Guachochi is a city of 15,000 people (2010) in the southwestern part of Chihuahua state. If you are interested in indigenous cultures, you'll want to vist Guachochi to experience and learn about the reclusive Tarahumara people. Guachochi is designated as one of Mexico's Pueblos Mágicos.
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Understand
[edit]Guachochi (meaning "Place of Herons" in the Tarahumara language) is in the Sierra Madre Occidental. It is the main urban settlement and seat of the municipality of the same name, one of the most important in the territory of the Tarahumara or Raramuri nation in the center of the Sierra Tarahumara.
Climate
[edit]Summers are slightly warm and rainy in the months of July and August, mainly. Winters are cold with 130 frosts on average and snowfall from November to March.
Get in
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By bus
[edit]There are daily departures from Chihuahua (7 hr) via Creel (2½ hr) and from Hidalgo del Parral (3½ hr). These services are provided by comfortable modern coaches, but considered local service, so not listed on the internet site nor accepts reservation. So, for detailed schedule you need to inquire locally. (as of 2014, two departure from Creel, 11:45 and 16:45 continued from Chihuahua, M$150 (pesos))
- 1 Autobuses Estrella Blanca, Maclovio Herrera. Small bus station with ticket sales, waiting area, and rest rooms. Buses from Guachochi go to Creel and Chihuahua.
By car
[edit]All-paved, smooth Highway 20 connects Guachochi to Hidalgo del Parral. The Highway 25 to Creel is also all-paved, spectacular trip going up and down into deep canyon.
By air
[edit]Guachochi has an airport with paved runway and modern terminal, but has no scheduled service. There is an air-taxi service and sightseeing flights in small planes or helicopters to the spectacular Sinforosa Canyon.
- 2 Aero Jomacha, Guachochi, ☏ +52 649 543 1022. Small private airport handles light planes and helicopters.
Get around
[edit]The town is small enough to walk around. The sitio taxis are available in town centre to get to the viewpoint of Sinforosa, 18 km south of town. But better yet, make friends with nice town people who love to show you around.
See
[edit]- 1 Museo Norawa, Paseo de las Garzas 1, La Loma. M-F 09:00 - 17:00 (closed 13:00-15:00), Sa-Su 09:00 - 15:00. Small local museum that tells the history of Guachochi and the indigenous culture of the Tarahamura (Raramuri) people.
- 2 Plaza Municipal, Calle Allende. Open plaza where kids can play. The town puts out decorations on major holidays, such as Christmas and Day of the Dead. Not as nice as most plazas in Mexican towns as it lacks gardens, shady areas and park benches.
Do
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- 1 Lago las Garzas. Urban park centered around a good-size lake that includes a couple islands. Walking trails go around the lake where you can see roosting places for herons and swans (most of whom avoid people and dogs by staying on the islands). Boat and kayak rentals are available.
- 2 Cascada el Salto (El Salto Falls). Series of waterfalls within easy 10 minutes walk from downtown.
- Sinforosa Canyon - Known as "The Queen of the Canyon" is 18 km south of Guachochi, with a depth of 1830 meters. One of the most spectacular canyons in the Sierra Tarahumara, with its many waterfalls. Sinforosa Canyon can be explored by walking its bottom following the more rugged and spectacular part (no tourist facilities are available in the canyon and hiring a local guide is recommended). Each summer, an Ultramarathon takes place that includes a descent into and ascent from the canyon base (this is one of the most impressive runs of the Sierra Tarahumara). The annual event brings hundres of athletes and spectators.
- 3 Lago las Truchas, Niños Heroes 13, Las Tunas. Park surrounding a downtown lake. Walking trails surround the lake. The park is popular for fishing or for hiking.
Buy
[edit]Several small stores around the town square sell local handicrafts. Scotiabank is the only bank in the city.
Eat
[edit]- 1 Gorditas Charras, Calle 20 de Noviembre and Francisco M. Plancarte, ☏ +52 649 543-22-16. Daily 08:00 - 16:00. Place for gorditas, burritos, burgers and breakfast. Popular with locals. M$100.
- 2 Los Adobes, 20 de Noviembre and Pascual Orozco, ☏ +52 649 54 3 06 29. Daily 11:30 - 20:30. Upscale restaurant. Good place for locally sourced trout and steaks. M$200.
- 3 Mariscos el Mora, Agustín Melgar, Centro, ☏ +52 649 543 2070. Daily 07:30 - 21:00. Mexican style seafood restaurant with some distinctive regional dishes. Try the Guachochi-style aguachile. M$200.
- 4 Merendero Tarahumara, José María Morelos y Pavón 3, Centro, ☏ +52 649 543 0004. Daily 07:30 - 21:00. Regional Chihuahuan cuisine with some basic Mexican standbys. Food is locally sourced and grown by indigenous Tarahamura. M$200.
- 5 Elotes Danna, Maclovio Herrera 311, Centro, ☏ +526491089449. Daily 17:00 - 22:00. Fast, cheap eats in the heart of downtown. Roast corn on the cob or corn in cups, topped with chile, mayo, chopped onions or other condiments. M$50-100.
- 6 Casita de la Hamburguesa, 20 de Noviembre, Arboleda, ☏ +52 649 108 7877. W-M 13:00 - 22:00, closed Tu. Casual sit-down burger joint with huge hamburgers. Tasty deserts and ice cream shakes. Popular place that sometimes has a wait on weekends. M$150.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- 1 Casa de Huespedes El Meson (Dona Lucha), Calle Agustin Melgar 306 (one block north-east of Scotiabank), ☏ +52 649 543 0132. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Small and homely guesthouse run by friendly lady, Lucha, will welcome you like you are a part of her family. M$180.
- 2 Hotel la Roca, Abraham Gonzalez and 20 de Nov, Centro, ☏ +52 649 543 0110. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Motel style accommodation. Clean rooms. M$300.
- 3 Hotel Melina, Belisario Domínguez No. 14 (in downtown), ☏ +52 649 543 0340. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. The most upscale hotel in Guachochi. Well appointed rooms. Central courtyard garden. On-site restaurant with sports bar. They also have cabins just outside of the city. M$450.
- 4 Hotel El Aliviane, Zacatepec 6-15, Altavista, ☏ +52 649 543 0227. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Rooms are spacious, clean and have heaters for cold winter nights. Dining room with wood fireplace serves basic Mexican food (seafood, enchiladas, sopas, etc.) as well as burgers. WiFi in rooms. Credit cards accepted.
- 5 Cabañas El Tepehuan, Maclovio Herrera (north end of town, near airport), ☏ +52 649 543 2080. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Rustic, well-furnished cabins shaded by tall pine trees. Quiet, peaceful place surrounded by nature. On-site restaurant available (but does note serve dinner).
- 6 Hotel Palmas, Paseo de las Garzas, Barrio Azul. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Moderate motel-style property with comfortable, clean rooms that have WiFi. Off-street parking available. On-site restaurant available. Charges by person (not by room).
Connect
[edit]As of 2023, 4G service is available in the town of Guachochi, but dead zones are a near certainty when you get out to see the canyons and remote natural areas. WiFi internet is not universally available in hotels and restaurants and connections are often flaky when it exists.
Go next
[edit]There are many small Tarahumara or Raramuri communities scattered around the area. One of them is the town of Tónachi, about 30 km northwest of the Guachochi, for its old mission of San Juan Bautista built in 1752, and nearby waterfalls of Salto Chico and Salto Grande.