Chihuahua, 5 days, rail + hiking
Barrancas del Cobre — Copper Canyon — is actually a system of canyons larger and, in places, deeper than the Grand Canyon, and almost entirely unknown outside Mexico. The Chepe railway that threads through it is one of the great train journeys in the Americas, built through terrain so difficult it took over 90 years to complete.
Days 1–2: El Chepé Railway
Board in Los Mochis or Chihuahua and ride through 37 bridges and 86 tunnels — sit on the canyon side for the best views, and break the journey partway rather than riding the full 15-hour route in one sitting.
Days 3–4: Divisadero and Areponapuchi
Divisadero’s canyon-rim viewpoint is the classic stop, but the Sensational Skywalk (Parque de Aventura Barrancas del Cobre) and the ziplines threading across the canyon give a different angle most rail-only visitors skip entirely.
Day 5: Creel and the Rarámuri Communities
Creel is the practical base for exploring Rarámuri (Tarahumara) indigenous communities, long famous for their long-distance running tradition — go with a local guide rather than independently, both for respect and because the region’s trails aren’t well marked.