Los Mochis

Los Mochis is an agricultural 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, train 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 (LMM  IATA) (about 3 km south of the city). 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:

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). A taxi from Topolobampo to Los Mochis takes about 30 minutes.

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 can be dangerous.

  • 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 (Virgen María Reina del Valle)
  • 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)
  • Facilities of the old Sugar Mill
  • Trapiche Interactive Museum
  • City Theatre (Teatro Ingenio)

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.
  • 🌍 Estadio Emilio Ibarra Almada, Av. Belisario Domínguez S/N, Las Fuentes, ☏ +52 668 818 6323. Home field for the Cañeros de Los Mochis, a professional baseball team in the Liga Mexicana Pacifica (LMP), a winter league that plays an 82-game schedule between November and January. Fun, friendly stadium with great concessions and low admission prices. (updated Dec 2023)

Buy
  • 🌍 Mercado Independencia, Centro (Av. Independencia at Av. Santos Degollado). M-F 05:00-15:00; Sa-Su 05:00-14:00. Traditional Mexican marketplace selling the best variety of fresh produce and seafood in Los Mochis. Several local women sell regional prepared dishes and this is a great place to come for an early, cheap breakfast. (updated Dec 2023)

Eat
  • 🌍 El Quemado, Gral. Macario Gaxiola Sur 372, Centro, ☏ +52 668 815 3178. Daily 11:00-23:00. Traditional regional cuisine with an emphasis on grilled meats. The tampiquena is recommended as are the sobaquera tortillas. Generous portions. M$200. 
  • 🌍 Los Jardines, Av. Venustiano Carranza 249, Centro, ☏ +52 668 817 4325. Daily 07:00-16:00. Popular Mexican style breakfast and seafood restaurant with a large outdoor patio dining area as well as an air conditioned indoor dining room. M$200. 
  • 🌍 Restaurante y Pastelería Panamá, Av. Gral. Gabriel Leyva 690, Centro, ☏ +52 668 812 1277. Daily 07:00-22:30. Bright modern dining restaurant offering traditional Mexican entrees as well as their signature cakes and pastries. Outdoor patio dining area is available. M$150. 
  • 🌍 Fu-Xing Restaurant, A. Cano 1617, Gastélum, ☏ +52 668 818 7747. M-F 11:00-22:00; Sa-Su 11:00-23:00. Clean bright Chinese restaurant with good food and generous portions. 
  • 🌍 Pitaya Costes, Blvd Canuto Ibarra Guerrero 882, Privada San Mateo, Jardines del Country, ☏ +52 668 819 0883. Daily 08:00-23:00. Upscale yet comfortable Mexican seafood restaurant. Grilled marlin steaks and pulpo a las brasas (grilled octopus) are recommended. Reservations accepted. Great place for a date night. M$300. (updated Dec 2023)

Drink
  • 🌍 Bar Navarrate, Av. Venustiano Carranza 432, Centro. M-Sa 12:00-01:00, closed Su. Friendly modern sports bar/cantina. Cold bland mainstream beers but good ceviche. 

Sleep

Budget
  • 🌍 Hotel El Dorado, Av. Gral. Gabriel Leyva 525 Norte, Centro, ☏ +52 668 815 1111. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Spacious rooms and convenient centro location, but rooms are outdated, basic, and worn. M$980. (updated Jun 2023)
  • 🌍 Hotel America Centro, Miguel Hidalgo 281, Centro, ☏ +52 668 812 0710. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Older hotel in the downtown area, no off-street parking, no on-site restaurant. Bare basics. M$650. (updated Jun 2023)
  • 🌍 Hotel America Palacio, Allende 655 Sur, Centro, ☏ +52 668 812 1355. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Clean, comfortable, efficient hotel with off-street parking and fast internet. Bathrooms are rather small. M$700. (updated Jun 2023)

Mid-range
  • 🌍 Plaza Inn, Av. Gral. Gabriel Leyva 405, Centro, ☏ +52 668 816 0800. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Moderate hotel that could use some updates, but rooms are spacious, they have off-street parking and a swimming pool, and there is a steakhouse on site with available room service. M$1800. (updated Jun 2023)
  • 🌍 Best Western Los Mochis, Av Gral Álvaro Obregón 691 Pte, Centro, ☏ +52 668 816 3000. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Large hotel in downtown Los Mochis that caters to business travelers. Yeah, it's a chain hotel, but it will appeal to American travelers who want a good level of quality and staff who understand English. Spacious, clean rooms. The hotel has a gym and serves a full buffet breakfast (extra charge). M$2000. (updated Jun 2023)

Splurge
  • 🌍 La Casona, Av. Independencia 1217, Residencial El Pueblito, Centro, ☏ +52 668 151 0904. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Upscale hotel with spacious, well equipped rooms, and beautiful gardens, it is very popular as a wedding venue and despite being the most expensive hotel in town, is often booked full months in advance. M$4500. (updated Jun 2023)

Connect

Cell reception is good in Los Mochis but is usually 4G as of 2023. Most hotels and restaurants have good internet; free WiFi is common.

Go next
  • Guaymas - a beautiful beach and port stopover
Routes through Los Mochis
Ciudad Obregón ← Estación Don ←  N  S  → Guasave → Culiacán


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