Chihuahua, a destination that will become a trend in 2026 | News
Anyone who wants to renew their sense of adventure and feel a deep connection with nature has a date with the state of Chihuahua in 2026. In this Rarámuri country – where the world seems to hide a treasure – lies one of the most spectacular landscapes in Mexico: the Copper Canyon, a system of canyons four times as large and twice as deep as the Grand Canyon of Arizona, best admired from the routes of the ‘El Chepe’ train.
For travelers who want to not just see, but do and experience, Divisadero is the must-stop station, with the best views of the Urique, Tararecua and Copper canyonswith trails for walking, cycling or horse riding over rugged terrain where the only sound is your own steps. Divisadero is also home to the adventure park, where visitors can travel ‘through the air’ over hanging bridges, zip lines, climbing walls and a cable car of more than three kilometers. The panoramic views capture the imagination, with a visual range estimated at over 60,000 square kilometers.
Overnight stay in Creel – one of Chihuahua‘s five Pueblos Mágicos – is a must. Once just a railway stop, it is now the heart of life in Rarámuri, home to the indigenous culture that shaped the region. Their fast running has won them international marathon titles, and their ancestral traditions remain vibrantly alive. Dressed in handmade, colorful garments, they can be seen along the roads selling crafts and having conversations in their beautiful language. For a deeper cultural immersion, visit the Rarámuri village of San Ignacio Arareko, eight kilometers from Creel, where a small forest, a horseshoe-shaped lake and an 18th-century limestone Jesuit mission await. Nearby are the Valleys of the Monks and Bisbarache, known for their towering rock pillars up to 30 meters high, as well as the Rukiraso Waterfall, reached by a path that winds through caves, streams and ancient petroglyphs.
The mining boom of the 17th century – when veins of silver were as accessible as ripe fruit from the mountains – can still be felt in the Cerro Colorado and La Bufa mines near Batopilas, a Pueblo Mágico deep in the gorge. It takes about three hours to reach Batopilas from Creel (with a notably steep and winding section best done with a specialist guide). Despite the challenging terrain, the journey is worth every moment: you’ll wind through beautiful mountain scenery, crossing bridges, canals, rivers and ancient paths once used by indigenous communities, Spanish missionaries and fortune seekers.
South-west of the state, 18 kilometers from Bahuichivo train station, lies Cerocahui: a village with breathtaking viewpoints such as El Valle, El León and Cerro del Gallego, overlooking the winding river and the city of Urique. Surrounded by mountains, this area enjoys a temperate climate, fertile soil for vineyards and lush landscapes that attract an abundance of bird and wildlife.
The capital of the state, also called Chihuahua, offers the chance to feel the rhythm of sotol, the region’s designation of origin that will attract worldwide attention in 2026. Visit Hacienda Paulina, El Faisán or La Sotolería Bar to discover the history of sotol, its creamy variations, or its ancient expressions with deep, robust aromas. In traditional canteens it can be paired with a fine steak, a discada taco or Mennonite cheese, perhaps even with the legendary ‘snake sotol’, infused with a rattlesnake.
The state also offers short but impressive excursions, such as the Mennonite fields at Cuauhtémoc, where communities of German descendants still live as they did in the 16th century. Further north are the Samalayuca Dunes near Ciudad Juárez, a cinematic landscape of fine sand hills perfect for sandboarding.
The big news for extreme sports enthusiasts is that by 2026, more than a hundred adventure sports events will take place in this natural environment.ultramarathons, motocross races, mountain biking, horse riding trails, professional climbing and triathlons—celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Adventure Tourism International Festival (FITA) 2026.
Connecting with the state of Chihuahua means connecting with the essence of adventure, surrounded by a virtually untouched natural world, while listening to the rhythmic echo of the train and indulging in the richness of the local culture.
