Mexican Train Travel with Kids: Tequila Express and Chepe Pacifico

Most people do not realize Mexico still has scheduled passenger trains. The country eliminated almost all of them in the 1990s. But two have survived and thrived as tourist trains, and both are some of the best train rides in North America. The Tequila Express runs from Guadalajara through agave fields to a working tequila distillery, and the Chepe Pacifico crosses the Sierra Madre Occidental from the Pacific coast to Copper Canyon, a journey that rivals any Swiss Alps train ride for sheer scale.

This guide is for the family that wants to do something different on a Mexico trip. Trains are deeply kid-friendly. They feel adventurous, the windows are big, the food comes to the seats, and there is genuinely no chance of motion sickness or boredom. Here is how to do both.

The Two Trains Worth Riding

1. Tequila Express (Guadalajara to Tequila)

Runs Saturdays year-round from Guadalajara to the town of Tequila, where you tour a working distillery (Casa Herradura), watch agave harvesting, eat a traditional Mexican lunch with mariachi music, and ride back. The whole experience is one day, leaves around 10 am, returns around 8 pm. Around 2,500 to 3,500 pesos per adult, 1,500 pesos per child 4 to 11. Toddlers free.

This is family-friendly because lots of Mexican families ride it on weekend trips. Mariachi bands roam the train. Snacks and drinks served constantly. The agave fields are genuinely beautiful and your kids will be fascinated by the harvesting demonstration. The tequila tasting is included for adults and obviously skipped for kids, who get fresh agua frescas instead.

2. Chepe Pacifico (Los Mochis to Creel)

The big one. Chepe Pacifico (also called El Chepe) is the only passenger train in Mexico that crosses the Sierra Madre Occidental, climbing from sea level at Los Mochis on the Pacific coast to 8,000 feet at Creel in the Copper Canyon. The full trip is 9 hours each way through 86 tunnels and over 37 bridges. Most families do it as a 4 to 6 day round trip with stops along the way.

Around $130 to $250 USD per adult per leg in the Premiere class with proper seats and dining car. Half price for kids 5 to 12. Worth every peso.

Tequila Express Day Trip Planning

Best for

Families based in or visiting Guadalajara, ages 5 and up. A full day on a train requires the kid to be patient with extended sitting and a lot of stimulation.

How to Book

Book online at tequilaexpress.com.mx 4 to 8 weeks ahead, especially for Saturday departures. Reserve specific seats so your family sits together.

Itinerary

• 9:30 am: Arrive at the Guadalajara station, board the train
• 10:00 am: Departure with mariachi serenade
• 11:30 am: Arrive in Amatitan station, transfer to Casa Herradura
• 12:00 noon: Distillery tour, lunch, mariachi performance
• 4:00 pm: Re-board train, return journey with continued music
• 6:30 pm: Back in Guadalajara

What to Pack

• Snacks for picky eaters, even though food is included
• Insulated water bottles for the kids
• A small entertainment kit (tablet, books, coloring) for any quiet stretches
• A travel adapter since the train cars have outlets but plug shapes vary
• A light jacket, since the train is air-conditioned to cool
• Anti-theft crossbody bag for the Guadalajara station

Chepe Pacifico 5-Day Itinerary With Kids

Best for

Families with kids ages 7 and up willing to do longer travel days for big payoffs. The high altitude and long days make it tough on toddlers.

Day 1: Arrive in Los Mochis or El Fuerte

Fly into Los Mochis or, if available, El Fuerte. El Fuerte is the better starting point because the train leaves earlier from there and the town itself is charming. Spend the night.

Day 2: El Fuerte to Bahuichivo (or Posada Barrancas)

Train leaves around 8:00 am. The first 4 hours climb gradually through agricultural land. The next 3 hours are the most spectacular train ride in Mexico - tunnels, bridges, vertigo-inducing views into 6,000-foot canyons. Disembark at Bahuichivo and overnight in Cerocahui, or continue to Posada Barrancas for the canyon-rim hotels.

Day 3: Copper Canyon Day

Stay in Posada Barrancas at the Hotel Mirador or Hotel Divisadero, both of which sit on the canyon rim. Walk along the rim, take the cable car or zipline (the longest in the world at 2.5 km!), and let kids see one of the largest canyon systems on earth. Yes, the Copper Canyon is bigger and deeper than the Grand Canyon.

Day 4: To Creel

Continue by train (1.5 hours) or van to Creel, the highest mountain town on the route. Stay overnight, take a half-day excursion to the Tarahumara villages, the Cusarare waterfall, or the Valle de los Hongos rock formations. The Tarahumara cultural exchange is one of the most genuine indigenous experiences your kids will ever have.

Day 5: Return

Train back to El Fuerte/Los Mochis (9 hours). Or fly out from Chihuahua if your booking allows (3 hour drive from Creel). The return train ride is just as beautiful as the outbound and gives you a second chance to see the views from the other side.

What to Pack for Chepe Pacifico

This is a multi-climate trip - hot at Los Mochis, cold at Creel.

• Layers including a real fleece or puffer (Creel can be 30 F in winter)
• Hiking shoes for canyon-rim walks
• Insulated water bottles per person
• Sunscreen (high altitude UV is brutal)
• Sun hats
• Waterproof phone pouches for waterfall stops
• Packing cubes for the multi-stop itinerary
• Anti-theft crossbody bag for stations
• Multi-port travel adapter
• Motion sickness wristbands (the canyon switchbacks are real)
• Lonely Planet Mexico for the Copper Canyon and Tarahumara chapters

Booking Tips

Chepe Pacifico can be booked direct at chepe.mx or through a tour operator like Authentic Copper Canyon Tours. The all-inclusive package option (with hotels and ground transport) is genuinely worth the markup for a first-timer with kids. Solo-booking everything is doable but logistically intensive.

Book 3 to 6 months out for high-season dates (November to March, plus Easter and summer school break weeks). The Premiere class is much more comfortable than Express class for kids on the long journey - bigger seats, dining car, observation lounge.

Health and Safety Notes

The high altitude at Creel (8,000 ft) can cause mild altitude effects - headaches, fatigue, dehydration. Drink twice as much water as you think you need. The first night, plan a low-energy evening. Most kids adjust within 24 hours.

The Sierra Madre region was once associated with cartel activity, but the Chepe corridor and tourist towns (Creel, Cerocahui, El Fuerte) are very safe and well-policed. Stay in the established tourist areas and follow your tour operator's guidance. The train itself is patrolled.

The Bottom Line

Mexico's two surviving passenger trains are some of the most magical family experiences you can plan. Tequila Express is the easy day-trip option from Guadalajara. Chepe Pacifico is the multi-day expedition through one of the largest canyon systems on earth. Either way, your kids will remember the train ride longer than any beach day. Book early, pack layers, and bring snacks.