Travel Guide COPPER CANYON Contents DISCOVER COPPER CANYON 01 COPPER CANYON PROFILE 03 COPPER CANYON ATTRACTIONS 04 COPPER CANYON DINING 09 COPPER CANYON SHOPPING 10 COPPER CANYON NIGHTLIFE 13 THINGS TO DO IN COPPER CANYON 14 DISCOVER COPPER CANYON Copper Canyon is one of the most impressive natural monuments in the world. The “El Chepe” railroad crosses through the states of Sinaloa and Chihuahua and offers tourists breathtaking views of the canyon. This natural attraction is comprised of 23 square miles of mountains with legendary cliffs, waterfalls that reach heights of 1,500 feet, and expansive areas of pine and oak forests. Words cannot describe the views of the mountains and natural landscapes that exist in the canyon. In this incredible setting you can enjoy a variety of ecotourism activities, such as rock climbing, rappelling, mountain biking, horseback riding, and bird watching. The canyons are also home to the Raramuri or Tarahumara, an indigenous group whose culture dates back millennia and who still manage to retain their ancient customs and beliefs. Some of the most traditional Tarahumara communities live in Batopilas Canyon, which is known for its wealth of minerals. At 6,165 feet, Urique Canyon is considered to be the deepest canyon in Mexico. Also worth noting is Sinforosa Canyon with a depth of just over 6,000 feet, where you’ll find the Rosalinda and San Ignacio waterfalls and rock paintings that date back to the eighteenth century. Finally, Candamena Canyon is home to two of the tallest waterfalls in Mexico, Piedra Volada and Basaseachi. 1 TARAHUMARA CULTURE The mountains have been home to many indigenous cultures. Some remain today, as in the case of the Tarahumara, which means “light-footed,” who are known for being excellent runners. Festivities are a way to get closer to the indigenous peoples, whose dances and offerings are basic elements of their mystical-religious celebrations and are always accompanied by the fermented corn drink called tesguino. The women in the community are skilled at weaving thick blankets, bags, belts, baskets, and hats from local materials, while the men are experts at carving wood. Many species of medicinal plants are used in their traditional healing practices, giving their cures a magic touch, and this legacy has contributed to modern medicinal sciences. 2 COPPER CANYON PROFILE Spectacular mountains, canyons and waterfalls. Home of the Tarahumara. Incredible ride aboard the Chihuahua – Pacifico Railroad, known as “El Chepe”. Great destination for adventure sports and ecotourism. Extensive pine and oak forests. Known for the traditional handicrafts of the Tarahumara. 3 COPPER CANYON ATTRACTIONS Copper Canyon is an attraction that offers lots to discover, including spectacular geography, local indigenous groups, and towns that are rich in history and culture. One of the highlights of visiting the region is the opportunity to enjoy a variety of adventure sports and ecotourism activities. EL CHEPE Since 1961, the “El Chepe” railroad has provided daily service through the Sierra Madre Occidental, showcasing one of the most significant features in the history and folklore of the Tarahumara culture: the Copper Canyon. The best way to tour the canyon is by train, and the Chihuahua – Pacifico Railroad is considered one of the most impressive feats of engineering in the world. It includes tourist stops in Chihuahua, Cuauhtemoc, Creel, Divisadero Barrancas, Bahuichivo, El Fuerte and Los Mochis. 4 ADVENTURE AND ECOTOURISM Adventure travel and ecotourism are great reasons to visit the Sierra Tarahumara and admire the incredible beauty of the region. Every summer the Adventure Tourism Festival takes place in the towns of Creel and Guachochi, with mountain biking, triathlon, and ultra-marathon competitions, as well as half marathon and 10k races. CREEL This town is located 7,350 feet above sea level and is a strategic point for visitors to the canyons of the Sierra Tarahumara. The town economy used to be dependent on the mills. Nowadays, tourism and trade are two of the most significant economic drivers. It has houses with gabled rooftops and is surrounded by pine and oak forests. Along the main street you’ll find a variety of craft shops where you can buy clay pots, hand-woven baskets made of palm and pine, wood carvings, and traditional Tarahumara clothing. In Creel you can also enjoy adventure tourism, such as rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking, rappelling, and tours of the canyons. 5 CEROCAHUI From the Bahuichivo train station you’ll travel 11 miles along a dirt road to reach Cerocahui. The town was founded in 1680, by Juan Maria de Salvaterra, a Jesuit missionary who built the San Francisco Javier de Cerocahui Mission in the town center. From here, you can access the most spectacular lookout point in the canyon. Located at the top of Gallego Mountain, it overlooks the 6,165-foot-deep Urique Canyon, the deepest in the Sierra Tarahumara. AERIAL CABLE CAR, ZIPLINES, AND SUSPENSION BRIDGES This ecotourism project can be enjoyed in the Divisadero area. It is considered one of the most impressive aerial cable cars in the world for the stunning topography, its length, and the amazing views that it offers. It takes just six minutes to get to the bottom of Urique Canyon, and it features five ziplines and three suspension bridges. The trails are designed for mountain bikers who are permitted to board the cable car with their bikes. This engineering feat is a huge step forward for alternative tourism in Chihuahua. 6 RECOHUATA The Recohuata hot springs are located at the bottom of Tararecua Canyon, where abundant warm water rises up from the rocks and is concentrated in five pools. The water temperature is naturally maintained at 95°F and there’s a campsite nearby. It is located a few miles southeast of Creel and is part of the Ejido San Ignacio, managed by the Raramuri. CUSARARE This seventeenth-century Jesuit mission is located next to the Sacred Art Museum which displays oil paintings from the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries that were used to convert the natives to Christianity. You can follow a path into the forest to visit Cusarare Falls, a waterfall that reaches a height of 100 feet during the summer season and feeds into a large stream. Further along, you’ll find paintings depicting deer hunting. 7 MENNONITE COMMUNITIES The Mennonites arrived in Chihuahua in 1922 from Canada and their presence often comes as a pleasant surprise to travelers passing through Cuauhtemoc. They can be seen in the city or countryside dressed in traditional sixteenth-century clothing, as is customary, and using horse-drawn carriages for transportation. The Mennonite Museum is housed in a typical Mennonite home and displays a collection of furniture and artifacts brought by the first settlers to the region. SANTA MARIA DE GUADALUPE SCHOOL AND BOARDING HOUSE This school welcomes visitors and serves a population of nearly 250 children. It is also home to 70 indigenous girls under the age of 15. The boarding house or “Tewecado,” as it’s referred to in the language of the Tarahumara, means “Home for Girls,” and it was built to provide food, shelter, clothing, medical care, and education for the girls. It relies on the support of individuals and organizations to continue its educational and humanitarian efforts to improve the lives of Tarahumara children. 8 DIVISADERO Divisadero is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the canyon. Located 31 miles from the town of Creel, it is situated at the junction of the Urique and Tararecua canyons. It features several lookout points with spectacular views. This town is home to some of the best hotels in the region, where you can relax in comfort while enjoying breathtakingly beautiful views of the surrounding mountain landscape. 9 SAN IGNACIO DE ARAREKO This traditional Tarahumara community is located five miles from Creel and its inhabitants are scattered over 50,000 acres of forest. Its center is in the Arareko Valley, where you’ll find the San Ignacio Mission, which serves as a meeting place for the entire community. The valley has been called the Valley of Mushrooms and Frogs because of its rock formations. A few miles further on is Arareko Lake with its clear waters surrounded by rocks, and pine and oak trees with foliage that turns red and gold in the fall. Here, you can enjoy fishing or boat rides. FLYING STONE FALLS AND BASASEACHI FALLS With a height of 1,486 feet, Flying Stone Falls (Cascada de Piedra Volada) is the tallest waterfall in Mexico and the eleventh-tallest in the world. It is located 4.5 miles from Basaseachi Falls, which is the second tallest waterfall in the country with a height of more than 800 feet. Breathtakingly beautiful, it is surrounded by one of the best preserved pine forests in Mexico. This waterfall can only be reached on foot and all visitors must be accompanied by a local guide. There are paths that lead to the Huajumar and Cerro de la Corona lookout points, which are situated across from the waterfall on the other side of the scenic Candamena Canyon. You can observe this incredible natural attraction from the top of the waterfall, its base, and several vantage points along the trail that leads through the forest to San Lorenzo. 10 COPPER CANYON DINING The cuisine in the Copper Canyon is quite similar to what you might find in the state capital of Chihuahua. Although they frequently use fruits and vegetables, the main ingredients are meat, chilies, and corn tortillas. In the village eateries called “fondas” you can enjoy traditional meals, such as “cocido de carne,” which is a type of soup prepared with pieces of rib, shank, tail and bone marrow.