Batopilas

Batopilas is a small village in a side canyon of the Copper Canyon in Northern Mexico. It was once a prosperous mining town that made millionaires of a handful of wealthy landowners, but today is largely a ghost town with a population of about 1200 hardy souls (2010). The town is one of Mexico's designated Pueblos Mágicos.

Understand
The town is in the Copper Canyon system at the bottom of a canyon on the banks of a small river. The region is populated by the Tarahamura indigenous people (also called Raramuri). The Tarahamura called the canyon "Bachotigori" which was a strange word to the Spanish who, having arrived on the scene in 1632, decided that "Batopilas" was close enough and was easier for a Spaniard to say and spell. The canyon is called Batopilas, as is the river, and of course the town. If you left your dog there, he'd have been re-named Batopilas too.

The Spanish would have ignored the place and kept riding to somewhere more hospitable, but they noticed chunks of silver ore in the river. A mine was soon established there. More mines sprouted up in the 18th century and several fortunes were made from the rich silver deposits.

In the latter half of the 19th century, American capitalists bought out the silver mines. Through corruption and cronyism with Porfirio Diaz, they managed to exploit local workers, appropriate indigenous lands, and evade Mexican laws. When the Mexican Revolution began in 1910, the Americans started leaving and local miners left soon after. Batopilas was a virtual ghost town by 1930, with only about 400 residents remaining. The mining industry never recuperated and the next wave of entrepreneurs to come to Batopilas were drug lords at the end of the 20th century. They saw remote areas of Chihuahua to be ideal places to stay under the radar of authorities and an easy place to corrupt local and state police.

By bus
The easiest way to get to Batopilas is to take a bus from Chihuahua. Rápidos Cuauhtémoc has buses leaving Chihuahua every 2 hours to Casas Coloradas. Casas Coloradas is a 16-km taxi ride to Batopilas. The 2-1/2 hour trip from Chihuahua to Casas Coloradas will cost about M$1500. Tickets are available online from the Estrella Blanca web site.

By colectivo
From Creel, there is a once daily colectivo (combi) to Batopilas. The 140 km trip takes 3-hours and will cost M$500-900.

See






Do
There are some swinging bridges that cross the Rio Batopilas. One of these bridges takes you to a gaping gateway into a mountain that was the entrance to an historic silver mine. There's no guides or admission charge or even waivers to sign. Just bring a flashlight and maybe a hard hat and walk right in. The entrance doesn't seem to be marked on any GPS systems, but local kids would be happy to show you where it is....for a few pesos.

Eat
There are not many restaurants in Batopilas, though you will find a couple of street food options near the Plaza Principal. Most hotels also have restaurants on-site or can at least recommend places where you can get a meal.



Sleep






Connect
Cell coverage is flaky at best and nonexistent in most areas around Batopilas.

Go next

 * Basaseachic Falls National Park
 * Copper Canyon
 * Creel