Frequently Asked Questions:
How often does the train operate?
One first class & economy class train runs daily in each direction--westbound from Chihuahua City to Los Mochis, and eastbound from Los Mochis to Chihuahua City. Their scheduled itinerary leaves at 6:00 am and arrives approximately 9:00 pm.
Each train runs with 3-4 passenger cars and one dining room and one lounge car. The cars are equipped with reclining seats, large viewing windows, bathrooms and have air conditioning.
Can one get on and off the train easily?
Yes you may get off at any scheduled stop, however, once off you cannot reboard until 24- hours later when the next train passes through, which obviously requires overnight lodging at the respective point.
The only exception is the Divisadero tourist shop. This is the closest that the rail line actually comes to a rim of the canyon system. Each train stops for approximately 15-minutes at Divisadero to allow passengers to walk the 150 yards to the edge of the canyon for picture taking.
When is the best time to travel to the Copper Canyon?
It is a year-round destination. The various seasons offer distinctive delights. The highest occupancy times in the hotels are Fall and Spring, due to group travel bookings.
July and August mean fewer people, great mountain temperatures and lush greenery. Fall is the most popular, and is still green with a multitude of flowers. Spring is the Tarahumara plowing and planting season, with the trees blooming in fall colors. May and June are the driest months of the year.
What is the best part of the Copper Canyon train ride?
Undoubtedly, the most dramatic part of the train ride is the western end of the line between El Fuerte and Divisadero. The elevation change on this portion of the rail line is 7,000 feet, from close to sea level and semi-tropical, semi-deciduous forest, to oak and pine conifer forest in the mountains. For this reason, during the late fall, winter and into early spring, it is recommended that you have at least one segment of the train ride beginning from Los Mochis or El Fuerte in order to guarantee morning light through this portion of the line, since it has the most masterful part of the engineering feat. Most of the 39 bridges and 86 tunnels are on this portion of the line.
What is the elevation during the trip?
Los
Mochis-- sea level; El Fuerte --400 feet-- and warm year- round; Cerocahui and
Chihuahua City--5000 feet and Divisadero Area-- 7000 feet—are moderate
year-round with occasional snow in winter; Creel-8000—is sweater or jacket
weather in the evenings year-round.
How does one get to Chihuahua City or Los Mochis to begin travel on the train?
This will depend upon which end of the line (Chihuahua City or Los Mochis) one chooses to begin the trip. International gateways such as Phoenix, Tucson, Los Angeles, Houston and Tijuana offer air service to both Los Mochis and Chihuahua in order to begin a tour.
What documents are required to enter Mexico?
Foreigners entering Mexico as tourists must present proof of citizenship at the port of entry of the country. Valid proof of citizenship is a current passport or a birth certificate (either original or a certified or notarized copy).
