Los Mochis is the western terminus of the Chihuahua-Pacific
Railroad, or ChePe, which passes through the scenic Copper
Canyon. This railway was originally conceived by Albert K. Owen and
approved by President Porfirio Díaz as a trade route linking the cattle
markets in Kansas City with the nearest port on the Pacific Ocean,
Topolobampo.
Today the Pacífico Norte irrigation region (Sinaloa-Sonora) in which the "Valle del Fuerte" is the largest
district and is the principal agricultural area of Sinaloa, containing
over 70% of all irrigated land and producing sugar cane, cotton, rice,
flowers, and many types of vegetables.
The Puerto de Topolobampo lies
on Mexico’s western shores on the Gulf of California in the State of
Sinaloa. About 211 kilometers northwest of the Puerto de Mazatlán, the
Puerto de Topolobampo is a busy ferry port for passengers moving to and
from La Paz in Baja California Sur. It is also at the southern end of an
international trade corridor that begins in the Midland-Odessa, Texas,
region. It is the fourth-biggest town making up the Ahome municipality and
had a population of about six thousand people in 2005.
The Gateway to Copper Canyon.
El Fuerte was founded in 1564 by Spanish conquistador Don Francisco de
Ibarra, the first explorer in the treasures of the Western Sierra Madre
mountains. In 1610 a fort was built to ward off the fierce Zuaque and
Tehueco Indians, who constantly harassed the Spaniards. El Fuerte was the
gateway to the last frontiers of northern Indian territories of Sonora,
Arizona and California.
The Divisadero and Areponapuchi train station
is located 50 kilometers (30 miles) to the southwest of Creel. It is one
of the most famous tourist spots of the whole Copper Canyon range. Before,
it was accessible only by train,
from Los
Mochis or Chihuahua, but today, there is a country highway from Creel.
This location has one of the most open viewpoints looking into Urique
Canyon, which drops to a depth of 1,200 meters (3,960 feet). El
Divisadero offers some of the best hotels of the range and receives a
great number of international visitors. Its principal attraction are the
views of Urique Canyon which you'll be able to enjoy them from the rooms
of some of the hotels, and the opportunity to take guided tours into the
canyon.
Locally known as
"Arepo", is a village a few miles west of Divisadero, toward
Mochis. Arepo is also the Posada Barrancas train stop. There are many foreigners
here, some of whom now operate simple, family-style posadas. There is
nothing to do in Areponapuchi but hike, sightsee and enjoy the true flavor
of Sierra Madre life.
This old rail and logging town of several
thousand inhabitants is re-styling itself into a regional tourist center
and Copper Canyon "gateway." Creel’s small shops, budget
hotels and bus connections make it a good base for explorations into
several outlying canyons and interesting highland communities. A ferw good
sidetrips: the Tarahumara eco-reserve of Arareco (San Ignacio), with its
lake, campground and amazing rock formations; the mission and waterfall at
Cusárare; and Batopilas.
On the floor of the Copper Canyon sits
the once-booming mining town of Batopilas. Reached after a 5-6 drive over
unpaved and tortuous roads, Batopilas is typically 30 degrees warmer and
seemingly a century removed from Creel. Batopilas thrived from the 1740s
until the early 1900s when the mines finally gave out. In the late 19th
century, an American (Alexander R. Shepherd) arrived and built bridges,
aqueducts and even a hydroelectric plant that aided both his mining
operations and the town.
The train is met by the Urique bus and shuttles from Cerocahui. The
village has an expensive lodge as well as cheaper rooms. Check out the Paraíso
del Oso, a family-style eco-lodge and campground in beautiful
surroundings near Cerocahui. The owner encourages independent hiking and
camping, and doesn’t turn away visitors on a budget.
A couple of hours
beyond Cerocahui by bus, the village lies at the bottom of the Urique
Canyon, beside the Urique River. There are several hotels and one
good campground, known simply as "Tom’s" or "Lo de Tomás."
Owned by Americans, this is the place to find peace and quiet (the village
is noisy) as well as information on hiking and trail conditions. Plan on
spending a couple of full days and two or three nights around Urique.
A
modern Mexican city, Cuauhtemoc lies en route to the state capital of
Chihuahua. Named after the mighty Aztec leader, Cuauhtemoc is now the home
of several thousand Mennonites who came to the area shortly after the
Mexican Revolution to farm lands which were formerly owned by William
Randolph Hearst. The Mennonites live in a series of numbered “campos”
just outside of the city and still preserve their traditional pious
lifestyle. They are very prosperous farmers and market their crops
throughout Mexico along with their famous cheese.
Chihuahua
is an attractive city, with an upbeat, friendly atmosphere that deserves
more of a look than most people give it. I suggest a walking and taxi tour
that takes in the city’s market, museums and historical sites. Stroll
the open-air pedestrian mall (across from the cathedral), visit the
Cultural Institute, and shop for saddles, quirts, chaps, sombreros and
pointy-toed boots—this is serious cowboy country so the selection is
incredible. The city also has some very tempting bakeries.
If you’re headed into the Sierra Madre, take a few minutes to exchange
U.S. dollars or traveler’s checks into Mexican pesos at one of the
convenient banks or casas de cambio (money exchange shops) in the downtown
area.
Located in
the southern part of Sonora’s mountain range, about 50 kilometers east
of Navojoa, this settlement was born as a silver mine town back in the
1680's. It is considered a colonial jewel because of its unspoiled
architecture and is also known as the “City of Gates”. The city’s atmosphere is filled with
history. The church in the town’s center plaza, the Chapel of Zapopan,
the pavilion, the gazebo, the cemetery, the city government palace, the
old jail, and the main square are just a few of the places that have
helped shape the Mexico of today.
Located on the Sea of Cortez, the lovely
Mexican resort community of San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico offers something
for everyone. For water sports enthusiasts, there are beautiful sand
beaches, spectacular diving and snorkeling, kayaking, and offshore
fishing. San Carlos is only a 250 mile, 4-hour drive from Nogales, AZ on Mexico
Highway 15, a four-lane divided highway. The community hosts an 18-hole
championship golf course, tennis courts, a bowling alley and numerous gift
shops and galleries for shopping and browsing.
Cosala is located
155 km. from state capital Culiacán. The Royal of the Eleven Thousand
Virgins, shortened its name to the Royal Mines of Cosala is the municipal
seat and without doubt one of the most beautiful villages of the state,
keeping a quiet atmosphere that seem like you are in a story book. As if
history had stopped in the times of the Spaniards. Every little street is
a delight. One would want to stay at least a couple of days in Cosala.
Something in the air inspires romance, an ideal place for lovers...
Located
on Mexico's Gold Coast, Mazatlan is the closest Mexican resort to the
United States, and it's been a favorite destination for those looking to
soak up the relaxed pace of life along the Pacific Coast for decades.
Nicknamed
the "Pearl of the Pacific," Mazatlan offers everything from
full-service all-inclusive resort life to intimate villas, hotels and
private residences available for short- or long-term rental. It is in
every respect a top-notch vacation getaway, but without the relentless
push to go, see and do present in so many places. Mazatlan embraces
tourists, but is a full, rich city in its own right above and beyond its
attractiveness.
For
golfers, courses designed by Lee Trevino and Robert Trent Jones, Jr., one
of the world's foremost course designers, will challenge and delight with
fantastic layouts and stunning ocean views
