The Chihuahua al Pacífico —«Chepe»— railroad is the only railroad that has been international in its vision since its inception. This engineering marvel took almost 90 years and 90 million dollars to complete. The Copper Canyon railway is a stunning piece of engineering achievement. Opened after decades of construction in 1961, the railways was designed to connect the Pacific Ocean with Mexico's central desert territory and Chihuahua.

The route is a major freight connection between Chihuahua and the coast. The Copper Canyon line is over 390 miles in length and crosses 39 bridges and 86 tunnels. The track starts at sea level in Los Mochis, and will rise to an altitude of around 2,500 metres before descending into Chihuahua City at around 800 metres altitude.

The line crosses some of Mexico's most rugged terrain; hugging the edge of mountains, and crossing deep ravines on its bridges. The scenery it travels through is truly breathtaking. The journey on the first-class express takes around 14 hours. It is a spectacular journey, and well worth doing - but you MUST book in advance.

The First Class Express train makes 7 stops before its final destination. You can elect to stay at any of the places the train stops at, and spend a night or two there while your explore the local area; and perhaps take a horseback ride into the canyons for a closer look.

It is a pleasure to dine in the dining car freshly decorated with the same elegant upholstery and carpet of the passenger cars. An excellently equipped kitchen serves delicious breakfasts, lunches, and dinners daily.

The deluxe lounge cars offer all varieties of drinks and a place for close camaraderie on the trip. Happy hours and cocktail parties enliven everyone’s spirits. Both the dining cars and the lounge cars are completely air-conditioned and are welcome additions to every train.

You can either arrange your train ride and accommodation independently, or book a complete package. You may just take the train ride for the view and experience as part of your trip to Mexico, or you could spend a week in the region, using the train line as your main route through the canyons, stopping overnight to explore and discover the local areas.

Whatever way you choose to experience Copper Canyon, the most important piece of advice is to book in advance. This is not a place you can just arrive at and expect to find a hotel room and a train ticket — especially during the busy season.

A journey through Copper Canyon is one of the most enthralling journeys you can take in Mexico. The train ride itself is remarkable, the scenery is amazing, and the whole experience will become a lifetime memory for you and those travelling with you.

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