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The Chepe – One of Mexico’s Last Railways

Copper Canyon Train Ride: An Adventure Worth Adding to Your Bucketlist

Reader’s Digest calls it the most dramatic train ride in the Western Hemisphere. Stretching 400 miles between Chihuahua City, Chihuahua and Los Mochis, Sinaloa, the Chihuahua al Pacifico (Chepe) is one of only two remaining passenger trains in all of Mexico
The Chepe is an engineering wonder, taking nearly 90 years to complete with a total cost of 90 million dollars. Completed in 1961, the Chepe runs through five climatic zones, and navigates a dramatic elevation change of 7,300 feet in just 122 miles.

train tracks

If you’re planning to take this breathtaking train ride, it’s best to break up the 11-hour trip. To see the most spectacular views along the way, the perfect time to ride is during the daylight hours, starting in Los Mochis and spending the night in hotels and vistas along the way.

The Chepe isn’t simply a “point A to point B” railway. It winds its way through canyons and valleys, performing a 180-degree turn inside a mountain. At one point on the line, the Chepe actually loops over itself.

Map of Copper Canyon

Some believe that it’s good luck to hold your breath while going through a tunnel. On the Chepe, there is a tunnel that exceeds a mile in length. It might not be the best idea to hold your breath under that one.

The vision for the Chepe began when a man from Indiana moved to the Bay of Ohulra on Mexico’s west coast to build a socialist colony. He wanted to connect his colony to the Eastern U.S., but his colony crumbled before he could lay any track.  When construction finally began under new direction, local governments experienced economic booms, bringing greater prosperity and increased educational levels to nearby residents.

Amigo Trails offers tour packages that involve a ride on the Chepe, taking you through the Septentrion Canyon – the best part of the line. We also offer other amazing, unforgettable Copper Canyon trips.

For a detailed history and a more in depth look at the Chepe train ride experience, click here.

 

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