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- Destinations
- North America
- Mexico
- The Copper Canyon
The Copper Canyon
The north west of Mexico is the country's 'wild west', where it
is possible to undertake one of the most remarkable train trips in
the world, the Chihuahua al Pacífico (Chihuahua to the Pacific)
railway, also known as the Copper Canyon railway, and one of the
country's most remarkable tourist excursions. The canyon is in fact
a maze of gorges that combine to form six massive interconnected
canyons, covering an area four times larger and almost two times
deeper than the Grand Canyon in North America. The name, Copper
Canyon, incorporates all the canyons and gorges and refers to the
colour of the lichen that clings to the canyon walls.
Acclaimed as an engineering marvel, the railroad travels from
the Pacific coastal town of Los Mochis, climbing to 8,000 feet
(2,400m) over the Sierra Madre mountain range, before dropping down
to the city of Chihuahua 393 miles (655km) away. Along the way it
passes through 86 tunnels, crosses 39 bridges, and performs an
unbelievable 360 degree loop, winding through some of the country's
most magnificent scenery, between towering canyon walls and hugging
the cliff face with intermittent views of the river far below.
The region is not only scenically splendid, but is rich in
indigenous culture. The canyon cliffs are the home to thousands of
Tarahumara Indians, a semi-nomadic population of primitive cave
dwellers who eke out an existence from farming, cattle ranching and
by selling their handicrafts. In stark contrast are the Mennonite
settlements centred around Cuauhetmoc, where the people of this
religious sect, of German descent, sell their farm products such as
cheese and sausages, but otherwise keep themselves completely
separate from those around them. They are distinctive with their
old-fashioned style of dress, own language and rigid community
ways.
The train makes several stops along the way, brief opportunities
to admire the view and buy food or crafts from the Tarahumara
Indians. Several little towns or mountain villages are of interest,
and many break the journey at Creel, a frontier-spirited mining
town complete with horsemen in cowboy hats and tight jeans, and a
good base to further explore the surrounds.
Information & Facts
Language
Spanish is the official language in Mexico. Some English
is spoken in tourist regions.
Money
Mexican currency is the New Peso (MXN) divided into 100
centavos. Credit cards are widely accepted, particularly Visa,
MasterCard and American Express. Travellers cheques are generally
accepted, but cannot be cashed on Sundays. ATMs are available in
most cities and towns and are the most convenient way to get money,
but for safety reasons they should only be used during business
hours. Although most businesses will accept foreign currency it is
best to use pesos. Foreign currency can be exchanged at one of many
casas de cambio(exchange houses), which have longer hours
and offer a quicker service than the banks.