Copper Canyon
A Copper Canyon Christmas
(and New Years too!)
December 23, 2008 -
January 1, 2009
Piñata
busting in Cerocahui
The holiday season is a very special time in
the Copper Canyon, with a fascinating blend of both Mestizo and Raramuri
traditions, folklore and celebrations.
This itinerary features all of that, plus the
amazing Chihuahua al Pacifico train, and incredible views of the Copper Canyon
system. There are even hikes and horseback rides available for those who want a
more active trip.
I hope your family can join ours on a great
trip to see the holidays as few outside the Copper Canyon have.
Email us to reserve your holiday spot, or for more
information
Copper Canyon Adventures
Holidays in
the Copper Canyon, 2008
Itinerary
NOTE: In the spirit of the season, all participants
are asked to bring lightly used children’s winter jackets/sweaters, along with a
few used toys, to distribute to those in need. Full details on what to bring
will be given well before the trip.
Dates:
December 23, 2008 – January 1, 2009
Day 1, December 23: Arrival
You will be met at the airport in Los Mochis by
an English-speaking representative of Copper Canyon Adventures and driven 1.5
hours to colonial El Fuerte, a city where you can still see old Mexico at every
turn.
On arrival in colonial El Fuerte, you will
settle in at the Hotel El Fuerte, a charming hotel known for its personal
service and great food.
To complement this wonderful hotel, take a
stroll to the "Plazuela" of El Fuerte, a short distance away. This wonderfully
maintained central plaza is indicative of both the pride of El Fuerte's citizens
and the richness of their history.
Welcome to Mexico-Enjoy!
Overnight (ON) @ Hotel El
Fuerte
Meals included: Dinner
Day 2, December 24:
Christmas Eve on the Chihuahua al
Pacifico Railroad
You have reserved seats on the Copper Canyon train after breakfast today,
enjoying tremendous views from one of the most scenic train rides in the world.
The three-level loop at
Temoris is especially photogenic-so be sure to bring
lots of film!
Your destination today is Bahuichivo (5400'/1645m), the station serving
Cerocahui and the Paraiso del Oso Ranch, your hosts for the next three nights.
Members of the ranch will meet you at the station.
If you are interested, this afternoon you will have time for a short hike to the
"Cave of the Crosses", once the home of Raramuri Indians. Well-preserved and
striking, this cave will give you an idea of one way the indigenous peoples of
this area live.
Nativity scene, Cerocahui church
After a traditional
Nochebuena
(Christmas Eve) dinner in
front of the fireplace, enjoy a local glass of punch. Later you can go to
midnight mass in Cerocahui if you like, and, afterwards, watch traditional
Raramuri “Matachine” dances--a genuine celebration of the season, NOT a
contrived tourist "show". These dances go on all night, so rest up!
ON @
Hotel Paraiso del Oso
BLD
(Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Day 3, December 25:
Christmas Day
The festivities start early
today, with young Raramuri kids busting the traditional piñata this morning.
After a hearty breakfast, enjoy the spirit of the season as you wish, perhaps
with hikes, walks or horseback rides around the Oso, or just enjoying the mountain
scenery as you get ready for another special Christmas meal.
ON @
Hotel Paraiso del Oso
BLD
Day 4, December 26:
Cerocahui,
Cerro Gallegos and
Urique
After breakfast, you will
travel to Cerocahui, one of the oldest mountain communities in the Sierra.
Cerocahui is also home to one of the oldest (and prettiest) churches in the
region—a church with a surprising Asian connection. There is also a lovely
Raramuri children’s boarding school that you can visit while there.
From Cerocahui, you will
travel past the Mesa del Arturo before enjoying great views of both the
Palestine and Urique Canyons, and Raramuri homesteads from Cerro Gallegos. The
views of the Urique canyon from Cerro Gallegos are truly epic and justifiably
famous—most consider them the best views in the Copper Canyon.
At
the exclusive Cerro Gallegos overlook
A highlight of this
excursion will be your descent to the floor of the second deepest canyon in
North America (deeper than the Grand Canyon)—the road is unforgettable. You
will lunch in Urique, one of the oldest mining towns in the Sierra, and have
time to explore this unique town—and a nearby suspension bridge that crosses the
Urique River.
Leaving the canyon will
provide still more great photo opportunities, especially with the different sun
angles of the afternoon. You will never forget the panoramas of the Urique
Canyon!
ON @
Hotel Paraiso del Oso
BLD
Day 5, December 27:
Bahuichivo to Areponápuchi
Your morning will be free before you re-board the Chihuahua al Pacifico train
bound for Posada Barrancas, the station serving the small community of
Areponápuchi.
Close to Divisadero and located just below the canyon rim, Areponápuchi
is ideally situated for great excursions and unique views. At 7200' (2200m),
take your time until you are acclimated to the higher elevation.
Your lodging for the next two nights
is the Mansion Tarahumara, a small hotel nestled in the trees a short distance
from the canyon rim. Quiet and natural, the Mansion is a wonderful place to stay
in a beautiful area.
ON @
Hotel Mansion Tarahumara
BLD
Day 6, December 28: Three Canyons excursion and canyon rim exploration
You can spend this morning enjoying great vistas of three canyons-Urique, Copper
and Tararecua-from a variety of overlooks. These overlooks are part of a
vehicular excursion that includes:
A visit to the "Piedra Volada" (Flying Rock), with its spectacular overlook and
moving stone,
"Lago Pilares" (Pillar lake), a beautiful alpine lake nestled in the woods,
"Las Escaleras" (The ladders), a unique vista overlooking a trail which leads
down to the bottom of the canyon, and
Divisadero, the halfway point of the Chihuahua al Pacifico Railroad, and home to
an open-air Raramuri Indian artisan's market.
After lunch, there are a variety of hikes or horseback rides
available, if you wish, or perhaps a relaxing soak in the jacuzzi would be your
preference.
This evening would be a
lovely time to include a quiet and private walk along the rim. I am sure your
day at the edge of the canyon will be special.
ON @
Hotel Mansion Tarahumara
BLD
Day 7, December 29:
Creel
Today you take a full day
trip to Creel, a lumber town that has the largest population of Raramuri Indians
in the Sierra.
In addition to enjoying a
great museum of Tarahumara arts, crafts and lifestyle, you
can also visit:
The beautiful alpine
Lake
Arareko,
The fascinating rock
formations in the Valley of the Mushrooms and the Valley of the Nuns,
Indigenous cave dwellings
still in use by the Raramuri Indians,
Beautiful old
Jesuit
Missions in Cusarare and San Ignacio.
Great hikes available
today are to the Recohuata Hot Springs, an area of great beauty and relaxation,
or the Cusarare waterfall, another very scenic spot.
After today, you will
certainly be able to attest to the natural beauty around Creel, but the true
beauty of Creel is in its mix of Raramuri and Mestizo cultures, examples of
which you will see at every turn.
ON @
Hotel Mansion Tarahumara
BLD
Day 8, December 30:
Canyon rim and return to El Fuerte
After enjoying your morning at the edge of the canyon you will have lunch and
get back on the train for the return trip to El Fuerte.
The timing of your return trip should provide some great photo opportunities, as
you will be seeing the most dramatic part of the trip in the late-afternoon sun.
The
railroad loops at Temoris
You will once again stay at the Hotel El Fuerte-your home away from home in
Copper Canyon country.
ON @
Hotel El Fuerte
BLD
Day 9, December 31:
Petroglyphs, Ocolomito and El Fuerte New Years
Eve!
After breakfast, you will take a river trip and short hike to the
"Cerro de la
Mascara" (Mask Hill), a little-known petroglyph site featuring carvings anywhere
from 800-2000 years old-their exact age is unknown. Little else is known about
these carvings, but they are incredibly interesting and thought provoking
Lunch will be a special treat, combining great nature watching and a chance to
examine the flora and fauna on the
Fuerte River at Ocolomito with traditional cuisine served in a scenic riverside
setting. This will be a great afternoon for naturalists.
Bringing in the New Year with fireworks!
Tonight will be another very traditional holiday event—New Years Eve in the El
Fuerte town square. The whole town turns out for the festivities, which feature
fireworks, live bands, dancing and the breaking of many piñatas as midnight
approaches. This celebration is very typically Mexican, and will certainly be
yet another highlight from your trip.
ON @
Hotel El Fuerte
BLD
Day 10/January 1,
2008: Departure
You will be transferred to the airport in Los Mochis for your flight, and there
assisted with checking in.
Thanks for sharing your holidays with us! We look forward to staying in touch.
B
Trip price includes:
The
services of a bilingual guide throughout your trip,
Round-trip
first-class travel on the Chihuahua al Pacifico Railroad, considered one of the
most scenic rail journeys in the world,
All lodging,
All meals, as noted (BLD; including the riverside lunch at Ocolomito),
All excursions (including the folkloric dancing demonstration, the Fuerte River
trip to the Cerro de la Mascara petroglyphs, the full-day cultural, canyon rim
and canyon bottom tour of Cerocahui, Cerro Gallegos, and Urique, the Three
Canyons cultural and canyon rim tour at Areponápuchi and the full day of
historic, cultural and natural sites around Creel),
All airport/train station/hotel
transfers upon your arrival in Los Mochis, and
A detailed trip information package with maps and supporting documentation.
Trip Price (based on
a final group size of at least 6 adults):
all prices are in US Dollars
$1745 per
person, double occupancy (paid by check or electronic funds transfer)
(kids
6-13: $595, sharing a room with their sponsors; kids under 6 free!)
(Single
Supplement: $225)
(maximum
group size 12)
Not
included in trip price:
Airfare to and from Los Mochis, Mexico (airport code LMM),
where the trip begins,
(our US representative, Earl
Fox at Total Travel Tours) can often find you some great deals—we recommend calling him at
1-800-732-3023 (during normal business hours, mountain standard time).
(if doing your own booking
to Los Mochis, it is best to book the round-trip from your home airport to
either Los Angeles, Phoenix or Tucson. Then, make a SEPARATE booking from
one of those three US airports to Los Mochis, making sure all the connection
times work with the first booking. Booking separately like this will often
save you upwards of $200 per person on your flight to travel with us!
(Try this airline link for flights to Los Mochis from
Tucson, Phoenix or LA)
http://www.aeromexico.com/ingles/home.html
for AeroMexico)
Tips for
trip guide,
Personal
purchases such as souvenirs, handicrafts, snacks and alcoholic beverages,
and
Mexico
tourist card ($22 per person; normally added into the price of your airline
ticket).
Email us to reserve your holiday spot, or for more
information
Copper
Canyon Adventures
