Los Mochis - city, municipal seat of Ahome, Sinaloa, Mexico
Los Mochis is an agricultural and resort city in Sinaloa, Mexico. It is best known as the western terminus for the Chihuahua al Pacifico Railway (El Chepe) --- the magnificent train ride through the rugged Copper Canyon.
Understand
Los Mochis is a port city of about 260,000 people (2010) on the eastern coast of the Sea of Cortez. Its main interest for tourists is as a transportation hub. Los Mochis has an airport, trains station, and ferry docks for transport across the Sea of Cortez to Baja California.
The North Pacific irrigation region (Sinaloa-Sonora) in which the Fort Valley is the largest district and is the principal agricultural area of Sinaloa, containing over 70% of the state's irrigated land and producing sugar cane, cotton, rice, flowers, and many types of vegetables. The valley is one of the largest producers of mangoes in Mexico.
Climate
Summers are extremely hot, reaching 40 °C (104 °F) with overnight lows of 26 °C (79 °F) with high humidity make the nights uncomfortable, and a heat index reaching 45 °C (113 °F) in the day. Winters are very warm, reaching 30 °C (86 °F) in the day. Rainfall is heaviest in the summer: it is common to see thunderstorms and even occasional hurricanes in August and September, but winters are dry with almost no rainfall.
Get in
By plane
- Los Mochis (IATA: LMM), 25.686088°, -109.0812°. A small airport serving a limited range of destinations. Most flights are on small regional jets or turboprops. LMM has only domestic commercial flights (as of January 2023). It is served by Aeromexico, Viva Aerobus, and Volaris. Direct flights to Los Mochis are available from:
- Mexico City (IATA: MEX)
- Guadalajara (IATA: GDL)
- Monterrey (IATA: MTY)
- Tijuana (IATA: TIJ)
By train
The Chihuahua al Pacifico Railway is one of the world's most spectacular train trips. The trip between Los Mochis and Creel is about 9 hours each way. Trains leave each end point at 8am, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from Los Mochis and on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from Creel.
The real scenery starts at El Fuerte. Stand on the western side and travel uphill to Creel. Hang out in the few open vestibules with your camera -- the uphill scenery is fairly splendid for at least two of the seven or nine or twelve hours of the journey. On the downhill run, put yourself in the club (bar) car, where you can stretch out in a modicum of comfort.
By car
Mexico Highway 15 connects Los Mochis by land to Mexico. It runs from Nogales, on the United States border, to Mexico City. Other important highways are Los Mochis- Ahome, Los Mochis-Topolobampo, and Los Mochis-El Fuerte. The Topolobampo-Chihuahua highway is under construction.
By bus
The city does not have a central bus station for the entire bus fleet, rather each line has its own terminal. There are local, regional, national and international transport routes. Bus lines that have national routes have departures to the north, center and south of the country. Bus lines with international routes have departures to the southwestern United States.
By boat
Ferry boats run between La Paz and the Topolobampo docks. The ferry transports both passengers and vehicles, though there has been talk of restricting RVs. Sleeping cabins are available at extra cost. Fares are about US$80 (salon class).
Get around
Taxis are the best way to get around. They are plentiful and economical. You could also rent a car, though driving in Sinaloa
- AGA Rent a Car, Av. Camaron Sabalo #312-A, Zona Dorada.
See
Tourist attractions found in the city are:
- Cerro de la Memoria (hill of memory)
- Benjamin Francis Johnston Botanical Garden (Sinaloa Park)
- Statue of the Virgin of the Valley of the Fort
- The Pergola
- Cycle path of the Cerro de la Memoria
- Casa del Centenario (Centennial House)
- Innovation and Education Center
- Plazuela 27 de Septiembre (September 27 Square)
- Regional Museum of Valle del Fuerte
- Hotel Montecarlo
- Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón (Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus)
- Church of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Guadalupe
- House of Culture Professor Conrado Espinosa
- Venustiano Carranza Park (Monument to Don Quixote and Sancho Panza)
- Historical center of the city
- Linear Park Blvd. Rosendo G. Castro
- Plaza Solidaridad (Infant Allegory Statue)
- Centennial Clock
- Facilities of the old Sugar Mill
- Trapiche Interactive Museum
- Teatro de la Ciudad (city theatre)
Do
Spectator sports offer the visitor a chance to experience life like a local.
- Baseball: Cañeros de Los Mochis are the minor league hometown team. They're in the Pacific League, which is a winter league, so games are scheduled from mid-fall to mid-winter. Games are held at Estadio Emilio Ibarra Almaeda (Chevron Park) and tickets start at M$100 for bleacher seats.
- Football/soccer: Murciélagos de Los Mochis are a second-tier team playing in the Premier League. Games take place at the 11,000 seat Estadio Centenario.
- Basketball: Pioneros have been playing basketball in Los Mochis since 1996. They're part of a professional league called Circuito de Baloncesto de la Costa del Pacífico. Games are held at CUM Los Mochis.
The city is home to the Mexican Pacific League's Cañeros de Los Mochis baseball club. The city's football team is called the Murciélagos de Los Mochis, and its basketball team is known as the Pioneros. (Half the players on the roster are from the U.S.)
Buy
Eat
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Drink
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Connect
Stay safe
Cope
Go next
- Go to Guaymas, a beautiful beach and port stopover