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The railway, from Chihuahua to the Pacific

Copper Canyon by Train: 3-, 5- and 7-Day Itineraries

Day-by-day Copper Canyon train itineraries for 3, 5 and 7 days, built on the days the Chepe Express actually runs in 2026: which weekday to start, where to sleep and what to do if you miss a train.

Last updated:

El Chepe curving through a wide green valley, the whole train visible from the last car

How the route works

The Chepe Express runs between Los Mochis, on the Pacific side, and Creel, in the sierra, stopping at El Fuerte, Bahuichivo and Divisadero. Toward the sierra it runs on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays; toward the coast on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. In May, June, August and September it runs only from Thursday to Sunday, so the Monday and Tuesday trains disappear in those months. The Chepe Regional, the local train, adds Chihuahua city and a dozen smaller stations.

That rhythm, not the distance, shapes an itinerary. Each time you get off the Express, the next train in the same direction is two or three days later, and up to five days later in those four months. Every itinerary below says which weekday to start so that it works all year.

Train times at a glance

StationToward Creel (Mon, Thu, Sat)Toward Los Mochis (Tue, Fri, Sun)
Los Mochisleaves 07:00arrives 16:40
El Fuerte09:2014:35
Bahuichivo14:2511:25
Divisadero16:1509:55
Creelarrives 17:40leaves 08:00

Times are local. El Fuerte and Los Mochis are in Sinaloa, one hour behind Chihuahua, which is why the ride looks longer on paper than the operator's estimate of about nine hours. Stations open one hour before the train.

Three days

3 days, 2 nights

Coast to sierra: the whole line in one ride

Start on a Wednesday or Friday. It works all year; outside May, June, August and September you can also start on a Sunday.

  • Los Mochis, 1 night
  • Creel, 1 night
  • Chepe Express
  • By road

  1. Day 1Wednesday or Friday

    Arrive in Los Mochis

    Arrive in Los Mochis and sleep there.
    Night in Los Mochis

  2. Day 2Thursday or Saturday

    The full ride

    07:00Los Mochis17:40Creel

    The full ride: Los Mochis 07:00, El Fuerte 09:20, Bahuichivo 14:25, Divisadero 16:15, Creel 17:40.
    Night in Creel

  3. Day 3Friday or Sunday

    Creel in the morning, road to Chihuahua

    By road: Creel → Chihuahua city

    Creel in the morning, then the road to Chihuahua city (see Chihuahua to Creel for the options).

Train days and times checked on chepe.mx. Confirm each date with the operator before you buy.

3 days, 2 nights

Sierra to coast: road to Creel, then the whole line

Start on a Thursday or Saturday. It works all year; outside May, June, August and September you can also start on a Monday.

  • Creel, 1 night
  • Los Mochis, 1 night
  • Chepe Express
  • By road

  1. Day 1Thursday or Saturday

    Road to Creel

    By road: Chihuahua city → Creel

    Chihuahua city to Creel by road.
    Night in Creel

  2. Day 2Friday or Sunday

    The full ride

    08:00Creel16:40Los Mochis

    Creel 08:00, Divisadero 09:55, Bahuichivo 11:25, El Fuerte 14:35, Los Mochis 16:40.
    Night in Los Mochis

  3. Day 3Saturday or Monday

    Los Mochis, travel home

    Travel home from Los Mochis.

This is the pattern we would pick for a short trip: one train day and no waiting for the next departure.

Train days and times checked on chepe.mx. Confirm each date with the operator before you buy.

Five days

5 days, 4 nights

Coast to sierra with two nights in El Fuerte

Start on a Wednesday. It works all year; outside May, June, August and September you can also start on a Friday.

  • Los Mochis, 1 night
  • El Fuerte, 2 nights
  • Creel, 1 night
  • Chepe Express
  • By road

  1. Day 1Wednesday

    Arrive in Los Mochis

    Night in Los Mochis

  2. Day 2Thursday

    Short ride to El Fuerte

    07:00Los Mochis09:20El Fuerte

    Los Mochis 07:00 to El Fuerte 09:20, about two hours.
    Night in El Fuerte

  3. Day 3Friday

    El Fuerte

    A full day in El Fuerte.
    Night in El Fuerte

  4. Day 4Saturday

    The canyon section

    09:20El Fuerte17:40Creel

    El Fuerte 09:20 through the canyon section: Bahuichivo 14:25, Divisadero 16:15, Creel 17:40.
    Night in Creel

  5. Day 5Sunday

    Creel, road to Chihuahua

    By road: Creel → Chihuahua city

    Creel in the morning, then the road to Chihuahua city.

On Day 4, stay on the train to Creel: if you got off at Divisadero on a Saturday, the next train toward Creel would be on Monday, or on Thursday in the reduced months.

Train days and times checked on chepe.mx. Confirm each date with the operator before you buy.

5 days, 4 nights

Coast to sierra with two nights on the canyon rim

Start on a Wednesday. It works all year; outside May, June, August and September you can also start on a Friday.

  • Los Mochis, 1 night
  • Divisadero, 2 nights
  • Creel, 1 night
  • Chepe Express
  • By road

  1. Day 1Wednesday

    Arrive in Los Mochis

    Night in Los Mochis

  2. Day 2Thursday

    Ride to the rim

    07:00Los Mochis16:15Divisadero

    Los Mochis 07:00 to Divisadero 16:15.
    Night in Divisadero

  3. Day 3Friday

    A full day on the rim

    A full day on the rim: viewpoints, marked trails from about 40 minutes to 3 hours, and the adventure park with its zip lines and suspension bridges.
    Night in Divisadero

  4. Day 4Saturday

    Rim morning, last leg to Creel

    16:15Divisadero17:40Creel

    A morning on the rim, then Divisadero 16:15 to Creel 17:40.
    Night in Creel

  5. Day 5Sunday

    Creel, road to Chihuahua

    By road: Creel → Chihuahua city

    Creel in the morning, then the road to Chihuahua city.

Swap the rim for Cerocahui: get off at Bahuichivo at 14:25 on Thursday and board again at 14:25 on Saturday. The village of Cerocahui is about 20 minutes from the station; ask your hotel how you get there.

The Divisadero to Creel leg is the one ticket the operator will not let you change, so be sure of your Saturday before you buy.

Train days and times checked on chepe.mx. Confirm each date with the operator before you buy.

Seven days

7 days, 6 nights

Coast to sierra: the rim, then three nights in Creel

Start on a Wednesday. It works all year; outside May, June, August and September you can also start on a Friday.

  • Los Mochis, 1 night
  • Divisadero, 2 nights
  • Creel, 3 nights
  • Chepe Express
  • By road

  1. Day 1Wednesday

    Arrive in Los Mochis

    Night in Los Mochis

  2. Day 2Thursday

    Ride to the rim

    07:00Los Mochis16:15Divisadero

    Los Mochis 07:00 to Divisadero 16:15.
    Night in Divisadero

  3. Day 3Friday

    The rim

    Night in Divisadero

  4. Day 4Saturday

    Last leg to Creel

    16:15Divisadero17:40Creel

    Divisadero 16:15 to Creel 17:40.
    Night in Creel

  5. Day 5Sunday

    Creel and the valleys

    Creel and the valleys around town (our Creel guide).
    Night in Creel

  6. Day 6Monday

    A day trip from Creel

    A day trip from Creel: a guided canyon day, a jeep tour or a canyon hike.
    Night in Creel

  7. Day 7Tuesday

    Road to Chihuahua

    By road: Creel → Chihuahua city

    The road to Chihuahua city.

Train days and times checked on chepe.mx. Confirm each date with the operator before you buy.

7 days, 6 nights

Sierra to coast: Creel, the rim and a last night by the sea

Start on a Tuesday. It works all year; outside May, June, August and September you can also start on a Thursday.

  • Chihuahua, 1 night
  • Creel, 2 nights
  • Divisadero, 2 nights
  • Los Mochis, 1 night
  • Chepe Express
  • By road

  1. Day 1Tuesday

    Arrive in Chihuahua city

    Arrive in Chihuahua city.
    Night in Chihuahua

  2. Day 2Wednesday

    Road to Creel

    By road: Chihuahua city → Creel

    Night in Creel

  3. Day 3Thursday

    Creel and the valleys

    Night in Creel

  4. Day 4Friday

    Morning ride to the rim

    08:00Creel09:55Divisadero

    Creel 08:00 to Divisadero 09:55: a whole afternoon on the rim.
    Night in Divisadero

  5. Day 5Saturday

    The rim

    Night in Divisadero

  6. Day 6Sunday

    Down to the coast

    09:55Divisadero16:40Los Mochis

    Divisadero 09:55, Bahuichivo 11:25, El Fuerte 14:35, Los Mochis 16:40.
    Night in Los Mochis

  7. Day 7Monday

    Los Mochis, travel home

    Travel home from Los Mochis, or a morning on the bay at Topolobampo first.

Train days and times checked on chepe.mx. Confirm each date with the operator before you buy.

Which day to start

ItineraryStart day that works all yearExtra start day outside May, June, August and September
3 days, coast to sierraWednesday or FridaySunday
3 days, sierra to coastThursday or SaturdayMonday
5 days, El FuerteWednesdayFriday
5 days, rim or CerocahuiWednesdayFriday
7 days, coast to sierraWednesdayFriday
7 days, sierra to coastTuesdayThursday

If you miss a train

The Express does not wait, and the next one in the same direction can be days away.

You missed the train towardonNext one (most months)Next one (May, June, August, September)
CreelMondayThursdayno Monday train in these months
CreelThursdaySaturdaySaturday
CreelSaturdayMondayThursday
Los MochisTuesdayFridayno Tuesday train in these months
Los MochisFridaySundaySunday
Los MochisSundayTuesdayFriday

Starting in Chihuahua city on the Chepe Regional

The Express does not serve Chihuahua city. Besides the road, the Chepe Regional leaves Chihuahua for Los Mochis on Tuesdays and Saturdays and returns on Wednesdays and Sundays, calling at Creel, Divisadero, Bahuichivo and El Fuerte among its 16 stops. It has one class, is sold only by phone at 800 122 4373 or at a ticket office (not online), and the operator publishes its station times only as an image, so confirm them when you call. It takes about 15 hours end to end.

Before you lock the dates

  • Check the operator's 2026 calendar. It marks every departure by date, and in May, June, August and September the Express runs Thursday to Sunday only.
  • Tickets are not refundable. Date changes cost MXN 350 per ticket plus any fare difference, are not allowed within 72 hours of the trip, and the Divisadero to Creel leg cannot be changed at all.
  • Time zones. Sinaloa is one hour behind Chihuahua, and every published time is the local one at that station.
  • Safety. The U.S. State Department advisory issued on May 29, 2026 lists Chihuahua at Level 3, Reconsider travel, and Sinaloa at Level 4, Do not travel. We summarize what it says on our page about safety in the Copper Canyon.
  • Where to sleep at each stop is in our stop-by-stop hotel guide.

Days, times, reduced months and station opening checked on September 16, 2026 against the operator's schedules; the leg from Los Mochis to El Fuerte (about two hours) and the operator's calendar on September 15, 2026 against its FAQ and 2026 calendar; the Chepe Regional (days, stops, one class, about 15 hours, phone and ticket office sales) on September 15, 2026 against its Regional schedule page and comparison page; the Express's total of about nine hours on the same comparison page; ticket rules on September 15, 2026 against its terms; Cerocahui's 20 minutes and the Divisadero trails and park on September 16, 2026 against its Bahuichivo page and Divisadero page; and the U.S. State Department travel advisory for Mexico (date issued: May 29, 2026). The start days and the missed-train table are worked out from those published days. The itineraries are patterns, not fixed departures: confirm each date with the operator.

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