Mochicahui

Mochicahui is a district seat in the southwest corner of El Fuerte municipality, next to the village of Constancia on the road between Los Mochis and El Fuerte. It has 6,055 residents (2020 census) and a very hot, dry climate, averaging 23.7 °C with barely 277 mm of rain a year. It counts as one of the most traditional Indigenous towns of northern Sinaloa, and local press credits the Jesuit Andrés Pérez de Ribas with founding it in 1605.

Mexico's tourism ministry describes it as a colonial town of pre-Hispanic origin where a Jesuit mission was established in 1614, and remains of that mission can still be seen in the center. The town keeps 18th-century carved saints in the tequitqui style, the work of Indigenous colonial sculptors, and it is best known for its festivals: its ceremonial center is among the largest and most active in northern Sinaloa. It is one of seven Mayo ceremonial centers around El Fuerte, along with Tehueco, Teputcahui, Jahuara, Capomos, Sivirijoa and Charay, where the Yoreme practice their own Catholicism under their own traditional authorities.

The ceremonial temple of San Jerónimo de Mochicahui serves 19 Indigenous communities and has hosted rituals for more than 60 years: the saints are honored with incense smoke, music and pascola, deer and matachín dances, under a Council of Elders that ranks above the traditional governor. Its roof was collapsing, so between November 2018 and April 2019 the old building was taken down and a new one raised on a 360-square-meter site, with a bell tower, kitchen and restrooms and a perimeter wall finished in stone and wood. During Holy Week thousands of visitors come to the region's Yoreme-Mayo ceremonial centers. These are community rites, so come respectfully and ask before taking photos.

El Fuerte's government has been seeking Pueblo Señorial status for Mochicahui on the strength of its colonial buildings, and met tourism students from the Universidad Autónoma Indígena de México about the bid. The Pueblo Mágico of El Fuerte lies further northeast along the same highway.