Hotel Mirador

Very disappointing considering rooms cost $350 USD and it is soled as a small luxury hotel. A more suitable description would be hostel. The buffet felt like a mass feeding, the service was basically non-existent apart from asking for tips. Other important thing to note is that the internet is 3usd/day and is only available near the reception. The view is very nice over the copper canyon. However, considering the price and hotel description, it is totally overrated and requieres desperate management attention.

The hotel is excellent, but, remember that you are in the middle of the canyon and this isn’t a Four Seasons. The rooms are a bit dated and tired and could use a refresh, but the views are amazing and each room has its own balcony for spectacular sunrise views. With all of the activities, you won’t really spend that much time in the room. The dining room features long tables and it caters more to tour bus groups. The food is adequate, don’t expect much, but, again, you’re in the middle of the canyon. The Mirador is the lower level hotel, and, although they still post the signage of “Small Luxury Hotels of the World,” they haven’t actually been a member for several years now. There is actually another separate hotel, higher up the hill, called Maravilloso, but it is empty and no one can book it because they keep it a secret. This upper hotel, Maravilloso, is more boutique luxury and it has its own reception area and its own dining room with smaller tables, but we were never offered this more elegant option. I have no idea why they keep it a secret, as it seems more appropriate for the USA market and I would have been more happy there. Yuliana at the front desk was one of the few employees who spoke English, and she truly looked after us with genuine care and concern. In fact, Yuliana made our stay special, and it would not have been the same without her. Yuliana is a true gem. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and I’d certainly stay here again, but next time I’d be more interested in staying at the more elegant Maravilloso above.

El Mirador reminded me of some famous older hotels at U.S. National Parks: the location is unparalleled, and that’s why you stay there. And like those hotels, because of the remote location (which does make staffing and supplies more expensive), and that there isn’t an alternative, it sometimes stumbled on other details.| |LOCATION: There are other hotels in the area but this is the one perched on the canyon with a breathtaking view, perfectly oriented (at least during my stay) for sunrise. I believe every room has that view. That’s what you’ve paid for. The hotel is about five minute’s drive from the El Chepe station at El Divisadero. Representatives and shuttles were there to meet the train, they had your name on a list. This service was complimentary. ||SERVICE: Helpful and friendly if a bit mysterious. Almost everyone arrived from the train at the same time, and left as well, so check-in and check-out was crowded and confused. There was also a gap of more than three hours between check out at noon and departing for the train at 3:30 – it would be a great idea if the hotel offered a tour during that time. Some other tours were offered, I took a sunset walk with a Tarahumara woman that was expensive but interesting. At check-out you are presented with a wad of handwritten slips with your expenses that got transferred to a computer system. It’s old school. It felt good that this hotel catered far more to Mexicans than Americans, but it also meant that though you could almost always get help in English, at least some Spanish made communication easier.||ROOM and DECOR: It’s all about your balcony. You’ll be spending sunrise and sunset there. The rest of the room was pleasant and comfortable, but simple. Tile floors, your bed, a dresser and a TV. The bathroom and vanity was also simple. I cannot recall if water was provided, but wifi was not (see below) so I would bring a bottle or two, or be prepared to pay about 100 pesos per small bottle (330 ml) at the restaurant. Hot water was reliable.||FOOD: Full board is a set, relatively simple three-course menu at the restaurant. I do not recall anyone having an alternative, so if you have dietary requirements make sure ahead of time they can accommodate you. Breakfast is a buffet. Quality ranged from unmemorable to quite good (the steak one night was excellent, a very pleasant surprise). Dining meal by meal instead of full board is possible, but expensive. Even with full board, non-alcoholic drinks were not included. Expect them to be close to 100 pesos. Also, if you pay for full board, it did feel like I either missed the first or last lunch because of the hour of arrival. ||WIFI: You need to pay for it, but it is not expensive – during my stay, 50 pesos per day for a voucher that was a day – more or less. Though front desk recommended not using it for two devices, it did work for two.||CONCLUSION: El Mirador is expensive and could do better, but like the lodges at the Grand Canyon or Crater Lake, it was still incomparable and worth the experience - and the view.

Horrible hotel with a spectacular view. Horrible service. Dining room provides no choice, you eat what hospital food they serve and that's it. You must pay for WiFi which then functions only in the lobby. No alternatives nearby. And this 'luxury' property is decidedly run down and shabby. For the price, it's one of the worst hotels in my experience.

Hotel sits on the edge of the top of Copper Canyon with incredible views. Don’t miss sunset, sunrise and especially the night sky. One of the best light free places on earth. Definitely see the Milky Way. Room has a balcony overlooking the canyon. It was clean, soft bed. Downside: Shower hot water was spotty. Room was cold in December and thermostat was not responsive. Ask for extra blankets. Reception desk closes after 7 pm. Getting from the train station to the hotel requires the hotel shuttle which is very bumpy road. Large dining room caters to tour groups who fill the place. Food choices are limited.

The Hotel Mirador in Chihuahua State of northwestern Mexico sits on the edge of the Copper Canyon, 3 km south of Estación Divisadero on the Chepe Express railway between Los Mochis and Creel. Those arriving on the Chepe local train can use Estación Posada Barrancas only 500 meters from the hotel. The Copper Canyon's ravines cut as deep as 1.6 kilometers into the uplifted volcanic plateau of the Sierra Madre Occidental or Sierra Tarahumara. Covering 65,000 square kilometers, the six interconnecting volcanic canyons are four times larger than the much older sedimentary Grand Canyon in Arizona.

Other than incredible views, this hotel offers nothing. Rooms are basic, TV didn't work, food mediocre at best, drinks hugely over priced and WiFi isn't free. We expected a wonderful experience but we were sadly let down.

The best advice I can give is to not accidentally book a ‘partial’ view room, this means you are in the basement with no balcony no views and constant noise from above. Our room had a vinagrillo and a dead cockroach and since all the nicer rooms were full from tour groups we couldn’t pay to upgrade and were moved to the room next door, which had frogs in the toilet and coming in through cracks in the door. It was clear that these rooms do not get used much and we felt stupid for getting excited about a room with a beautiful balcony as seen on the website. We were already warned about the overpriced food so that part was not shocking but coupled with the diabolical room we felt like we were stuck in purgatory for two days while we waited for the train. The only positive thing I can say is that the staff were very friendly and helpful.