Chihuahua travel guide

Background

The first settlement at Chihuahua was founded in 1709 by Spanish explorer Antonio Deza y Ulloa. It was called El Real de Minas de San Fransisco Cuellar, but was later renamed San Felipe el Real de Chihuahua in 1718, and shortened, finally, to just Chihuahua in 1823. It developed as a ranching, agricultural and trade centre, and Catholic missionaries would converge there during their operations in the far-flung desolate mountains and deserts.

During the War of Independence, Hidalgo was held prisoner in the city jail and later executed in the Palacio de Gobierno. Today, murals inside the building commemorate the hero’s struggle. Between 1864-1867, Benito Juárez ran his government-in-exile from Chihuahua, and later on in the 19th century, Chihuahua experienced a boom under the reign of Porifiro Díaz. Many regal buildings from this era can be seen today. Subsequently, during the Mexican Revolution, Pancho Villa established his base here and contributed much to the city’s infrastructure and post-revolutionary identity. During the late 20th century, foreign factories moved in and the population exploded. Chihuahua is today one of the wealthiest municipalities in the who;e republic, thriving on industry and cross- border trade.

Getting around

Downtown Chihuahua is reasonably compact and can be easily explored on foot. For outlying attractions, there is an extensive network of town buses (US$0.20); taxis are widespread and operate on a zone system.

Getting there

Airport Gen Fierro Villalobos (CUU) (18 km from the centre on the road to Ojinaga, T614-420 5104, http://www.oma.aero/en/) . Airport buses run to hotels in town (US$3); taxi US$16 (the only option at night). The bus terminal is 8 km southeast of the centre, 20 minutes by bus, US$0.40; taxi US$6 (fixed price). Chihuahua is the eastern terminus of the Chihuahua al Pacífico railway; the train station is a 20-25 minute walk from the downtown area, or take a ‘Circunvalación 2 Sur’ bus from 20 de Noviembre. Taxis to/from the station cost US$4.

Air

The airport is on Blv Juan Pablo II, 18 km from centre on the road to Ojinaga. Airport buses collect passengers from hotels, US$3; or taxi US$16.

Flights to Ciudad Juárez, Ciudad Obregón, Culiacán, Guadalajara, Hermosillo, La Paz, Loreto, Los Cabos, Los Mochis, Manzanillo, Mazatlán, Mexico City, Monterrey, Tijuana and Torreón.

AeroMéxico to Los Angeles daily, and Aerolitoral to Dallas and El Paso in the USA.

Airline offices

AeroMéxico, T614- 423 4715, Aerocalifornia, T614-437 1022, American Eagle, T614-446 8211. Interjet, T614-446 8233.

Bicycle

Bicycle spares are available from Independencia 807, 0900-2000.

Bus

The bus terminal is on Blv Juan Pablo II, 8 km southeast of town, on the way to the airport, T614-420 2286. To get there, take a bus from the centre at Niños Héroes between Ocampo and Calle 10 (20 mins, US$0.40), or a taxi (US$6 fixed price). There is an exchange office (beware short-changing), cafetería and left luggage. The main bus lines include Grupo Senda, Omnibus, Estrella Blanca and its subsidiaries.

To Aguascalientes, hourly, 13 hrs, US$50. To Ciudad Juárez, every 30 mins from 0530, 5 hrs, US$21. To Creel, 5 daily, 5 hrs, US$15. To Durango, hourly, US$30. To Guadalajara, several, US$61, including Estrella Blanca, which also goes to Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta. To Hidalgo del Parral, 9 daily, 2½ hrs, US$9. To Nuevo Casas Grandes, 13 daily, 4 hrs, US$16. To Nuevo Laredo, at 2030, US$35. To Monterrey, every 1-2 hrs, US$38. To Mazatlán, 2 companies, US$38, 19 hrs, heart-stopping view. To Mexico City (and intermediate destinations), frequent services with several companies, 20 hrs, US$75. To Querétaro, every 1-2 hrs, US$65. To San Luis Potosí, 7 daily, US$52. To Saltillo, 5 daily, US$37 (or go to Monterrey and backtrack). To Torreón, every ½ hr, US$25. To Zacatecas, every ½ hr, 12 hrs, US$43.

Train

The train station is a 15- to 20-min walk from downtown. To get there by bus, catch one heading southeast down Ocampo; taxi US$4.

The station for the 631-km Chihuahua al Pacífico railway is 1 block behind the prison (take bus marked Rosario, or walk); in the early morning you may have to take a taxi.

Banks

Bancomer on Plaza Constitución offers better rates than Multibanco Comermex on same square. Casa de Cambio Rachasa, Independencia y Guadalupe Victoria, on the plaza, poorer rates, no commission on cash, 2% on TCs, Mon-Sat 0900-2100 (also at Aldama 711). Exchange is available in the bus terminal, but rates are slightly better downtown.

Internet

Not terribly numerous. Try the computer shop at Ocampo 1433. Or Mi Café , which has a few terminals with bad keyboards. Most places charge around US$1/hr.

Laundry

Ocampo 1412 and Julián Carrillo 402.

Telephone

Libertad, in the Palacio Federal. Also in the central camionera. Credit card phone outside AeroMéxico office on Guadalupe Victoria, ½ a block from Plaza Constitución (towards Carranza). Main phone office on Av Universidad.