Copper Canyon
Easter
with the
Raramuri Indians
A
Classic Copper Canyon Hiking Trip
April
1-10, 2007
The
celebration begins...
Semana Santa, or Holy Week, is the most exciting fiesta in the Copper Canyon
region. Thousands of Raramuri Indians leave remote ranchitos (small villages
and settlements) to walk hours, even days, to isolated religious centers
where they participate in ceremonies that originated with Jesuit priests
over three centuries ago.
This very special
trek of moderate difficulty gives you the opportunity to both
experience and participate in this incredible cultural event.
Walking on trails worn down by centuries of residents,
you will feel the energy of the Raramuri in a way that few have. And a horse
or mule will be along to carry most of the weight!
Please note that
these celebrations are an authentic expression of faith for the Raramuri
--few, if any, other outsiders will be present, and we ask that all visitors
be properly respectful of the Raramuri and their beliefs.
(For an Easter itinerary without hiking
and camping, please see our
"Raramuri Easter Adventure". For a similar trek available
year-round, please see our
"Urique Canyon
Trek" itinerary.)
To make a reservation or for
more information:
Copper
Canyon Adventures
Raramuri Easter Trek
A Classic Canyon Hiking Trip
April
1-10, 2007
Itinerary
(click on most pictures to
enlarge)
April 1/Day
1: Arrival in Los Mochis and transfer to colonial
El Fuerte
Meet your
Copper Canyon Adventures guide at the Los Mochis airport and immediately
escape the noise and traffic of this young agricultural city with your
transfer to El Fuerte, a charming and historical city vibrant with heritage
and tradition.
Enjoy welcome
cocktails/beverages and dinner at the Hotel El Fuerte, an island of comfort
and seclusion only a block from the heart of Colonial El Fuerte. Beautiful
and warm, the Hotel El Fuerte prides itself on personal service and
attention to detail.
To complement
this wonderful hotel, take a stroll after dinner 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 at: Hotel El
Fuerte
Meals
included: Dinner
April 2/Day
2: The Chihuahua al Pacifico Railroad
You ride 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! After, enjoy the famous canyon rim
overlook at
Divisadero.
The
destination today is Creel, the station serving
the Sierra Lodge, your hosts
tonight.
Tranquil and
refreshing, I am sure you will enjoy the warm, comfortable rooms at the
Sierra Lodge—with kerosene lamps, plush comforters
and pillows, you will certainly feel pampered.
Overnight at: Sierra Lodge
Meals included: BD
Near Mapichi
April 3/Day 3: The trek begins--to
Mapichi
After
breakfast and a talk about our trip, you will be transported to the trailhead at
Samachique, an old logging outpost now home to one of the newest medical
clinics in the Sierra. En route, you will see old posadas used
during the silver boom as locations to rest and change mules for the long
ride to Chihuahua from Batopilas.
Hiking on
trails established centuries ago by the Spaniards, you will discover another
hidden side of the Copper Canyon, with remote villages, farms and Raramuri
Indians living as they always have.
It will be a
memorable experience for many reasons-for the panoramic views and for the
great trails, of course, but most of all for the interesting people you will
meet.
Our trail today gently climbs
and descends before arriving at Mapichi, a scenic Raramuri homestead located
in a small bowl valley, and surrounded on all sides by forest and
interesting rock formations.
(Hiking today: 6
miles/time 5 hours; elevation
gain/loss -1200'/1500')
Overnight at: Mapichi
(camping)
Meals included: BLD, trail snacks
Approaching Tazon,
at the edge of the Munerachi Canyon
April 4/Day 4: To
Tazon, atop the amazing
Munerachi Canyon
We have a bit more strenuous day today, but the payoff is
our arrival at Tazon (literally Big Bowl, for the shape of the valley in
which it is located), certainly one of the most impressive, although least
known, canyon rim overlooks in the Copper Canyon.
Here we will camp in the front yard of the home of a
Raramuri family we have befriended in our travels.
(Hiking today: 6.8
miles/time 6 hours; elevation
gain/loss -1800'/1320')
Overnight at: Tazon
(camping)
Meals included: BLD, trail snacks
On the "hanging"
trail in the Munerachi Canyon
April 5/Day 5: To
Chinovo--WOW is the word!
We
consider today's hike to be perhaps the single best day hike in the Copper
Canyon. Given the quality of hiking in the amazing Copper Canyon, this
is a bold claim, but the grandeur of the upper Munerachi Canyon, along with
the amazing "hanging" nature of the trail and great places to stop along the
way support this assertion. We certainly think you will agree!
Following an amazing trail on the walls of the upper
Munerachi Canyon, you will have a chance for a dip in a nice swimming hole,
along with cultural exchanges with friends of ours in various villages you
will visit today.
The best part of today is that
we will have time to enjoy the scenery, and not be rushed in our journey to
Chinovo, our campsite tonight.
(Hiking today: 6.8
miles/time 6 hours; elevation
gain/loss - 700'/2220')
Overnight at: Chinovo
(camping)
Meals included: BLD, trail snacks
April 6(Good Friday)/Day 6: To
Munerachi for the Easter celebrations
Today is a gentle hiking day, so as to have more time for
visiting our friends in Chinovo, enjoying our final descent into Munerachi,
and settling in to experience the peak time of Raramuri Easter celebrations.
These celebrations, consisting of soldados
(soldiers) defending the church of this old Spanish mission town, and
fariseos (pharisees) conducting mock "assualts" on the church and other
important areas in the town. As time wears on, an effigy of Judas will
be brought out by the fariseos, processions will take place and eventually,
the fariseos will be defeated and Judas will be burned.
These celebrations reflect the Raramuri belief that
Semana Santa is a vulnerable time for God, and the devil will do what he can
to try and take over. Fortunately, this never happens, and the minions
of the underworld are defeated for yet another year.
Experience and enjoy these
unique celebrations for as long as you like, since they will go on all night
long!
(Hiking today: 2
miles/time 2.5 hours; elevation
gain/loss - 800'/1780')
Overnight at: Munerachi
(camping)
Meals included: BLD, trail snacks
Our Raramuri "escorts" in Munerachi
April 7 (Holy Saturday)/Day 7: To
Batopilas
After a good nights rest from the nocturnal festivities,
we will once again hit the trail, enjoying any of several great swimming
holes on the way to Cerro Colorado, a mestizo village down the road, but a
world away, from Munerachi.
Those wanting to continue the road walk to Batopilas may
do so, while anyone wanting a ride to our hotel for this evening, the
Hacienda Rio Batopilas, may do so as well.
Either way, enjoy our
final day on the trail as we enter Batopilas, silver capital of Mexico, and
one of the most remote towns in North America.
(Hiking today: 2-10
miles/time 2-9 hours; elevation
gain/loss - 120'/780')
Overnight at: Hacienda Rio
Batopilas
Meals included: BLD, trail snacks
April 8 (Easter Sunday )/Day 8: Batopilas
Today you explore and enjoy the atmosphere and
history of Batopilas. Some included options include a vehicle trip
to the Cathedral at
Satevo, a nice walk to the home of silver magnate Alexander Shepherd or
a more rigorous hike to the El
Peñasquito
mine, formerly one of the most prosperous silver mines in the world--or
maybe all three trips in one day--the choice is yours!.
Overnight at: Hacienda Rio
Batopilas
Meals included: BLD
The lovely Hacienda Rio Batopilas
April 9/Day 9: Creel and
Chihuahua
We leave Batopilas after breakfast this morning,
enjoying the beautiful drive out of the Batopilas Canyon enroute to Creel,
where we will enjoy lunch and have time for handicraft shopping at the
Mission Store, where all the proceeds go to benefit the Raramuri tribe.
From Creel we leave the Sierra Tarahumara, crossing
the high plains before arriving at Chihuahua, cosmopolitan capital of the
largest state in Mexico. Here we will have our farewell dinner, saying
goodbye, but with memories that will last a lifetime.
Overnight at:
Hotel San Francisco
Meals included: BLD
April 10/Day 10: Departure
Transfer to Chihuahua
airport for your onward flight. Thanks for
joining Copper Canyon Adventures on this special trek to the heart of
Raramuri country!
Meals included:
B
Trip price includes:
The
services of a personal bilingual guide (Wilderness
first responder, CPR, First Aid Certified) for the entire trip,
First-class travel on the Chihuahua al Pacifico Railroad, considered one of
the most scenic rail journeys in the world,
All
lodging (including your ground pad and tent while on the
trail),
All
meals as noted above (B,L,D)
Pack
horses or mules to carry all the heavy gear (you just carry a daypack and
water), and
All
transfers upon your arrival in Los Mochis, and
Local gratuities to wait
staff, maid service, and porters.
Trip Prices
(based on at least
two
travelers in the final group; in US dollars):
$2795
Per person, double occupancy
$390
single supplement (if you want your own room/tent throughout the trip)
Not included in trip price:
Transportation to and from your
home to Los Mochis, Mexico (airport code LMM), where the trip begins
and Chihuahua (CUU), where the trip ends (but we can
give you tips on how to get the best airfare),
(our US representative, Total
Travel Tours (ask for
Earl Fox) 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)
Personal purchases such as
souvenirs, handicrafts, snacks and alcoholic beverages,
Mexico tourist card
($22 per
person; normally added into the price of your airline ticket),
Tips for trip guide,
Sleeping bag rental during the trek portion of the trip (a limited number of
rentals are available, but it is always best to bring your own bag, good
down to about 40 degrees),
Tips for trip guide.
To make a reservation or for
more information:
We look forward to Easter hiking with you in 2007!
Copper
Canyon Adventures
