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Published: September 15th 2016
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The time to leave the Pacific coast has arrived and I started to head my way toward the so called "Barranca del Cobre" A canyon on the northern part of the country.
This trip was on the only train running in the whole Mexico: The Ferrocarril Pacifico. I planned to stop at "Urique" which I strongly recommend if you love true genuine people and some of the most striking part of this canyon to visit.
It took about three hours to reach this spot and must say that it was probably the best train trip I had ever had in my whole life.
Along the journey diverse scenaries unfolded after myself and all the kind you can imagine: Rivers, Lakes, Rugged landscapes ,Lush vegetation and, luckily, super blue sky completing the coloration of this unique place.
The temperature was just perfect to enjoy the sublime mountain scenary, outside of the train car, this time of the season.
We were about to arrive at destination passing a river called "Rio Urique" which meanders through the gorge of the canyon and reaching the homonym village there.
Arriving at the Urique station, the trip was not over yet because to arrive at the bottom where the small village is situated we had to get a minivan.
One minivan at the arrival was already there waiting for some travellers to commence the run to the bottom of the canyon.
After discussing the price and got the bloody agreement, we finally begun our long and hair-rising way down to Urique.
The road was narrow and of course very dusty and this made me a bit worried as accidents do occur in this area.
Though a bit agitated about that I, in exchange, was rewarded with some stunning views of the wonderful canyon.
It took some two good hours the descent but eventually got to destination safe and sound...
Cows, perros and more perros, local people friendly and nice, a lot of colours and cheerful children playing along the narrow street, this is Urique a truly authentic place in this part of the country and a must visit place to experience the true canyon experience here...
Getting off
the bus, I started to look for a a place to stay and I was recommended a camping just further down the road. It was quite cool with big spaces to pitch your tent and several cactus spread over the area.
dusk was about to come and I had to quickly set my little tent up before it was too much dark to see clearly what I was doing.
Another positive thing was that in the village the lights are shut fairly early and then suddenly you are surrounded by millions of stars and as I always say there is really nothing the surpass, in beauty, the dazzling sky full of stars to observe awestruck..It is one of my favourite natural wonders with sunsets.
Waking up early in the morning, cause there were quite a few places to explore for some nice trekking around the village.
Very steep trails reached the summit but absolutely fantastic and memorable..I could admire heading slowly uphill some creeks with cows refreshing themselves in the water and staring at me. There were also other animals but I could not figure it out what
kind of animal they were but seemed something like squirrels and rabbits. further up the vegetation slowly disappeared and showed the eroded picks of the mountains which I really love..
The descent was much more enjoyable and breezy with the cool air running along all your body and giving you this sensation of pleasure with the surrounding scent of the vegetation.
Back to the village before dusk I stopeed at some comedores along the way and had some delicious local food before heading back to my place.
Food in Mexico is glorious but very spicy and it is probably too much for me so I had to ask for a mild taste stuff..
Day after I was ready to set off to another marvellous destination like "Creel" also another must see place if you can make the trip up to here..
The difference is that Creel compared to Urique is to the top of the canyon and so the weather was basically opposite.
Creel is a bit bigger and has got a touristis feeling but fascinating for the friendliness of its people and the
wooden houses along its street.
I arrived at night and was pretty cold but found immediately a cheap guesthouse to stay and the restaurant downstairs had a fireplace, so I exploited the chance to warm myself up and eating a warm meal for the night.
The night inside the room was a bit uncomfortable cause no heating and the water was not hot but for the price it was acceptable enough.
As soon as sunrise hit I went downstairs for breakfast and also to enjoy the warm ambience which gives certainly more comfort.
I was a bit disappointed for the breakfast cause they did not have something very much traditional but only biscuits and some milk.
The day was certainly warmer with a few clouds but not so threatening in the horizon.
This time I decided to rent a bike and to go exploring a bit further inland, I was suggested to visit some of the valleys around the area.
Just a few minutes outside of the city the scenary quickly changed and started the trails leading the the
valleys. The first valley I encountered was the "Las valles de los hongos y de las ranas" this means the valleys of the mushrooms and frogs due to the particular rock formations that give that characteristic shape to the rocks.
It was pretty crowded and I did not expect it, mostly were local young students playing with friends.
Also very interesting was a cave that is still inhabited by some local people that are called "Raramuri" and some also live inside the shacks.
After passing these valleys there was a bit of flatland and bicycling was just relaxing and not strenuous at all.
To complete the circle I run along the lake which was basically the last part od my ride on the way back home.
The last part of the track was on the road, so I had cars running by me for the entire way back home.
Suddenly, the clouds arrived with a little rain and so for the worry of getting wet even though I had my jacket I tired to reach my place as soon as possible.
But I could not avoid to admire that beautiful lake surrounded by lash green and very quiet. but soo after the rain was copious and had to retreat back immediately.
Late in the afternoon I arrive back to the village and the weather started to change once more and stopped raining but at that point I was already home and went back to the shop to return the bicycle and back in the guesthouse.
At times I felt really awestruck by the beauty of this stunning place and for anyone who wants to visit Mexico this is definitely a place to be with a very light presence of tourism and still unspoilt in different parts of the canyon.
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Dancing Dave
David Hooper
An enchanting canyon
Interesting blog that presented a scenic ambience to Mexico where hiking, bicycling and tenting does sound like the best way to go. Nice one Marcos.