Must-Visit Attractions in the Copper Canyon, Mexico

Ready for some incredible views high above bronze rock? The Teleférico de las Barrancas del Cobre will have you at bird’s-eye level in a matter of minutes. One of the main attractions in the mountainous Divisadero region, this Swiss-style cable car cruises over the rugged canyon walls to reveal panoramas of the deep chasm below. The Teleférico is located within the Barrancas Adventure Park – an essential on your itinerary if you love outdoor activities.

Grab a fat-tire bicycle and hit the trails surrounding Creel. The forested mountain landscape around the town is laced with trails for lovers of downhill excursions on two wheels. Single- and multi-day mountain bike tours to small villages and natural attractions are all on the cards, so enquire around town.

All that sweaty hiking and biking in the Copper Canyon can be exhausting. So relax to the max at Recohuata Hot Springs. Twinkling at the base of the Tararecua Canyon, it’s an easy day trip from Creel. The series of clear water pools is fed by natural springs, not to mention beautifully maintained and refreshingly clean. Even though it’s within a compound, the surrounding landscape is picture-perfect to behold as you laze. You’ll get more spectacular views on the super-steep 6.8mi (11km) hike there, but many people opt for a tour that includes transport.

A tight, labyrinthine cluster of more than 2,000 once-habitable spaces, all constructed from adobe mudbrick, make up the ancient city Paquimé. After emerging in the 13th century, it was a major trading post between southern Mexico (populated by Mayans and Aztecs) and North American Pueblo cultures. Paquimé is so well preserved that Unesco made it a World Heritage Site. You can get here easily from the nearby town of Casas Grandes – and you really, really should.

Lush evergreen forests and large rock formations surround Lake Arareco, a mountain-biking and hiking destination that draws fresh-air fanatics from Creel. Both travelers and residents flock here on the weekends for picnics and barbecues but, come midweek, it’s so peaceful you can hear a pine-needle drop. Keep cool out on the lake by renting a boat.

So named because of the strange and evocative rock formations in each valley, these three landmarks are places of outstanding natural beauty. Despite the remote ambience, they’re only a little way beyond Creel, so it’s no hardship to fit them in on a mountain-bike outing or semi-ambitious hiking loop. If you’re tight on time, the most intriguing is the Valley of the Monks (Valle de los Monjes), leant a mysterious vibe by Stonehenge-like standing stones.

If you plan to spend a significant amount of time exploring the Copper Canyon, you really need to be based in Creel. That’s no bad thing, since it’s one of the Mexican pueblos magicos: a designation that’s just as delightful as it sounds. Historic churches and plazas give the town a charming atmosphere, and you owe it to yourself to explore the Museo de Arte Popular de Chihuahua, which tells the story of the local culture and crafts.

This adrenaline-inducing setup is packed with pulse-raising pursuits to fill a day – you can zipline over dizzying heights, rappel down sheer canyon walls, or attempt the aerial forest walk. Then, dine overlooking the rugged profile of the Copper Canyon at the end of the day. If you don’t like speed or heights, don’t worry; the park also organizes cultural trips into surrounding indigenous communities, led by local guides.

A sheer rock face rising almost 2,950ft (900m) above the canyon floor, Peña del Gigante is the largest monolith in the country. For most, it’s enough to admire it from afar, but, if you’re more the Bear Grylls type, you can tackle the ascent proper. You won’t be alone, of course; various tour companies in Creel can hook you up with the equipment, guides and whatever else you might need to make it to the top.