Copper Canyon, Mexico: Vacations and travel info

Description

Copper Canyon is the most impressive geological site in the Americas with over 15 million acres. Almost half of them are part of the precipices between the states of Sinaloa and Chihuahua.

Crossing this rugged terrain will leave you amazed with canyons that have an average depth of 5,100 feet or the stunning waterfalls of almost 1,500 feet. Splendid natural settings with a diversity of ecosystems are due to the contrasting elevations ranging from 1,350 to 6,900 ft. above sea level, with forests of mainly pine and live oak on the highlands and tropical flora and fauna on the canyon lowlands.

Copper Canyon is the home to a millenary culture called the Raramuris or Tarahumaras, an ancient civilization that still preserves its traditions, merging Catholic liturgy with their traditional rituals.

With this breathtaking scenery as a backdrop, you can do some ecotourism activities like rock climbing, rappel, mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, fishing, bird watching and extreme sports.

Barranca de Urique

This is the deepest canyon in Mexico, its name comes from the community of Urique, located on the river banks and surrounded by semitropical vegetation. With a 6,165 ft. drop, it's also the best known because it can be admired from the Divisadero train station. The most striking view points are found among the pine trees at 7,847 feet above sea level. To get there, transportation leaves from Creel or Cerocahui.

Barranca de Sinforosa

It is perhaps the most spectacular ravine in the entire Sierra and is nicknamed "The Queen of the Canyons", being that it is the second deepest at 6,004 ft. To get there, leave from the town of Guachochi, where you can find the lookout point of Cumbre de Sinforosa. This canyon has waterfalls all along its walls, such as the Rosalinda and San Ignacio, among with many other wonders such as cave paintings from 18th Century. Hiking along the canyon becomes one of the most striking walks in the region.

Barranca de Batopilas

This 5,906 foot deep ravine is connected to the history of the mining boom in Mexico and, in particular, to Batopilas, which (according to some sources), in 1873, was the second city of all of Mexico to have electricity. It is home to traditional Tarahumaran communities that still live in this canyon where you can have an awesome view from Creel and Guachochi.

Barranca de Candamena

This canyon, with a depth of 5,742 feet, has two of the highest waterfalls in Mexico: Piedra Volada and Baseaseachi. Both a blend of spectacular beauty, it is the reason why the area surrounding is named "Canyon of the Waterfalls". It is also a part of the "Cascada de Baseaseachi" National Park, a place rich in flora and fauna.

 

Tarahumara Culture

For centuries, these mountains have been the home of numerous native cultures, such us the Raramuris, best known as Tarahumaras (meaning "light feet"). The Raramuris are extraordinary endurance runners and it is not unusual to find them running for twelve consecutive hours or more. They live in small communities of 5 to 20 families usually in the valleys, near streams, in homes built of rock, adobe and log and some still reside in caves.

Among the Raramuris, ceremonial dances and offerings to God are the most important elements for their mystically religious celebrations, where a beverage called "tesgüino" is a drunk. Their music (played on self-made instruments) and their dances are passed down from generation to generation. Their beautiful costumes are an important part of their festivities, which merge with the brightly colored painted skin of the dancers.

The Raramuris also have a rich arts and crafts tradition. The women are very skilled in weaving of heavy wool blankets, belts, handbags, extraordinary baskets and hats. The men are excellent woodcarvers. They are also known for their healing knowledge, which is vast and uses medicinal plants and other magical healing secrets. We invite you to come and get to know this culture and discover new and simpler ways of life.