An Excellent and Comprehensive Packing List For The Copper Canyon, Mexico
Packing for the Copper Canyon can be tricky but this Copper Canyon packing list walks you through everything you’ll need, no matter the season – including some things you won’t have thought necessary.
Packing for our trip to the Copper Canyon was the first time I’ve ever scrabbled around and not had much of a clue what to pack. I figure that if I found packing to be confusing then you might too. To save anyone else that stress, I’ve created this packing list for the Copper Canyon.
Before we begin, a quick reminder to pack underwear. This is a comprehensive list but I don’t think I have to tell adults to pack their underwear, right?
⭐️ Wherever you’re going in Mexico with kids, our packing list for Mexico with kids will come in handy.
This article does contain affiliate links. If you are kind enough to use them to make a purchase, I should make a small commission (at no cost to you).
What’s The Weather Like In The Copper Canyon?
This is a tough question to answer definitively, as the Copper Canyon stretches for over 445 kilometers and the climate in each town along the canyon varies based on altitude and other factors.
To give you a rough idea, I’ve included the general climate for each major stop along the Copper Canyon, as well as what we actually experienced.
🔆 Chihuahua
Chihuahua is typically hot and often wet in summer but can get cold in the winter and may even see snow.
We spent a few days here in July and saw no rain. The heat was dry. My parents went in November and found Chihuahua to be warm and dry with cool evenings.
🔆 Creel
Creel is typically warm and wet in summer with chilly evenings and cold in the winter, with the likelihood of snow.
We spent a week in Creel and had rain probably four days out of seven. It rained late in the afternoon for an hour or two. Impressive storms. My parents, in November, found it sunny with cold evenings.
🔆 Divisadero
Divisadero / Posada Barrancas is warm and wet in summer, with chilly evenings and mornings, and cold in winter. Snow is very possible.
We spent three days here in July. It rained heavily on the day we arrived and was cold. We were worried that we would see nothing and not get to experience the adventure park. Handily the rain cleared and we had beautiful, warm weather. By the time my parents reached Divisadero they were wishing they’d believed me when I warned them it would be cold. They didn’t have enough warm clothing with them.
🔆 Bahuichivo
The Bahuichivo area is warm and wet in summer, with chilly evenings and mornings. It can be chilly in the daytime too. It’s cold in the winter with possible snow.
Similar here to Divisadero. We had rain most afternoons and some incredible thunderstorms. We needed sweaters and trousers in the early morning and early evening. Sunny otherwise.
🔆 Urique
Urique and Cerachaui (and other valley areas) are hot and tropical. They can have serious thunderstorms in summer with incredible rainstorms. Winter is not as cold here as the other regions.
These two villages are deep in the valleys and they are hot hot hot. We had one day of rain in Urique but it was seriously torrential, kept us in a restaurant for shelter and knocked out the valley’s electricity for 24 hours. The thunderstorm was incredible.
🔆 El Fuerte
El Fuerte is baking hot in summer but has a dry heat when not raining. Tropical rainstorms are likely. Winter is dry with mixed temperatures.
We spent four days here and had one huge downpour that lasted around an hour and flooded all the roads. Otherwise, it was hot and sweaty.
Copper Canyon Packing List: Clothes
Let’s start with the basics of what to pack for the Copper Canyon – clothes. This list may surprise you!
🧣 Warm Clothes
No matter what time of year you’re visiting the Copper Canyon, I guarantee you you’ll want at least a sweater. We each had one sweater and a vest (body warmer for UK readers). On a few days, we found we were wearing both. Most of the time we didn’t need them but I wouldn’t have wanted to be without, even in summer. When it rains, it is chilly and mornings and evenings can be cool. Around Divisidaro and Bahuichivo we were wearing layers most days. In winter you’ll need a fleece, coat, hat and gloves.
I’m a big fan of a lightweight vest. They are easy to scrunch up and they offer so much warmth.
My recommendations:
☔️ Raincoat
We all took raincoats and wore them pretty regularly. If you get a decent one then it can be a layer of protection from cool winds too whilst still being lightweight. Personally, I have a Berghaus Gore-tex jacket very similar to this Berghaus jacket (mine comes with a fleece lining that I obviously removed prior to moving to Mexico). My husband has a cheaper raincoat and actually only wore his when it was pouring as it was too sweaty to wear as an additional layer of clothing. I love my Gore-tex precisely because it doesn’t make me sweat.
My recommendations:
🥾 Walking boots / Sturdy Shoes
If you’re not planning on doing much exploring you will get away with simple trainers (sneakers) but if you want to do any serious walking, I’d highly recommend walking boots or properly sturdy trainers. There are plenty of opportunities for serious walking everywhere you go in the Copper Canyon.
My recommendations:
🩳 Swimming Kit
🩳 Swimming Kit
We had a surprising number of opportunities to swim while exploring the Copper Canyon region. We visited water parks, swam in waterfalls, natural thermal pools and regular swimming pools. In Mexico it’s very normal for kids and adults to wear rash vests
Top Tip: Women may feel more comfortable wearing shorts and t-shirt over a swimsuit as that’s what local women do.
My recommendations:
👖 (Lightweight) Trousers
Even in the summer in the Copper Canyon won’t always be warm enough for shorts but you may not want jeans in the warmer months. I took a pair of thin cotton trousers and they were plenty adequate for the cooler moments. I’d probably invest in proper quick dry hiking pants
My recommendations:
🧢 Sun hats
We took hats and never once wore them. This is partly because the hats we took just didn’t work. We had typical Yucatecan wicker hats for the adults and oversized baseball caps for the kids. These are perfect for our usual life but they would probably have blown away over a cliff and down into a canyon if we had tried to wear them in the Copper Canyon. If you need a sun hat then get one on a string if you can cope with looking silly.
My recommendations:
Copper Canyon Packing List: Toiletries
🌞 Sun Lotion
Even when it isn’t obviously boiling hot, the sun is still ferocious as you’re high up in the Copper Canyon. Take good quality sun lotion for everyone. If you’re going anywhere near the ocean after, be sure to get one that doesn’t damage the reefs.
My recommendation:
🦟 Insect Repellent
In summer we wore mosquito repellent pretty much every day, and not just at dusk. At the top of the canyon and in Creel we found regular mosquitos and once we got to Bahuichivo we received regular warnings about mosquitos that carry parasitic larvae.
It’s important to note that while we were warned, we never actually got any of these nasty bites. We were told that these bites itch far more than normal and it is advisable to scratch as little as possible. Apparently, if you scratch these bites you risk the parasite getting under your skin and then worms popping out. Yum. In order to prevent this disgustingness, wear repellent and wash with soap and water around bites.
My recommendations:
🫦 ChapStick / Lip-Balm
As I noted above, the sun can be fierce and lips can pay the price. Mine certainly did. Please be sure to take a lip protector that actually work. I tried a regular chapstick and it did zero good. I really suffered until I got my hands on one with a decent SPF factor. Do not be me.
My recommendations:
🏊🏾 Ear-Oil For Swimming
As I said above, we had surprisingly many opportunities to swim while exploring the Copper Canyon and while we are super grateful for each and every one of those opportunities, I always make my family spray with an oil-based ear protector before we swim. We’ve had too many ear infections for me to ever let anyone near water without a quick squirt.
My recommendations:
⛑ First Aid Kit
Once you enter the Copper Canyon proper you’re far from medical help. We also carried pills for us and various medicines we thought we might need for the kids (cough syrup, carsick syrup, and paracetamol).
My recommendation:
🔥 Matches
Emphatically not for setting forest fires, but in case your Airbnb has a gas stove and no lighting thingy, as always seems to happen to us.
🦁 Travel Towel
Because hotels don’t always like you taking their towels out and about with you.
My recommendations:
Copper Canyon Packing List: Extras
These things are necessities but they sure made our trip a lot more pleasant!
☕️ Travel Mug
Travel mugs are so damn handy all the time and not only for that much-needed cup of coffee you can’t live without but of course, they can be used for ice cream, cereal and all the other times people would hand you a unicel or polystyrene disposable container.
My recommendations:
🍴 Reusable Cutlery and Pocket Knives
I highly recommend carrying your own reusable cutlery set and pocket knife. I’ve had the same cheap plastic cutlery set for about fifteen years now and it has served me so well. I recently got my kids their own pocket knife each – this knife opens up to be a cutlery set and I have to admit I love it a little more than I love my own set. Just remember not to fly with it in your hand luggage!
My recommendations:
- Travel Utensils Set
- Portable Travel Utensils with Case
- Coleman’s Camper Utensil Set
- Victorinox Swiss Army Pocket Knife
💦 Water Bottle
Obviously, no one should be travelling without a good water bottle. We all know we shouldn’t be buying plastic bottles of water as a default when travelling (yeah, I know, sometimes there’s no option). If you’re travelling in a place where tap water isn’t potable then the best option is a water bottle and the biggest bottle of water you can get from the supermarket – keep it in your hotel/hostel room and decant what you’ll need into your bottle.
My recommendations:
- Contigo Stainless Steel Water Bottle
- Nalgene 24 Ounce Water Bottle
- Goodlife Insulated Sports Water Bottle
🎒 Daypack
Anytime you’re out hiking or exploring for the day you will need a daypack to carry your water, snacks, toilet tissue, hand wipes, extra sweater, etc. Be sure to get a good quality daypack that is designed to fit your back.
I’m a fan of a daypack that has a built-in rain cover. Also consider how big you need a bag to be. If you’re travelling with kids you will probably need something bigger than if you’re only travelling with people who carry their own stuff!
My recommendations:
🤳🏾 Strap for Phone
This might sound super obvious but it wasn’t to me. We took our camera which has a wrist strap but I mainly used my phone to take photos, especially on the train. I spent the first few train journeys being worried I’d drop my phone out of the window so I ended up fashioning a wrist strap from the one from my camera and my phone case with kickstand
My recommendations:
🔦 Flashlight
We only lost electricity once or twice but we also found our flashlight to be useful when we wanted to explore at night. There are so many brilliant different types of flashlights these days that you’ll be sure to find something that works for you.
My recommendations:
🎥 GoPro
My recommendations:
🧳 Packing Cubes
I am an absolute convert to packing cubes. I love having everyone’s stuff in its own little bag. I will never again travel without these little beauties. They make travelling so much easier, especially on a trip where you’re constantly moving like a trip through the Copper Canyon.
My recommendations:
🎲 Games
🎲 GamesFor the adults we always carry a pack of cards, Bananagrams and travel scrabble. For the kids we add Dobble and Uno.
My recommendations:
💰 Cash
There are no bank machines after Creel until El Fuerte. Some hotels and tours in the canyon want to be paid in cash. Please calculate and take as much as you’ll need.
More on the Copper Canyon
Looking for more on the Copper Canyon and El Chepe Express? Here are some additional resources I’ve put together, based on my family’s train trip.
- How to Book a Copper Canyon Trip. This is the ultimate guide to walk you through exactly how to book El Chepe Express.
- Copper Canyon with Kids. We did this trip with my two young kids. Here’s everything I wish I had known ahead of time about visiting the Copper Canyon with kids.
- Stops along the Copper Canyon. I’ve prepared guides for each stop we made along the El Chepe Express. Read these guides for everything you need to know about Creel, Urique, El Fuerte, Bahuichivo, and Chihuahua City.
- Copper Canyon Adventure Park. This popular attraction can be visited from Divisadero, Posada Barrancas, and Creel.
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