Getting There

How does one get into the Canyons?

There are many different ways to get into the Copper Canyons. Bus, Trains, Planes, Automobiles, take your pick. There are even small flights available directly in/out of Urique and Batopilas from the Chihuahua City Airport (requires private booking).

Many travelers fly or use ground transport to get to one of the two main Copper Canyon travel hubs, Chihuahua City or Los Mochis/El Fuerte. Some opt to fly to El Paso and take ground transport from there. 

Check out MexOnline for more Travel Information

Traveling Options

Whether you are solo or in a group, traveling to and in Mexico is safe and relatively easy. If you plan on coming down to the Canyons by yourself, you will need a flight, a train and/or a bus ride to get to your destination. Here's an easy way to do it:

Travel Plan 1

Flying to El Paso (USA) or Ciudad Juarez (MEX) and taking a taxi to the Central de Autobuses in Juarez, from which you hop on the bus to Chihuahua city. There, you will board the El Chepe train down to Bahuichivo, where you will either catch a ride to Cerocahui to stay at Doug Rhodes' Rancho Del Oso, or a bus that rides all the way down to Urique, where the race is.

Of course if you fly into the USA, you will have to cross the border. That can be done on foot, with a public bus or with a taxi.

Travel Plan 2

Fly to Chihuahua city, then board the El Chepe train down to Bahuichivo, where you can catch a bus that rides all the way down to Urique, where the race is.

Travel Plan 3

Fly down to Los Mochis, then board the El Chepe train up to Bahuichivo, where you can catch a ride to a bus that rides all the way down to Urique, where the race is.

Other options

Traveling to Urique is really just getting on the El Chepe train to the town of Bahuichivo, from there you can bus down into Urique (2hrs). Any combination of flights and buses that will take you to the eastern starting point of the Chepe, Los Mochis, or to its western starting point, Chihuahua city, will do the trick.

Note

When you first cross into Mexico you need to go into immigration for your tourist permit so be sure and have your passport on your person and not in your checked luggage. The permit will cost about $25. Have a good trip!

Bus travel from
El Paso

There is excellent bus service from El Paso, Texas, to Cd. Chihuahua or Cd. Cuauhtemoc. Our preference is to stay in Cuauhtemoc which is a smaller, friendlier city, costs less, and one can board the train at a 8:30 AM, a much more decent hour than arriving at 5:00 AM or so at the Chihuahua station, plus the bus costs less than the train.

Limousines de Mexico 720 South Oregon Street, El Paso, TX 79901, 915) 542-4547  has departures direct to Cuauhtemoc (with a short stop in Chihuahua) at 9:45 AM and 8:45 PM, They also have one to Chihuahua at 10:45 AM but they do not use the main bus terminal (central camionera) and one needs a shuttle there to continue to Cuauhtemoc. The line has terminals and connections with in many U.S. Cities such as Denver, Los Angeles, and points in between.

Americanos,  1007 S Santa Fe St, El Paso, TX 79901, (915) 532-1748 has departures at 9:30 and 11:00 AM and 1:30 and 10:00 PM to the central camionera in Chihuahua. From there catch Rapidos Cuauhtemoc to Cuauhtemoc, an easy transfer but you may need pesos to pay.

Of the two lines, Americanos has the better buses with more leg room. Both charge about $33 to Cd. Cuauhtemoc with another $10 to Cuauhtemoc (note all prices are in U.S. dollars). With Americanos you can buy tickets and board at Greyhound bus stations as well but the clerks there tend to be more snooty and charge extra if you have more than one checked bag but with either the Americanos or Limousines you can check more than one bag free of charge. Also with Americanos there tends to be less hassle from Mexican Customs at the border crossing they use.

For a lot of insightful information on traveling to and in the Copper Canyons, read Cabro Colorado’s Guide to the “Copper Canyon” Caballo Blanco Ultramarathon.