One of the most impressive regions of the Barrancas del Cobre National Park is the southern Sierra Tarahumara. There, in the middle of canyons, indigenous peoples and colonial constructions, our exploration begins.
Undoubtedly one of the most interesting regions within the Copper Canyon National Reserve It is the one that forms the ravines, the colonial settlements and the magical presence of the Tarahumara natives. Such a conjunction makes it an ideal site for exploration and study.
We arrived to Guachochi -Formerly the municipal seat of the sierra, a city dedicated mainly to forestry exploitation, cattle ranching and self-consumption agriculture, and with enough tourist services that support the exploration of its surroundings- as this community is the gateway to the Barranca de Sinforosa (it's only 45 minutes by truck).
Sinforosa ranks second in depth in the Sierra Tarahumara, at 1,830 m, and yet it has been little explored.
Not far from Guachochi, to the south, you can visit the Yerbabuena valley, and to the north the town of Tonachi, surrounded by Tarahumara ranches where peach, guava and other fruit orchards abound. In Tonachi there is a peculiar church built by the Jesuits, which celebrates its patron saint, San Juan, on the night of June 23 with the well-known dance of the Matachines.
Near the town you can visit two waterfalls, one of them with a 20 m drop, and the other, larger, 7 km downstream, offers a spectacle that those who visit these routes should not miss.
Without a doubt, the Barranca de Batopilas is one of the richest areas in history, culture and natural wonders. Along it there are Tarahumara villages where, in past times, large mule trains used to carry silver bars extracted in this area, returning with food for the more than 5,000 inhabitants.
The town was built along the riverbed, leaving only one main street. In the center, thanks to a good size terrace, a plaza was built. On one side of it is the municipal palace.
Batopilas is one of the most appropriate places in the Sierra Tarahumara for hiking and, depending on the time available, trips for one, three, seven or more days can be organized.
Following the river, up Cerro Colorado, you will arrive at Munérachi, a Jesuit mission built with adobe. Along the path, bordering the Barranca de Batopilas, you will arrive at Coyachique and Satevó, “place of sand”, where the Catedral de la Sierra is located, an impressive Jesuit church built in the 17th century with a burned partition.
On another day of exploration you can visit the abandoned Camuchin mine and ranch, still with adobe houses from which bunches of grapes hang from the top of the porches. Climbing the mountain behind the Batopilas pantheon you will arrive at Yerbaniz, and then at the Shipyard, from where you can enjoy one of the best views of the Barranca de Urique, and then go down to Urique, a town also with unique colonial charm.
If the tourist interest is focused on the Tarahumara, in three days you can go up and down from Batopilas to Cerro del Cuervo, a region where a large number of indigenous people live.
The mountains are full of paths that the Tarahumara use to go from one town to another, for them they are roads where they bring and carry corn, water and other products necessary to survive. For this reason, it is always recommended to be accompanied by someone who knows the place and to help yourself with a map and a compass.
Both Guachochi and Batopilas have hotel and restaurant tourist services.
