Chihuahua & Copper Canyon

Mexico's largest and one of its richest states, Chihuahua, shares a 275-mile border with Texas and New Mexico. Among the many places of interest are the capital city and Copper Canyon.

Chihuahua City

Located only 220 miles south of El Paso, Chihuahua City (population 822,100) is the state capital. The capital city's wealth was originally built on cattle, mining and timber, but Chihuahua has recently become a thriving industrial city with assembly plants (maquiladoras) serving clients throughout the world.

Explorers and settlers alike passed through Chihuahua on the trek from Mexico City to Santa Fe via El Camino Réal (The Royal Road), and Mexican freedom fighters, revolutionaries and outlaws as recent as Pancho Villa found its remoteness ideal for their purposes. Chihuahua even served as the capital of Mexico under President Benito Juárez in 1864.

The heart of Chihuahua is Plaza de Armas. This well-preserved historical center is anchored by the ornate, twin-towered, pink baroque cathedral dating from 1717. Palacio Federal (federal palace) contains the cell where Father Miguel Hidalgo awaited execution by the Spanish in 1811 during the War of Independence. Palacio Federal also contains the main post office. A block to the south, the Palacio de Gobierno (government palace), where Hidalgo and his followers were executed, still houses government offices. The building also boasts fine murals depicting Mexico's struggle for independence. Museo de la Revolución (Museum of the Revolution) was the home of General Francisco (Pancho) Villa. Museo Casa Benito Juárez, home of Mexico's famed president, contains a small museum. Chihuahua is a hospitable city with all the amenities modern-day travelers enjoy. It’s time for you to plan your trip down El Camino Réal!

Copper Canyon

Most travelers spend a day in Chihuahua City before heading off to the incredible Barranca del Cobre (Copper Canyon). This rugged wilderness area, with its maze of 200 interlocking gorges that combine into six massive, interconnected canyons formed by six rivers, is at least seven times the size of Arizona's Grand Canyon. The almost inaccessible locale is the home of the Tarahumara Indians who live now as they have for thousand of years,

The most popular way to visit the canyon is via the Copper Canyon railway. With its stunning vistas, hair-raising curves, 39 bridges and 86 tunnels, this 406-mile journey is a route designed to connect Chihuahua with the Pacific Ocean. You can arrange for stopovers along the way with overnight stays and opportunities to explore the area further on horseback or on foot, as well as helicopter rides. Mexico’s highest waterfall, Casacada de Basaseachic, is in Copper Canyon.