Lake Arereco
CREEL A B R E AT H TA K I N G C H I H UA H UA N TO W N T H AT I S M O R E T H A N J U S T A G AT E WAY TO T H E S P E C TA C U L A R C O P P E R C A N YO N . The Rarámuri people of Chihuahua, in Mexico’s northwest, are known for their world-beating athletics abilities. With a name that translates as “the running people”, the Rarámuri (sometimes known as the Tarahumara) are the stars of science articles and best-selling books, and have been guests of honour at some of the biggest international sports meetings. They run barefoot, they run quickly and they’re reputedly the best endur-
18
ance runners the world has ever seen. But the Rarámuri don’t really enjoy the spotlight, and they don’t much like leaving home. And when you’ve visited the region they come from, and particularly the area in and around the town of Creel, you’ll quickly appreciate why sticking around is far preferable to travelling. Creel is one of Mexico’s 111 Pueblos Mágico, or “Magical Towns”, and it is truly enchanting. situated 7,500 feet
visitmexico.com
(2,330 metres) above sea level in the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range, it has grown from a sleepy rural backwater into a highly desirable base for exploring some of Mexico’s most breathtaking scenery. There are pine forests and waterfalls; hot springs, cave paintings and rock formations. More impressive still, this is the region best known as the Cañon del Cobre, or “Copper Canyon”, a vast landscape of numer-
