Mountain Moments in Cerocahui

By Anita Draycott

Cerocahui is a quiet little town nestled up in the mountains and surrounded by tall pine trees. When traveling aboard the El Chepe railroad, you need to get off at the Bahuichivo terminal; from there, buses depart to Cerocahui.

Its historic downtown is home to the San Francisco Javier Mission, a temple built by Jesuits in 1680. Only a few steps away, you can find the boarding school where, with luck, you’ll hear Tarahumara children singing in their native language.

Cerocahui is the ideal destination for those looking for adventure sports and eco-tourism activities. If you’re an animal lover, bring your camera! You can admire more than 200 bird species living within the area. Likewise, the Gallego Hill offers one of the region’s most fantastic views. From its summit, visitors can see the Urique River and the old mining town.

Consider a walking expedition from the town towards the Cerocahui Waterfall or Guachochi, “the place of many trees.” It’s about an 8-km round trip and you’ll be rewarded with a waterfall and natural swimming pools ideal for a refreshing dip.

A few miles away, Urique Canyon, the deepest of the canyon chain, can be explored on horseback. Your guide will take you to the mining town found within the area. Tropical fruits, corn, peanuts and coffee grow here. Don’t miss the old oven, the church, the cemetery and the plaza.

Fancy some souvenirs? The indigenous people make handcrafts from carved wood and clay. Paquime ceramics are beautiful and appreciated all over the world.

by Khadijah Brown on 02/06/2016 in Sightseeing

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