Travel by train through Mexico

In 1873 the railway Mexico City-Veracruz was inaugurated: a real milestone in the railway history and industrial development of the country!  Just as in other countries, the 'iron horse' was seen as a symbol of progress. The railway network has expanded over the years and Mexico now has 27,000 km of railroads. Those who love travelling by train might be slightly disappointed to discover that nowadays railroads are mostly used for the transportation of goods. For the transportation of people there are many bus companies that run all over the country. 

In spite of this, there is one Mexican train that lives in the minds of train travel lovers: The Chihuahua Pacifico Express, best known as Chepe. This train runs through the Copper Canyon and is certainly one of the most spectacular train rides in the world. Its uniqueness lies in the outstanding landscapes along the route. The Copper Canyon is an extensive canyon system in the western part of the Sierra Madre of the Mexican state of Chihuahua. The area is four times bigger than the Grand Canyon in the United States, and holds many breathtaking sights. The valleys are rich in tropical flora whereas the high parts are covered by exuberant pine trees. The change in flora and temperature make the train trip with Chepe a wonderful experience.

Chepe is also a wonder in terms of engineering: 36 major bridges and 87 tunnels lead you through the 480 km route from Los Mochis to Chihuahua. In a stretch of 195 km there is vertical drop of 2,100 meters. The entire system was built over 20 years and many interesting tricks were used in its constructuion; for example, in the station Témoria two curved bridges are used to reverse the direction, and in the 'Lasso' at Pitorreal there is a full circle so that one can see the tracks on which the train just passed.

A visit to the Copper Canyon not only involves a ride in the Chepe- the whole area is a paradise for hikers and mountain bike lovers. Deep gorges, waterfalls, hot springs, lakes and bizarre rock formations await  the traveler. One can also find many sites inhabited by one of the most fascinating indigenous groups in Mexico: the Tarahumara. Given that they spent many years in relative isolation, they have kept a great deal of their original culture.

Mextrotter offers unique individual trips:

• Attractive routes and programs that show you the most important sites: in general, our customers start at El Fuerte, in order to avoid the city of Los Mochis and the ride to El Fuerte, neither of which is of great interest. 
• You can choose to ride in the comfortable first or second class; if you want to meet the locals and perhaps talk to the Tarahumaras or the woodcutters who use the train as a means of transportation you can choose to ride in third class.
• Reliable local partners offer excellent field trips, as well as walking and mountain biking options.