Mexico: Chihuahua & Coahuila States

Northern Mexico is a vast desert-like plateau deeply steeped in Spanish colonial heritage. The very first settlement inside what is now the USA was the town of Presidio (long before the English thought of settling Jamestown) and is still one of the few crossings of the Rio Grande into Texas (itself a former Mexican province). There are two major cities in the region, Chihuahua, 300 kms south of El Paso, and Monterrey, the largest city in northern Mexico. There are major touristic attractions at Monclova, Saltillo, Parras, Torreon, and Cuauhtemoc, the end of the famous Copper Canyon rail line. The map extends a bit into Sinaloa, to include Los Mochis on the Pacific coastline. The entire rail line is also shown. This is an important part of North American history. It may not be as well-known to Europeans who favour the beaches of the Yucatan, but it is a fascinating part of Mexico on the American border. Ciudad Juarez, for example, is larger than its partner on the Rio Grande, El Paso. An inset map of the old colonial city of Saltillo is included, as well as our Top Attractions list.