Chepe Express Train Journey

Through the Copper Canyon

Customised Itineraries
Spectacular Stops Chepe Express

Chepe Express Train Journey

Experience one of the most spectacular train rides in the world and discover one of Mexico´s great wonders: The imposing Copper Canyon by Train. The Chepe Express Train Journey it´s a trip that you will never forget! From the mountain to the Sea of Cortez you will cross on board the Chihuahua al Pacífico Railway, also called "Chepe", the rugged western Sierra Madre range. The Chepe train route is considered one of the Wonders of Mexican Engineering, due to the complexity of its construction. Along the way from Chihuahua to Los Mochis you can make some stops to discover the attractions that this amazing train ride has to offer: fascinating Raramuri valleys, diverse vegetation, waterfalls, tunnels, bridges and canyons are expecting you.

Chepe Express Train Journey Route

The Chepe Express train operates from Los Mochis to Creel and vice versa, stopping at the following stations: El Fuerte, Bahuichivo and Divisadero. Los Mochis - Creel: Departure 7:00 am - Arrival 17:40 pm (Monday*, Thursday & Saturday) Creel - Los Mochis: Departure 7:00 am - Arrival 17:40 pm (Sunday, Tuesday* and Friday) In May and Juni the Chepe train do not operate: Los Mochis - Creel: Monday Creel - Los Mochis: Tuesday

Chepe Regional Train

Since May 1st 2021 Ferromex has open a new train route between Chihuahua - Los Mochis - Chihuahua. Chihuahua - Los Mochis: Departure 6:00 am - Arrival 22:34 pm (Tuesday and Saturday) Los Mochis - Chihuahua: Departure 6:00 am - Arrival 22:34 pm (Wednesday and Sundays) 653 Km - 86 Tunnels - 37 Bridges This train route is beeing operated only in the Regional Tourist category.

You can purchase the Chepe Express Train Tickets with us. Wagen and seat number will be given in advance.

Panoramic views

Each train car offers very large windows, so you can appreciate an amazing view of the valleys and ravines. The last wagon of the Chepe Express first class has a terrace-bar with large sliding windows that will give you the feeling of being part of the impressive landscape.

Lounges

Enjoy your favorite drink in the comfort of the lounges while you appreciate the beauty of the scenery that will remain in your memory.

Food and drinks

The Urike Domo Restaurant offers gourmet dishes prepared with ingredients from the region, recreating the colours of the Sierra Tarahumara and the flavours of the Rarámuri cuisine, such as the famous chile pasado. Also the Sinaloense cuisine taste ist a highlight like the Callo de Hacha and the shrimp aguachile.

Chepe train categories

The new Chepe train service allows you to travel from regional tourist class, which is the most affordable, to First Class, which is the most luxurious.

Diverse landscape

Enjoy impressive views on your next Copper Canyon Train Journey where you will see different altitudes and climatic zones. The coastal plain is characterized by dry forests, cacti and low jungle. Then you will be able to appreciate an area with tropical vegetation. The pine and oak grow at altitude of 1,100 meters and after Creel the plateau begins, where you can find apple and walnut trees. Venture into the Sierra Tarahumara and discover one of the most impressive natural wonders in Mexico and the world, only accessible aboard the Chepe.

Distance

The new Chepe Express train runs between Creel and Los Mochis. From the mountain to the sea, the train descends from 2,400 meters of altitude, crossing the majesty of the Sierra Tarahumara, tunnels and bridges until reaching the Sea of Cortez. The route from Chihuahua - Creel - Chihuahua its beeing operated by the Regional Tourist category twice a week.

Different altitudes

During the Chepe Express train route you will cross through different altitudes that will allow you to appreciate 4 different areas of vegetation. From north to south they start their descent in Creel at an altitude of 2400 Mts to reach Los Mochis at 200 Mts.

Stops along the train route

The train journey from Los Mochis to Creel takes approximately 10 hours and 40 minutes one way. It is important to consider making one or two stops during the train route so you can interact with the nature and culture of the Rarámuris.

Chepe Express Train Journey - First Category

It is the superior category (96 passengers). This category allows access to the restaurant Domo "Urike", includes a meal on board, it can be a lunch or a breakfast, as well as a snack and a national non-alcoholic drink. It allows access to all the lounges, bars and it has exclusive access to the terrace bar. It offers a panoramic view and has sliding windows that will give you the impression of being part of the amazing Sierra Tarahumara landscape.

Chepe Express Train - Executive Category

This category offers places for 240 passengers. Access to the Domo "Urike" restaurant is allowed, only on the ground floor. No meals included. It offers access to the lounge and the executive bar which has reclining seats and panoramic windows.

Chepe Express Train - Tourist Category

This is the new category with capacity for 192 passengers. Especially for groups or individuals who wish to pay for an affordable train ticket. It offers access to the restaurant exclusively for tourist class. The ticket does not include any meal, nor does it allow access to the executive bar, lounges or terrace bar.

Chepe Express Train Journey - Train stops

Departure - Los Mochis
Los Mochis can be the beginning or the end of the train journey. The city was born from a dream of a North American immigrants who built a sugar mill more than 100 years ago. Today Los Mochis is an agricultural center and a strategic communication point for the region. The city is 15 kilometers from the Pacific coast and Topolobampo. It was discovered in 1533 by the Spanish conquistador Diego de Guzmán; It is an area with very diverse and productive agriculture. It was populated by the indigenous Tehuecos Yoremes, Zuaques and Ahomes. There is a lot to do in the city, walk through the Sinaloa Park, visit the butterfly garden, its plaza and the museum. Then enjoy excellent regional cuisine in the restaurant “El Farallón” with its specialty seafood.
1st Station - El Fuerte
Historically, El Fuerte is one of the most important and interesting cities in northern Mexico. The city was founded in 1564 by the Spanish Francisco de Ibarra. It is located on the banks of the “Río Fuerte”, it has an old town characterized by the Spanish colonial style and it is culturally rooted with indigenous traditions. Leaving El Fuerte will start the most impressive route of the entire railway route. The CHEPE ascends several hundred meters along the Septentrion River. It doesn’t matter if it’s from north to south or from south to north, enjoy the breathtaking views. For example: the Chinipas bridge over the Chinipas river is the highest on the route. It is 102 m above the river and is 310 m long. Tunnel number 86 is the longest tunnel on the route at 2000m. As it was the last tunnel to be completed and the workers could take a well-deserved rest, they named it “Tunel el Descanso”. The Aguacaliente bridge with a height of 45 m is over El Fuerte river. At 498.5 m, it is the longest bridge on the Q line.
2nd Station - Bahuichivo
Bahuichivo is located approximately 67 km from Divisadero and at an altitude of around 1,600 m. From here you can reach the town of Cerocahui, where the old mission of San Francisco Javier is located. It was built in 1680 with marble stones. Here a group of nuns had a boarding school built for Tarahumaras girls. A few kilometers away is the Urique Canyon, the largest and deepest of the entire canyons system. From the “Cerro del Gallego” viewpoint at an altitude of 2,300 m you can see the bottom of the canyon, the town and the Urique river, which flows into El Fuerte river.
3rd Station - Divisadero Barrancas
This station is 48 km before reaching Creel and 10 minutes from Posada Barrancas. Divisadero is the best place to admire the deep Copper Canyon and the Urique Canyon. It has a spectacular view of the Urique river which emerges near Norogachi and flows parallel to the Copper Canyon and the Urique Canyon, finally ending at the Fuerte river. For technical reasons, the railway line was built on the edge of the ravine and currently offers an amazing panorama, surrounded by mountains that are over 3,000 m high. At this station the train makes a 15-minute stop so that passengers can get off the train and appreciate the views of the Copper Canyon, then the train continues with the journey to the next station. From this point you can see a large part of the canyon system. Here 3 canyons converge: Urique Canyon, Copper Canyon and Barranca Tararecua. Another attraction is the “Barrancas del Cobre” National Park, which is only 10 minutes away and offers various outdoor activities such as: • 2,750 meter long cable car ride • 2,550 meter long zip-rider without intermediate towers. • Via Ferrata with rapelling practice • 7 station zip lines divided with suspension bridges. In this region there are three beautiful hotels that are architecturally built on the edge of the canyon on the rocks. The rooms are decorated in a rustic way, they have all the services. Some rooms have a private balcony or terrace that offers stunning views of the ravine.
4th Station - Creel
Creel was founded in 1907 when the Chihuahua to Pacific railroad route was built. It has become a small town and is currently the largest and most important mestizo settlement on the railway route. The city is located at an altitude of 2,538 m and 256 km from Chihuahua. From Creel you can reach some other places of interest in the Sierra Tarahumara: The Copper Canyon, Tararecua, Candameña, Batopilas and Oteros; as well as to the Basaseachi and Cusarare waterfall.
Chihuahua
Chihuahua is 1,440 m high and is the capital of the state of the same name. At approximately 247,087 square kilometers, it is not only the largest, but also one of the most prosperous states in all of Mexico due to livestock farming, mining, business tourism, and the timber industry. This is reflected in the beauty of the city, the orderly and clean urban panorama. Chihuahua was founded in 1709 by Spanish missionaries. Despite the distance to the country’s capital (Mexico City), the city played a very important historical role on several occasions, it was a refuge for politicians during the Mexican Revolution or Independence. Until recently (March 2020), Chihuahua was the starting or ending point of the Chepe train journey. Today the train only operates from Los Mochis to Creel and vice versa.
“The Amapa Tours team will gradly advise you, we are happy to inform you which cities are worth visiting and which excursions you should include in the program, such as the sensational cable car ride. We will help you choose hotels and organize transfers. "
Amalia Navarrete
Director

Chepe Express Train - Additional services

Give yourself the luxury of traveling on the CHEPE Express train in the first category, which includes gourmet food on board the Urike Domo restaurant, enjoying regional dishes, made especially for you and tasting a drink of your choice like the Sotol! We are happy to extend your trip so that you can visit the Magical Town of Batopilas or the archaeological zone of Paquimé in Casas Grandes.

Tour: Chepe Express Train Journey

October 2024
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Do you have any other questions?

We will be happy to advise you!

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Round trips
This is a non-binding travel request to our team.

Extensions to other destinations

Do you still have time and want to discover more of Mexico? No problem! Here are some programs that you can combine with your trip!

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Participate in original events in Mexico: Day of the Dead, White Horse Ultra Marathon, Equinox, Monarch Butterfly

From 4

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Reise Rundreise Mexiko Urlaub Mayatempel Pyramide
MAYAN TEMPLES AND PYRAMIDS

South Mexico

Visit the archaeological zones of Tulum, Chichén Itzá, Palenque, Teotihuacan or Oaxaca
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