Chihuahua is Mexico's largest state, a vast expanse of high desert, pine-covered sierra, and one of the world's great canyon systems. It is home to the Copper Canyon (Barranca del Cobre), a network of gorges deeper and larger than the Grand Canyon, crossed by the legendary El Chepe railway. The state blends Rarámuri indigenous culture, Mennonite farming communities, and the ranching and revolutionary history of Pancho Villa's home city, Chihuahua City.
Family activities
Engaging experiences for travellers of every age.
El Chepe Scenic Train Ride
The Chihuahua Pacifico railway (El Chepe) is one of North America's great scenic train rides, winding through pine forests and along canyon-edge track with wide picture windows that keep children entertained for hours without the strain of a long car ride
Duration: Full day (Chihuahua to Creel or Divisadero)
Divisadero Canyon Viewpoints
A short stop directly on the El Chepe route with fenced, easy-access viewpoints over the Copper Canyon's dramatic depths, food stalls selling Rarámuri crafts and snacks, and an optional cable car ride for older children who enjoy heights
Duration: 1-2 hours
Parque de Aventura Barrancas del Cobre
An adventure park at Divisadero with one of the world's longest zip-line systems plus a cable car; several shorter, gentler zip-line circuits suit families with children, while the longest lines are geared to older kids and teens
Duration: Half day
Quinta Gameros
A beautifully preserved Art Nouveau mansion in Chihuahua City with ornate rooms, stained glass, and period furniture - short enough to hold children's attention and a good gentle introduction to the city's architecture
Duration: 1-1.5 hours
Museo Semilla (Chihuahua City Science Museum)
An interactive science and technology museum with hands-on exhibits covering physics, biology, and space, designed for children to touch, build, and experiment - a reliable rainy-day or hot-afternoon option
Duration: 2-3 hours
Museo de la Revolucion Mexicana (Quinta Luz)
Pancho Villa's former residence, now a museum with his bullet-riddled car and personal artifacts; older children interested in history find the story of the Mexican Revolution vivid here, and Chihuahua's connection to it is a point of local pride
Duration: 1-1.5 hours
Plaza de Armas & Chihuahua Cathedral
The city's lively central square, ringed by cafes and the twin-towered baroque cathedral, is an easy, free stop for children to run around, feed pigeons, and get an introduction to colonial Chihuahua
Duration: 1 hour
Creel & Rarámuri Cave Dwelling Visit
A guided, respectful visit to Rarámuri (Tarahumara) communities near Creel offers older children a memorable, real-world lesson in a living indigenous culture that still uses canyon cave dwellings, arranged through an established local guide rather than independently
Duration: Half day
Family-friendly hotels
Accommodation designed with families in mind.
Hotel Soberanis (Chihuahua City)
A centrally located, budget-friendly hotel within walking distance of Plaza de Armas and the cathedral, convenient for families exploring the historic center on foot
Family features: Family rooms, central location, breakfast options nearby, easy walk to main sights
Hotel San Francisco (Chihuahua City)
A well-established mid-range hotel in the city center with spacious rooms and a restaurant on site, a comfortable base for families before or after the Copper Canyon leg of a trip
Family features: Family rooms, on-site restaurant, central location, pool
Hotel Mansion Tarahumara (Areponápuchi/Divisadero area)
A distinctive canyon-rim lodge with sweeping Copper Canyon views, a short distance from Divisadero's viewpoints and the adventure park, popular with families doing the classic Chepe rail-and-canyon itinerary
Family features: Canyon-view family rooms, restaurant on site, proximity to zip-line park and viewpoints
Dining with kids
Eating out as a family.
Chihuahua-style burritos and quesadillas made with local Menonita cheese are mild, familiar flavors that most children take to quickly
Mercados (public markets) in Chihuahua City offer cheap, fast comida corrida lunches with familiar options like grilled meats, rice, and beans
Restaurants across Chihuahua City and Creel are generally welcoming to children, and asking for a media orden (half portion) is common practice
Bottled water only for children; avoid ice from unknown sources and stick to sealed drinks or purified water at hotels and known restaurants
Pack simple snacks for the El Chepe train and Copper Canyon day trips, since food options at rural stops can be limited to a few stalls
Family travel tips
Practical advice for stress-free family trips.
Given the region's elevated safety advisory, plan family visits around the well-established Chihuahua City to Creel to Divisadero corridor rather than independent travel into remote areas
Book El Chepe tickets in advance, especially in the October-April high season, and choose morning departures so children are not stuck on a long ride past dark
Pack layers even in a desert state - the Copper Canyon rim runs 10-15°C cooler than Chihuahua City and can be genuinely cold at night in winter
Strollers are impractical on Creel's dirt roads and canyon-rim trails; a baby carrier works far better for young children
Altitude at Creel and Divisadero (over 2,300m) rarely causes problems for children but can bring mild tiredness or headaches in the first day - keep everyone well hydrated
Arrange guided visits to Rarámuri communities through an established local operator rather than approaching independently, both for cultural respect and for a smoother, safer experience with children
Keep a printed or offline copy of the US Consulate Ciudad Juárez contact details and register the trip with the State Department's STEP program before traveling with family