From movie-ready panoramas to business-ready metropolises, this region of Mexico is an intrinsic part of the country’s economic force, yet holds many historical and natural attractions for all types of travelers—from Pancho Villa’s old stomping grounds to the majesty of the Copper Canyon.
CHIHUAHUA
The capital city that shares its name with its home state is the starting point for excursions into the Copper Canyon, which gives its U.S. counterpart—the Grand Canyon—a big run for its money. In fact, it’s four times its size and made up of a vast network of canyons that provide shelter to the local Tarahumara Indians. “El Chepe” or Chihuahua al Pacifi co Railroad is the ideal way to enjoy this spectacular natural wonder; traveling from Chihuahua to Los Mochis, the train travels at up to 8,000 ft. above sea level, offering an unparalleled view of the sweeping canyons. This destination is also an active adventurer and eco-lover’s Mecca. Rock climbing, canyoning and mountain biking are top draws at the Copper Canyon and beyond, while three rivers in the state—Papigochi, Urique and Bravo—provide kayaking and rafting opportunities of varying difficulty. The various canyons and landscapes in the region offer terrains of all types for brisk strolling and birdwatching. The city of Chihuahua has its own university and a comfortable trolley that goes around its most frequented streets. Among the city’s cultural landmarks: the Altar to the Fatherhood, erected as a monument to Miguel Hidalgo, the founding father of the Mexican War of Independence; Hidalgo’s Dungeon, where he was held before his execution in 1811 and which still holds some of his personal effects; and the 50-room home of Pancho Villa, now home to the Museum of the Mexican Revolution. The city’s main square is home to a cathedral of baroque design made of pink quarry stone.
Good Time to Go: Each year, Chihuahua hosts an adventure tourism festival with everything from marathons to sand-dune volleyball and sand-boarding competitions taking place throughout the state. Festival dates usually run between the months of July and August.
MONTERREY
The modern capital of Nuevo Leon is one of the largest and most vibrant cities in all of Mexico. It’s an industrial center, with steel, machinery and high-tech industries among the top productions; an education hub; and even a grand shopping destination, especially in the Zona Rosa. A number of diverse neighborhoods add an eclectic feel to Monterrey, such as the Barrio Antiguo, which is fi lled with bars, restaurants and art galleries, and the Gran Plaza, a series of connected squares filled with parks and fountains. Monterrey is known as the “City of Mountains” for the imposing peaks that surround it; one of its most famous landmarks is the saddle- shaped mountain known as Cerro de la Silla, which has a variety of hiking trails. Another option for nature lovers is Chipinque Ecological Park, a nature reserve with more than 120 species of birds and 170 species of butterflies. But among the most famous attractions within the city itself is the Cuahtemoc Brewery, where visitors can sample some of Mexico’s most famous beers. Highlights for the more culturally inclined include the Contemporary Art Museum, filled with exhibits of great Mexican and Latin American artists; the Cerro del Obispado, home of the Bishop of Monterrey and the place of a small museum of regional history; and the pink marble Government Palace.
Good Time to Go: Visitors traveling with children might want to visit during the city’s International Puppet Festival, which takes place in July.
DURANGO
The home state of Pancho Villa, Durango has a firm adherence to its revolutionary past, with natural landscapes made—and used, in fact—for Westerns. Today, the city of Durango and the region of La Laguna form the basis of the state’s economic force, with important agricultural areas and timber exports. But travelers seeking more leisurely pursuits also have plenty of options here, including a Biosphere Reserve, which helps protect the area’s vast variety of plants and animals.
The city of Durango is also known for its beautiful architecture, including its main cathedral, which was built between 1685 and 1787 and features 57 seats made of carved and gilded wood. Other landmarks include the Ricardo Castro Theater, lined with historic murals; the San Francisco Temple, which some believe is the oldest of its kind in North America; and its Plaza de Armas, filled with fountains, The Fiesta Inn Durango is one of Durango’s newest hotels, located in the shopping center of Paseo Durango and just 15 minutes from the city’s industrial center. The more curious traveler may want to explore the state’s Zona del Silencio, or Zone of Silence—a desert area where strong magnetic fields are said to hold back radio waves. Durango shares this region with the states of Coahuila and Chihuahua.
Good Time to Go: Agriculturally oriented travelers, whether planning to visit for business or leisure, might want to visit Durango during the beginning of July to attend the Founder’s Day and Agricultural Fair, which offers everything from equestrian events to cultural activities.
SALTILLO
The capital of the state of Coahuila, Saltillo is both an industrial and cultural center—the state, in fact, is said to be responsible for about a third of the country’s steel production. Many transnational companies have a presence here, especially automakers. This has not diminished Saltillo’s charm, however; after all, one of its claims to fame is its large production of the very Mexican multicolored shawls and blankets. Tiles made here are also popular. One of the city’s most outstanding landmarks is its cathedral, which mixes baroque and churrigueresque styles with notable sculptures and paintings. Saltillo also has the Mexican Bird Museum, with a massive collection of avian species; the Desert Museum, which houses ancient indigenous artifacts, dinosaur fossils, a cactus greenhouse, and more; and the Recinto Juarez Museum, with artifacts and documents from the mid-1800s.
Good Time to Go: Roughly about 90 miles west of Saltillo, Parras de la Fuente holds an annual Grape and Wine Fest in August, which celebrates the local wine production. The first wine produced in the American continent is said to have come from here.
TORREON
Also in Coahuila (which once had Texas within its state borders), Torreon is an economic hub in the area yet also has close ties to the life and legend of Pancho Villa. He fought several battles here during the Mexican Revolution, for which the city’s Museum of the Revolution (also known as the Casa Colorada) has a number of photos and documents related to the Toma de Torreon (the taking of Torreon). Torreon, also known as the City of Great Endeavors, has quite a number of cultural attractions. Some of these are the Del Carmen Cathedral, the Guadalupe Temple and the Cristo de las Noas, a 66-ft.
sculpture atop De las Noas Hill. There is also the Isauro Martinez Theater and a fun wax museum with replicas of the country’s most renowned personalities.
Good Time to Go: Dec. 12 honors the Virgin of Guadeloupe with festivities that feature regional dances and fireworks.
CHIHUAHUA
The capital city that shares its name with its home state is the starting point for excursions into the Copper Canyon, which gives its U.S. counterpart—the Grand Canyon—a big run for its money. In fact, it’s four times its size and made up of a vast network of canyons that provide shelter to the local Tarahumara Indians. “El Chepe” or Chihuahua al Pacifi co Railroad is the ideal way to enjoy this spectacular natural wonder; traveling from Chihuahua to Los Mochis, the train travels at up to 8,000 ft. above sea level, offering an unparalleled view of the sweeping canyons. This destination is also an active adventurer and eco-lover’s Mecca. Rock climbing, canyoning and mountain biking are top draws at the Copper Canyon and beyond, while three rivers in the state—Papigochi, Urique and Bravo—provide kayaking and rafting opportunities of varying difficulty. The various canyons and landscapes in the region offer terrains of all types for brisk strolling and birdwatching. The city of Chihuahua has its own university and a comfortable trolley that goes around its most frequented streets. Among the city’s cultural landmarks: the Altar to the Fatherhood, erected as a monument to Miguel Hidalgo, the founding father of the Mexican War of Independence; Hidalgo’s Dungeon, where he was held before his execution in 1811 and which still holds some of his personal effects; and the 50-room home of Pancho Villa, now home to the Museum of the Mexican Revolution. The city’s main square is home to a cathedral of baroque design made of pink quarry stone.
Good Time to Go: Each year, Chihuahua hosts an adventure tourism festival with everything from marathons to sand-dune volleyball and sand-boarding competitions taking place throughout the state. Festival dates usually run between the months of July and August.
MONTERREY
The modern capital of Nuevo Leon is one of the largest and most vibrant cities in all of Mexico. It’s an industrial center, with steel, machinery and high-tech industries among the top productions; an education hub; and even a grand shopping destination, especially in the Zona Rosa. A number of diverse neighborhoods add an eclectic feel to Monterrey, such as the Barrio Antiguo, which is fi lled with bars, restaurants and art galleries, and the Gran Plaza, a series of connected squares filled with parks and fountains. Monterrey is known as the “City of Mountains” for the imposing peaks that surround it; one of its most famous landmarks is the saddle- shaped mountain known as Cerro de la Silla, which has a variety of hiking trails. Another option for nature lovers is Chipinque Ecological Park, a nature reserve with more than 120 species of birds and 170 species of butterflies. But among the most famous attractions within the city itself is the Cuahtemoc Brewery, where visitors can sample some of Mexico’s most famous beers. Highlights for the more culturally inclined include the Contemporary Art Museum, filled with exhibits of great Mexican and Latin American artists; the Cerro del Obispado, home of the Bishop of Monterrey and the place of a small museum of regional history; and the pink marble Government Palace.
Good Time to Go: Visitors traveling with children might want to visit during the city’s International Puppet Festival, which takes place in July.
DURANGO
The home state of Pancho Villa, Durango has a firm adherence to its revolutionary past, with natural landscapes made—and used, in fact—for Westerns. Today, the city of Durango and the region of La Laguna form the basis of the state’s economic force, with important agricultural areas and timber exports. But travelers seeking more leisurely pursuits also have plenty of options here, including a Biosphere Reserve, which helps protect the area’s vast variety of plants and animals.
The city of Durango is also known for its beautiful architecture, including its main cathedral, which was built between 1685 and 1787 and features 57 seats made of carved and gilded wood. Other landmarks include the Ricardo Castro Theater, lined with historic murals; the San Francisco Temple, which some believe is the oldest of its kind in North America; and its Plaza de Armas, filled with fountains, The Fiesta Inn Durango is one of Durango’s newest hotels, located in the shopping center of Paseo Durango and just 15 minutes from the city’s industrial center. The more curious traveler may want to explore the state’s Zona del Silencio, or Zone of Silence—a desert area where strong magnetic fields are said to hold back radio waves. Durango shares this region with the states of Coahuila and Chihuahua.
Good Time to Go: Agriculturally oriented travelers, whether planning to visit for business or leisure, might want to visit Durango during the beginning of July to attend the Founder’s Day and Agricultural Fair, which offers everything from equestrian events to cultural activities.
SALTILLO
The capital of the state of Coahuila, Saltillo is both an industrial and cultural center—the state, in fact, is said to be responsible for about a third of the country’s steel production. Many transnational companies have a presence here, especially automakers. This has not diminished Saltillo’s charm, however; after all, one of its claims to fame is its large production of the very Mexican multicolored shawls and blankets. Tiles made here are also popular. One of the city’s most outstanding landmarks is its cathedral, which mixes baroque and churrigueresque styles with notable sculptures and paintings. Saltillo also has the Mexican Bird Museum, with a massive collection of avian species; the Desert Museum, which houses ancient indigenous artifacts, dinosaur fossils, a cactus greenhouse, and more; and the Recinto Juarez Museum, with artifacts and documents from the mid-1800s.
Good Time to Go: Roughly about 90 miles west of Saltillo, Parras de la Fuente holds an annual Grape and Wine Fest in August, which celebrates the local wine production. The first wine produced in the American continent is said to have come from here.
TORREON
Also in Coahuila (which once had Texas within its state borders), Torreon is an economic hub in the area yet also has close ties to the life and legend of Pancho Villa. He fought several battles here during the Mexican Revolution, for which the city’s Museum of the Revolution (also known as the Casa Colorada) has a number of photos and documents related to the Toma de Torreon (the taking of Torreon). Torreon, also known as the City of Great Endeavors, has quite a number of cultural attractions. Some of these are the Del Carmen Cathedral, the Guadalupe Temple and the Cristo de las Noas, a 66-ft.
sculpture atop De las Noas Hill. There is also the Isauro Martinez Theater and a fun wax museum with replicas of the country’s most renowned personalities.
Good Time to Go: Dec. 12 honors the Virgin of Guadeloupe with festivities that feature regional dances and fireworks.
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