Why Go? Welcome to ultimate frontier land: Mexico’s wild north has, for centuries, been frequented by revolutionaries, bandits, law-makers and law-breakers. Landscapes here suit such types: North America’s second-largest desert and some of the world’s deepest, most spectacular canyons make this perfect territory to hole up in. This is, indeed, quintessential rough-and-ready Wild West: Hollywood fi lmmakers used dramatic topography here to shoot many fabled Westerns.

Mexico also scatters its paradoxes most thickly in the north. There is the sensational alpine-to-subtropical switch unfolding in the region’s set piece, the Copper Canyon, best traversed via Mexico’s greatest train ride. The country’s most progressive, culturally rich cities are here, as are some of its most non-Westernized indigenous peoples. It boasts the country’s best connections to North America and Europe, but secretes its remotest hiking. It’s a place where, like des-perados of times past, you’ll fi nd yourself lingering.

When to Go

Jun–Jul Heavy rainfall. Key fes-tivals such as Las Jornadas Villistas, commemorating Pancho Villa, in Hidalgo del Parral.

Late Sep–Oct Pleasantly hot during the day. Good time to visit the just-coming-into-bloom Copper Canyon.

Dec–Jan Balmy, dry weather on the Pacific coast makes the region a popular winter escape.

F DNOSAJJMAMJ

Chihuahua°C/°F Temp Rainfall inches/mm

0/32

10/50

20/68

30/86

40/104

0

8/200

16/400

24/600

Bahía de Kino ............... 744Álamos & Around ..........747Los Mochis ................... 750Ferrocarril Chihuahua Pacífi co ......................... 754Parque de Aventuras Barrancas del Cobre ....760Creel ..............................761Chihuahua .................... 768Mata Ortiz..................... 776Durango ........................ 778Cuatro Ciénegas .......... 786Monterrey ..................... 787

Best Places to Eat » Bonifacio’s (p 746 ) » Teresitas (p 749 ) » Cenaduría Dõna Lola (p 749 ) » La Casa de los Milagros

(p 772 ) » Los Equipales (p 780 )

Best Places to Stay

» Hotel Colonial (p 748 ) » Hotel Río Vista (p 756 ) » Hotel Paraíso del Oso

(p 757 ) » Hotel Mansión

Tarahumara (p 759 ) » Hotel San Felipe El Real

(p 771 )

Copper Canyon & Northern Mexico

©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd

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�1 Wolf down wickedly strong coff ee at Café Luz y Sol or enchiladas at Cenaduría Dõna Lola, then walk it off around the colonial streets of the old silver town Álamos (p 747 )

�2 Bask in the balmy beach paradise of Bahía de Kino (p 744 )

�3 Ride Mexico’s last passenger train through mesmerizing canyon scenery

on the Ferrocarril Chihuahua Pacífi co (p 754 )

�4 Soar on seven zip-lines down the sublimely dramatic Copper Canyon at all-new

Copper Canyon & Northern Mexico Highlights