CREEL
MEXICO
2022
Contact
A magical route across the northwest
Creel is located 247 km southwest of the city of Chihuahua, in the highlands of the Sierra Madre Occidental, known as Sierra Tarahumara.
The village is part of the Barrancas del Cobre Tourist Region, home to the Rarámuri communities, comprising a group of canyons stretching across an area of 30,000 km 2, featuring seven main ravines. The area is an important landmark on the Chihuahua-Pacific railway route, which connects north-central Mexico with the Pacific and is classified as one of the most scenic routes in the world. Moreover, one can also travel onwards to the “magical villageW of El Fuerte, Sinaloa. Since 2007, it has been declared as a Pueblo Mágico, a recognition granted by the federal government to over 132 destinations with authentic and unique characteristics. It is one of the magical routes of the Northwest, promoted as “Sea of Cortés-Barrancas del Cobre”.
Creel has temples and works of art from the colonial era which depict the Rarámuri culture and represent a unique heritage worthy of being shared with the world.
For non-Art lovers, Creel offers some unique and authentic Rarámuri experiences. Rarámuri village men coordinate hiking trails that begin in the Barrancas del Cobre Adventure Park, with routes of different views and difficulties. Tourists can also learn traditional cooking and weaving in the company of the local Rarámuri women.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Rarámuri experiences
To protect biocultural diversity and provide employment opportunities to the villagers,
the village has introduced Rarámuri experiences. As part of this experience the men coordinate hiking tours and women offer cooking and weaving activities to strengthen the implementation of community-based ecotourism.
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A rapid shift from logging to tourism
Creel was historically a logging town, however, over the last 20 years tourism has become the primary job source as it is the gateway to Copper Canyon and Basaseachi Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in Mexico.
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A destination with unique accommodation offerings
Creel has a large choice of hotels, most of them which are distinctly characterized by their use of raw local materials such as boleadas beams, stone, adobe or wood. The hotels typically have two or four sloped water rooves to avoid snow accumulation in winter and low ceilings to preserve the heat.
