 The
spectacular Barranca del Cobre, also known as Copper Canyon,
is definitely the “biggest” natural attraction in the
state. Carved out of the Sierra Tarahumara mountains by six different
rivers, Copper Canyon actually consists of 20 separate canyons. Four
times larger than Arizona’s better-known Grand Canyon, Copper
Canyon’s craggy cliffs, sheer canyon walls and deep riverbed
ravines create an awesome display.Copper Canyon is most accessible by the Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico (Copper Canyon Railway), which is among Mexico’s most scenic railways and connects mountainous northern Mexico with the Pacific coast. An impressive engineering feat on its own, the railway took nearly 100 years to build and includes 39 bridges and 89 tunnels. The Copper Canyon Railway makes several stops in the Copper Canyon region, most notable of which are Creel and Divisadero.  Creel
serves as the regional center for the 50,000 indigenous Tarahumara,
many of whom you will see in their traditional brightly-colored dress
and sandals (now made out of discarded tire tread and leather straps).
You’ll also encounter the Tarahumara in Divisadero,
when the train stops for 20 minutes to provide the first and only
chance to actually see into the 1760-meter deep canyon. At either
of these stops, you can stay overnight and take extended trips into
the canyon, either on your own, or with a Tarahumara guide. Adventurers
will revel in the various opportunities to explore the region on foot,
by mountain bike or even by raft and kayak. Besides Copper Canyon,
other destinations of choice for these activities include Basaseachi
Falls (the third-highest waterfall in North America), Urique Canyon
and Huapoca Canyon, near the city of Madera. Mountain bikers will
face diverse landscapes and difficulty levels, ranging from beginner’s
trails to dirt roads. River rafters can tackle Papigochi River near
Madera, which offers grade 3 rapids; or the Urique River, located
in the heart of the Sierra Tarahumara, which offers rapids of grades
3 and 4 and is navigable year-round.Archaeologically, Chihuahua offers the magnificent history of the Paquimé people, who flourished between AD 900 and 1340, and whose adobe ruins at Casa Grandes are considered the most important archaeological site in northern Mexico. Other Paquimé ruins can be found at Cueva Grande (a cave dwelling that sits behind a waterfall in rainy season) and Cuarenta Casas  –
about a dozen adobe apartments that were carved into a canyon cliffside
and occupied in the 13th century. The Paquimé were great potters
and created earthenware with red, black and brown designs on a cream
background. Finally,
the capital city of Chihuahua features colonial
buildings with plenty of history. Quinta Luz was the mansion and
former headquarters of the revolutionary Pancho Villa, and now it
houses the Museum of the Mexican Revolution – a must-see for
history buffs. |
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 For
more information about Mexico and exhibiting or attending the 2004
Expo Aventura y Ecoturismo:
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