Copper Canyon Mexico Tour

All Inclusive Guided Tour ~  7 Days 6 Nights

Pricing 

Tour Begins in Phoenix/Tucson

DAY 1 – San Carlos

Our morning departure will be from either Phoenix or Tucson and we will cross the border into Mexico at Nogales. We will be in Santa Ana in time for lunch. Afterwards, we depart for Hermosillo, where we will visit the Cathedral and the Government Palace. We will have the opportunity to view its famous murals depicting the history of the state of Sonora. We arrive in San Carlos in the evening and check into the lovely oceanfront Marina Terra. (L, D)

DAY 2 - Alamos

Today we will enjoy an exciting excursion on the Sea of Cortez; there will also be ample time for shopping. Lunch will be at the hotel. We will depart for Alamos in the early afternoon, a lovely historic town where we will enjoy a folkloric program. During the three-hour drive we will travel through Mexico’s agricultural heartland and the cities of Obregón and Navojoa. Tonight we will lodge at the beautiful bed & breakfasts Casa de los Tesoros and Casa Encantada. (B, L, D)

DAY 3 – El Fuerte

The city of Alamos has been declared a national historic landmark by the government. After breakfast we will take a guided walking tour down the cobblestone streets of this historic town with stops at some of the beautifully restored mansions. Lunch today is at the hotel. After lunch, we will depart to El Fuerte, arriving at Hotel Torres del Fuerte by early afternoon. Tonight we will enjoy dinner and entertainment at the hotel. (B, L, D)

DAY 4 – Copper Canyon

We transfer to the train station early this morning for our Copper Canyon Train ride.  We will board at 7:30 AM for the most spectacular train ride in North America. We arrive at the Posada Barrancas by mid-afternoon. You hotel for the next two nights in the Copper Canyon area will be the Mansion Tarahumara. (B, L, D)

DAY 5 – Copper Canyon

Today we will have time to browse through the Tarahumara Indian arts and crafts, visit the rim of the Urique Canyon and take in our magnificent surroundings. There will be plenty of time for optional activities, such as hiking, horseback riding or simply relaxing back at the lodge. (B, L, D)

DAY 6 – Casas Grandes

Following breakfast we will transfer to Creel via the Oteros Canyon. After lunch in Guerrero, we will descend from the Copper Canyon region to the Chihuahuan Desert and the city of Nuevo Casas Grandes. Tonight is our farewell dinner where we will enjoy a Mata Ortiz pottery presentation.

(B, L, D)

DAY 7 – Tucson / Phoenix

Before leaving Nuevo Casas Grandes we will visit the archeological site of Paquime, where this ancient civilization erected massive truncated pyramids and multi-story apartments. Afterwards we will travel through the plains and cattle country of Chihuahua before reentering the United States at Douglas, AZ. Arrival in Phoenix will be around 7:00 PM. (B, L)

Considering the magnitude of the Grand Canyon, it is hard to believe that anything in the natural world could rival its grandeur. But indeed there is a match for our wonder of the world and it lies south of the border carved from the legendary Sierra Madre Mountains in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. Mexico's Copper Canyon is actually a colossal network of six interlacing canyons; four of them are deeper than Arizona's Grand Canyon; some by over 1000 feet!  Unlike the latter, who receives some five million visitors annually, the Copper Canyon is pristine, rich with wildlife, virtually unexplored and untouched by tourism.

Most of this vast area commonly reffered to as Copper Canyon (Barranca del Cobre in Spanish) remains accessible only by train. And it is in fact this train trip, through nearly 400 miles of awesome scenery that is the unique attraction praised as the world's most scenic railroad ride. Also known as the train in the sky, this trip is considered a regional tour because the 16-hour-long one-way ride is broken up into overnight stays at key places of interest along the way.

The line was begun in 1870 to run from Wichita, Kansas to Presidio, Texas, across the border to Chihuahua, then down to the city of Los Mochis and nearby Topolobambo, one of the three largest natural harbors on the North American continent. The purpose of the railway was to shorten the shipping route to the orient by 400 miles.  91 years later the railroad was completed when the tracks joined at the Temoris Station on the southwestern edge of the Canyon and is considered one of the greatest engineering feats of the 20^th century.  The present-day route through the canyon winds passengers from sea level to over 8,000 feet, through 86 tunnels (the longest measures almost 6,000 feet) and across over 39 bridges (the highest is 340 feet over the Chinipas River).

The canyon is awe-inspiring year round, but it is particularly beautiful after the rains end in late September until late January. The appeal is for nature lovers of all levels: those who simply want to get away from it all, avid birders, hikers (from mild nature walkers to heavy multi-day trekkers), horseback riders, even botany buffs (including those interested in medicinal and therapeutic herbs and barks) as well as amateur geologists. The stunning scenery is born of different elements. In contrast with the Grand Canyon, which was formed from sedimentary rocks, the Copper Canyon was created millions of years ago by intense volcanic eruptions.  These eruptions in turn sculpted bizarre rock formations, outcrops and dramatic vertical drop-offs that plummet thousands of feet down to lush-green fertile valleys. The igneous and granite rock, rich in silver and copper, attracted miners in the old days of the Wild West. The rustic lodges along the rim offer the best views and most tours stay a couple of nights to allow their guests to really soak in the amazing panorama.

The Copper Canyon is truly one of the Western Hemisphere's great scenic and cultural journeys, belonging on the wish list of any avid traveler. Keep in mind there is a lot of bus time over some occasionally rough roads and the itinerary keeps you on the move. Nonetheless, for savvy travelers to Mexico, the Copper Canyon is a must to round out their experience of the country.