Tics

Visit this magical town and discover in him only a little of the wonders that offers the Sierra Tarahumara: huge rock formations, endless forests and waterfalls, views from the heights, are all a poem on nature.

Originally called Rochivo by the Rarámuri, it is located 247 km southeast of the city of Chihuahua, on the upper parts of the Sierra Madre Occidental, known as Sierra Tarahumara.In 1907, to be inaugurated the station of the train, was given its current name in honor of the famous local governor Enrique Creel. Through the decades, this town gained importance for its timber industry and as a hub of the saw. Travelers gradually discovered the many natural attractions that surround it. Today it is an essential point of any trip to the big state.

Better to know

The mostnotable of this pleasant town timber is in the Plaza de Armas and its immediate surroundings. In the middle of the tree-lined Esplanade there is a simple kiosk and a monument to Enrique Creel.

In the northeast corner of the square stands the Church of Christ the King together and neo-Gothic style to it, the Temple of our Lady of Lourdes, both very austere buildings of the 20th century. On theWest side of the square you should not lose the House and Museum of handicrafts, dedicated to the Rarámuri. In addition to an interesting collection of historical pieces, utensils of everyday use and photographs; the store offers a wide variety of crafts. To the West of the village, there is a natural viewpoint at the top of a hill, where a monument to Christ the King, a picture of eight metresin height of Jesus Christ with open arms, which already is an emblematic figure of Creel.

A few kilometers to the southeast of the center of Creel is San Ignacio Arareco. If not seen houses around it is because its inhabitants Tarahumara live scattered in the surrounding forest.

Here it is worth noting its old stone church, the mission, which is the center of community meeting and where aretheir ancestral celebrations. There are several places with large rocks that erosion has given very capricious ways. It is the Valley of fungi, the Valley of the frogs, and the most famous of all, the Valley of the monks, sometimes called "Valley of the gods". There are erect giant vertical penalties, some of which exceed 50 metres in height. A couple of miles beyond is the Lake of Arareco, abeautiful body of water in the shape of a horseshoe, with 40 hectares and surrounded by a serene pine forest. This place has some rustic rental cabins.


How to get there

In car. Chihuahua take Highway 16 towards the West. Passing Cuauhtémoc arrive at the junction of the Board and follow the road to Basaseachi - Hermosillo. At the junction of San Pedro take the road to Creel.

Festivities-Easter: Is a holiday in which the Tarahumara break with traditional Mexican celebrations. They meet with their showy clothing around the Church to hear the nawesari or sermon.
-July 31: according to the Rarámuri roots, celebrate the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola at Arareco.
-November: At the end of the month, in Creel is celebrated the patronal feast of Christ the King.
-December 12: fullof colorful and according to the Tarahumara traditions with colorful celebrations, held in Arareco, the feast of our Lady of Guadalupe.

The typical

The more traditional craftsmanship of the Rarámuri is basketry, in particular the oranges, baskets woven palmillas. But recently, they have dabbled with great skill in products of carved wood, furniture and decorative objects; pottery andwoolens. Advised by Italian schools also begin to produce superb quality violins.

The + tasty

The traditional food serrana stands out for its dehydrated dried chillies and dried meat products. Both are essential ingredients for one of the most typical dishes of the region: the delicious broth of meat dry, easy to find in Creel, tastes best if he accompanies it with blue, the corn tortillas...