copper Canyon). Every year more than 260,000 tourists embark this train.

Its construction started in 1872 and was not finished until 1961; thanks to the challenges posed by the mountains, abysses and narrow passes. Currently, the train crosses 37 bridges and goes through 86 tunnels due to which it has gained global recognition as a unique engineering marvel.

The CHEPE is also one of the most comfortable trains in the world and it sports a dining wagon, a bar and passenger wagons.

More information: http://www.visitmexico.com/

Copper Canyon City Tour