TravelTips24 : North America : Mexico : Northern Mexico : Chihuahua (state) : Chihuahua

Chihuahua

Chihuahua is the capital of the state of Chihuahua in Northern Mexico. It has a population of about 748,551. The predominant activity is light industry.

The capital of the state of Chihuahua, this is a large prosperous city located in the center of the state. Chihuahua is famous for norteno food (rather similar to Tex-Mex), a delicious if not particularly heart healthy cuisine that makes liberal use of beef, cheese, and chiles. The colonial center of Chihuahua is beautiful and pedestrian friendly. The outer areas of the city, while affluent by Latin American standards don't likely hold a lot of appeal for the average tourist. The centro has museums dedicated to Pancho Villa (a major folk hero in the north of mexico), another museum about the national mint, government palaces, and historic churches as well as luxurious mansions and villas. There are also good dining and lodging options for the visitor and a lot of fun cantinas for male travelers (sorry women usually aren't welcome in these). Chihuahua's natives are friendly and helpful and don't show any resentment towards visitors like you might expect to experience in Mexico's more southerly cities.

Culture and History

The city is at both high latitude and relatively high altitude, meaning it will get cold here during the winter. It even snows once or twice a year. During the summer, temperatures can reach 40°C. Wear light, fresh, and comfortable clothes. Autumn is a particularly pleasant time of the year to visit the area.

Talk

Spanish is the official language of Mexico. In academic and professional level, English and French is also spoken. Additionally, because this is north Mexico and a lot of the people living here have worked and lived in the US at some point in their lives, it is usually pretty easy to find someone who can speak English to you.

Travel to Chihuahua & Visa Requirements

By Car

Four hours south of Juarez/El Paso by autopista, an easy drive. There are no major towns between the two cities but there are roadside diners to break up the journey.

Flights and airtickets to Chihuahua

Roberto Fierro Villalobos Airport, Chihuahua city airport is located 18 kilometers northeast of Chihuahua City. Taxi is the best option for getting there and away. Taxi to the city, Aprox. $7.00

Buses to Chihuahua

Chihuahuas bus terminal is located quite a distance out of town. There are buses to all major cities in Mexico.

By train

Chihuahua is the start of the famous Copper Canyon railway linking Chihuahua with Los Mochis. One-way Tickets are around 750 Pesos in second and 1500 Pesos in first class. Advance booking advisable, in first class essential.

Tours & Getting around Chihuahua

Chihuahua attractions and sightseeing

Chihuahua is hardly a major tourist destination; but if you can time your visit to coincide with a bullfight (note bullfighting still exists here, but is nowhere near as popular as it is in Juarez), concert, or art festival you will likely find the area very charming and down to earth.

Even though Chihuahua suffered a massive destruction of colonial buildings (During the 1970s) in order to widen the main streets and avenues in the downtown, it stills preserves some valuable monuments from the 19th and 20th centuries. Some of the more interesting sites in the city are listed below:

  • Temple of San Francisco - The original burial place of Fr Miguel Hidalgo
  • Federal Palace of Chihuahua, now a museum, and the jail cell of Fr Hidalgo
  • Central Park El Palomar-Once one of the worst slums in the city, now the largest city park.
  • Mansión Creel
  • Mansión Terrazas
  • Mansión Quinta Carolina (Former summer estate of Don Luis Terrazas. - Now in semi-ruined condition, in process of restoration.
  • Torre Legislativa de Chihuahua (Legislative tower of Chihuahua-state legislators office building) -Fronts on the Plaza de Armas
  • Government Palace (The State House)
  • City Hall of Chihuahua
  • Dancing Fountains north of the Federal Palace
  • Mansión Quinta Gameros (City Museum for the Decorative Arts)
  • Church of Santa Rita (1731). St Rita of Cascia is the patroness of the city.
  • Ave. Zarco Residential Area (Some of the most impressive pre-revolutionary residences in the city are situated along this street)
  • Chihuahua Cathedral, Libertad street #814, Centro, ☎ +01 52 614-4103877, [1]. A sample of the Baroque Art in northern Mexico.
    Didn't find what you were looking for.
    Ask for help at the Chihuahua travel forum

    This page was last edited at 02:27, on 11 December 2008 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by David, Fabián Valencia and brian, Wikitravel user(s) Texugo, Morph and Episteme, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others.

    Content on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0 license