Your expert guide to the Copper Canyon Adventure Park
The Copper Canyon Adventure Park, located near Divisadero and Posada Barrancas, is a must-visit on your Copper Canyon trip. The park has something for everyone, from extreme thriller-seekers to young children.
Everyone in my family loved our two days exploring the park and I can’t wait to help you figure out what you’re going to do there, too!
MexicoCassie Copper Canyon travel assistance
Before we actually visited the park I struggled to find much information about it, especially when I limited my searching to English language only. My article series on the Copper Canyon is the most comprehensive collection of articles you’ll find anywhere on the internet. I hope you find them helpful.
➡️ If you’re just in the planning stages of your Copper Canyon trip, be sure to check out my guides to booking the El Chepe Express
➡️ Creel – the El Chepe train starts/ends in this pueblo magico
➡️ Cerocahui and Bahuichivo – if you want sleepy, rural isolation, I highly recommend stopping here
➡️ Urique – nothing can prepare you for this village deep in the valley (except my article, of course!)
➡️ El Fuerte and Chihuahua – cities at either end of the Copper Canyon. They couldn’t be more different but both so well worth visiting
🛝 Copper Canyon with Kids – if you are wondering about exploring with children let me tell you that not too many people do it but there’s no reason not to, as long as you’re prepared.
🧳 If you’re not sure what to pack for your trip, my Copper Canyon packing list will come in very handy.
I was fortunate enough to have been hosted by the Chihuahua Tourist Office for our first day in the Adventure Park but rest assured that this article will be as honest and open as every other article I write. All opinions are my own. There may be affiliate links in the article. If you do purchase anything through these links, I may receive a small fee at no additional cost to you.
Where is the Copper Canyon Adventure Park?
🌎 The Copper Canyon Adventure Park (Parque Aventura) is situated in one of the most picturesque areas of the Copper Canyon. It can easily be visited from Divisadero or Posada Barrancas or even Creel, though it’s a bit further away.
🌎 It’s also worth noting that the Copper Canyon Adventure Park most emphatically is accessible with small children. While they can’t do some of the activities, there is enough there for a family to do together to make it an extremely exciting day out.
The Copper Canyon Adventure Park
Let’s begin with some Adventure Park housekeeping:
⏰ Opening hours: 9 am – 5 pm daily although some activities only run in the mornings
⏰ I highly recommend getting to the Adventure Park as early as you can. Although it doesn’t officially open until 9 am, clearly the views are always there, and watching the morning cloud dissipate is something I will never forget.
🚌 Do note that if you come in on a bus from your hotel the entry price may be included in the cost of the bus. You can come unstuck here if you then wander off and explore alone as you may be approached and asked to show your ticket (we were asked to show a ticket we didn’t have at one of the viewing areas away from the main park activities). You can explain you entered on a tour bus and it should be fine.
🎟 You can either book your activities in advance on the official website or queue up on the day. Certain activities may not run if the weather is bad.
Transport Options
🚍 Your hotel will most likely offer transport to the Adventure Park. We were staying in Posada Barrancas and our hotel certainly offered a bus to and from the park.
🚍 We opted to take the bus on our first day but walked home as we realised the walk was only forty minutes or so and it gave us more opportunity to explore.
🏎 On our second day in the park, we walked there but paid the quad bike guys to drive us back to our hotel as the kids were tired and it seemed like a fun thing to do. I think the guys were a bit surprised as usually they drive people around the forest but they were perfectly happy to take us and the price was reasonable. The kids claimed this was the most exciting thing they’d ever done.
But what exactly is in the Copper Canyon Adventure Park?
The Adventure Park (Parque De Aventura) is home to a cable car, the world’s second longest zipline, a seven-zipline adventure course, a via ferrata and much, much more. I’ll go through the activities one by one below.
⛈ What happens in bad weather?
Activities only run when it is deemed safe to run them so there is always the possibility that something won’t be open when you’re there.
We had to wait, for example, to sign up for the giant zip-line as it only ran briefly in the morning before closing for a few hours. It opened again after lunch, around 2 pm,
While I understand it could be frustrating to find yourself in the Copper Canyon Adventure Park on a day that looks calm to you but is considered too cloudy or windy to run certain activities, safety is absolutely paramount in a park such as this one.
For this reason, we allotted ourselves two days to explore the park and surrounding area. To be honest, one day wouldn’t be enough time to do every activity available, should you wish to do so, anyway.
Top activities at the Copper Canyon Adventure Park
There are so many things to do at the Adventure Park and, truthfully, we didn’t get a chance to do them all – due both to time constraints and weather. Here’s a rundown of the top activities to help you decide how much time you’ll want to spend here. I have included up to date prices for each installation.
Cable Car (Teleferico)
🚠 The cable car runs from beside the Adventure Park ticket office to a viewing point in the middle of the canyon. There are two cars and they run every thirty minutes (every 15 in peak season).
🚠 Each car can carry 60 passengers at a time and each journey takes ten minutes.
🚠 The cable car runs for 2,700 metres across the canyon and the views are just spectacular. I would imagine that pretty much everyone who spends any time in the adventure park takes a ride on the cable car.
💰 Cost: $350 pesos per person
Top tips for taking the cable car
🚠 On the way out try and get yourself to the front left corner if you can. If not, anywhere along that left side will offer the most spectacular views.
👧🏽 If you have little kids with you, don’t be shy about helping them get forward to ensure they can see out of the windows too. Little kids won’t be blocking anyone else’s view.
🚠 Try to take the first cable car of the day as it is incredible to be the first to explore the viewpoint. We sat and watched the clouds dissipating for hours.
ZipRider – world’s 2nd longest zip line
⭐️ Until recently this zipline at 2,530m, was the longest in the world (jokey fist shake at the UAE here for stealing that title!). It takes a whole 2-3 minutes to zoom from one end to the other. Yes. Seriously. You reach speeds of 80 – 135 km an hour in those two or three short minutes. Wow.
😭 I have to admit that I wussed out of going on this. I spent the entire night before we went to the park trying to psych myself up for the ride but I’m just not an adrenaline junky. Speed and heights do nothing except terrify me, especially when they’re combined. Luckily for my readers, my husband is the complete opposite and couldn’t wait to try it out.
🏆 Col’s verdict? He loved it and seriously considered doing it for a second time he thought it was so much fun. He said that the ride is basically, “total, incredible, exhilaration for the first twenty seconds or so and then an opportunity to breathe and try to take in the stupendous views”.
🥾 Once you’re done you then have an 800m walk up to the cable car to get back. The walk is uphill and can take up to 30 minutes so do take this into account when deciding if you’re going to ride the zipline.
⛔️ This ride is clearly an adult-only activity. The rules state that you must be between 45kg and 120kg to ride.
💰 Cost: $1,250 pesos per person
Top Tips For Riding The Ziprider
👕 Col wore a sweater and body warmer to go on the zip-line. It was a bright but cool day when we were there. His recommendation would be to wear less than he did as the walk back was steep and he was extremely sweaty in his layers as you can’t remove the harness to get at the layers until you’re back at the cable car.
📸 Have a good camera ready. We took our Olympus Tough camera, which has a decent video function but we would have preferred a head mounted GoPro style camera for the handsfree option.
Zipline circuit (Tirolesas)
⭐️ The website for the Copper Canyon Adventure Park claims this is the longest zipline system in the world. Sadly, we didn’t have a chance to find out as we didn’t have time to complete it, partly because our kids are too small and partly because there’s so much to do and see in the park.
⭐️ There is over 5km of zipline across seven zip-lines and two bridges with a return to base on the cable car. The longest of the zip-lines is over 1km long and 480m above the valley. Speeds reached on these zi-plines are between 65km – 110km per hour.
⏰ Note it’s currently only open in the mornings & takes around 2 hrs to complete.
📌 This zip-line activity is open to people over 40kg and under 120kg.
👧🏽 Children over 10 can ride, strapped to either a parent or an instructor. Obviously, to be strapped to a parent, disclaimer forms must be signed. From about 14 years old kids can go alone as long as the harness fits safely.
📌 Cost: $1,250 pesos per person
Top tips
🧤 Gloves. Everyone was wearing gloves here so I assume this is chillier than the zip-rider experience.
Via Ferrata
This looked to me to basically be an assault course on the edge of the cliffs. It only runs when conditions are truly perfect and only in the mornings.
🧗🏼♂️ This experience includes 48m of rappelling, five hanging bridges of varying difficulty, 2 caves, a tarzan jump and 450 m of semi-climbing.
⏰ The activity takes between 2 – 2.5 hours
⛔️ There is a minimum height of 1m50 and a maximum weight of 90kg.
💰 Cost: $750 pesos per person
Aerial Walkway (Bosque Aereo)
🌳 This is a guided activity is for adults and older children (over 10).
🌳 It is a treetop walkway with ten hanging bridges and one zipline.
⛔️ It has a height requirement of 1m50 and a weight requirement of between 25kg and 90kg. Anyone doing this activity must be able to reach the safety line and connect themselves to it with confidence.
💰 Cost $380 pesos per person
Walking and cycling
🚲 The Copper Canyon Adventure Park has great opportunities for both hiking and cycling. Check out the maps by the children’s playground for more information. There are bikes for hire (for adults) on site.
Activities for children in the Copper Canyon Adventure Park
The adventure park has plenty to entertain children, once you’ve done the cable car and marvelled at the view. There is a good playground for little ones on site, which obviously is free.
Mini Golf (Golfito)
⛳️ This mini golf course is located just down from the playground. I bet not many people have played mini golf with such incredible views.
⛳️ Cost $70 pesos per person
⛳️ By the mini golf course is a small, child-sized zipline that my kids loved having to themselves. We spent hours there as they zoomed up and down.
Climbing Wall (Rocodromo)
In the playground, you’ll immediately spot a 7m high climbing wall. The wall is available for anyone who weighs between 25kg and 75kg (here both my four-year-old and husband waited on the sidelines sulking slightly while the six-year-old and I had all the fun!).
💰 $70 pesos per person for three goes.
Euro bungee
For those small kids with a daredevil waiting to escape, let them have a go on the Euro Bungee – a 7m bungee specifically designed for little ones.
⛔️ Must weigh between 25km – 65 kg.
💰 $70 pesos
Eating in the Copper Canyon Adventure Park
You certainly have options for food here. In the official park building, there is a very nice, reasonably priced, restaurant with the most incredible views over the canyon. The restaurant also has a section of glass floor from which you can look right down into the canyon.
If you don’t fancy eating here then there is a large market area outside where there are plenty of food options. We ate in the market both days (although we also ate in the restaurant so that I could, hand on heart, tell you it was good there too).
It’s also possible to get ice creams and other snacks in the park.
Souvenirs at the Copper Canyon Adventure Park
Yes, there are opportunities to buy both park merchandise (inside the park building) and Tarahumara tourist items in the market.
Where to stay when visiting the Copper Canyon Adventure Park
There are a number of options for hotels in the area. In Divisadero, there’s one famous hotel but most options are in Posada Barrancas. Note that when searching for accommodation options here, you’ll want to look for “Areponapuchi”, as that’s the name of the nearest village.
🏨 Hotel Divisadero Barrancas – this is one of the most famous hotels in the area. It claims that it has the best view over the canyon.
🏨 Hotel Mansion Tarahumara – this is the popular mid-range hotel and it’s where we stayed. It has a pool & hot tub and restaurant on site. There are some great viewing points into the park from here too.
🏨 Hotel Mirador – this hotel is part of the Baldarama chain and as such it is considered one of the places to stay in the area (featured in the photo above)
Getting there and away
🚂 If you want to know more about taking the train, do check out my article all about it, especially as it gives hints as to where to wait for the train when it is inevitably delayed. Next stop along the way is Bahuichivo where you can stop to explore Cerochaui and Urique.
It is worth confirming with your hotel whether they pick you up from the station or whether you’re meant to make your own way there.
Climate around the Adventure Park
🔆 In the middle of summer it is chilly in the early morning and early evening. During the day it is fine in shorts and t-shirt.
🌧 The Copper Canyon Adventure Park is high up in the mountains so there’s always a chance of rain, particularly during the summer months, which is also the rainy season.
❄️ In the winter months it can be very cold so take layers.
More Mexico adventures
🏔 Copper Canyon series
How to book your trip through the Copper Canyon
How to make the most of a trip to the Copper Canyon Adventure Park
Visiting Bahuichivo & Ceroachui
🚗 Mexico road trip ideas
An epic southern Mexico road trip through Campeche, Tabasco & Chiapas
Lesser known Yucatán adventures – 10 days
Yucatán road trip – 2 weeks
🥾 Mexico adventures – other
Everything you need to know about seeing the monarch butterflies in Mexico
Exploring the Pueblos Mancomunados from Oaxaca
Getting deep into Queretaro’s magical Sierra Gorda region
Wine tasting in Baja California
Visiting the ghost town of Mineral de Pozos (Guanajuato)
7 Comments
Katherine · 24/08/2018 at 7:41 pm
I’ve wanted to visit the Copper Canyon since I read about it in a book about running with the Tarahumara tribe. The adventure park sounds amazing, and I’d especially like to try the adventure zipline!
Cassie · 24/08/2018 at 7:41 pm
I read that book too. What did you think of it? You’re braver than I am, clearly!
Sue · 01/12/2018 at 3:26 pm
Beautiful pictures! Great tips and very exciting & informative zipline adventure. Love train rides too so this could be right up our alley!
kim w · 15/02/2019 at 3:21 pm
Your blog was very informative and is appreciated in my trip planning. I noticed you traveled east to west. Was that intentional? Some of the other blogs recommend west to east and I am looking to avoid seeing the canyon after sunset if I travel east to west. Your thoughts are appreciated. Thanks in advance,
Cassie · 15/02/2019 at 4:10 pm
It was intentional, yes. I think you may find that which ever way you go you’ll end up with some of the trip being after dark. Sunset just outside El Fuerte was magnificent. We got off there but even if we had carried on to Los Mochis we’d have missed nothing in the dark. Others may say the same about the section between Creel and Chihuahua but I loved that journey.
TonyD · 04/03/2019 at 8:15 pm
mountain Biking is not cycling ?
Terry L Turrell · 17/04/2024 at 7:14 pm
Thanks for your article, Cassie! We’re planning our Copper Canyon adventure for later this month and your information and photos are extremely helpful!