See the highlights of the Copper Canyon
in just eight days!
Starts on Saturdays year-round (subject to availability)
Panorama Apr 13-20, 2024 (join for less, 2 people already signed up!)
Features:
*Round-trip on Tourist-class travel on the new Express Chihuahua al Pacifico train, renowned as one of the world's great train journeys (and see the best part of the rail scenery twice!)
(Learn more about the new Chepe Express train here)
* Three nights total in colonial El Fuerte, a designated "Pueblo Mágico" (Magic Town)
* The Fuerte River naturalists float trip to the enigmatic Cerro de la Mascara petroglyphs
* Our exclusive riverside lunch, featuring traditional family cuisine
* Two nights on the canyon rim at Areponapuchic (near Divisadero)
* Visits the Three Canyons area and the Copper Canyon Adventure Park, which features one of the longest zip-lines in the world, plus a tram over the canyon and the unforgettable "via ferrata" vertical obstacle course (activities optional)
* Two nights at San Isidro, high in the Sierra above Cerocahui
* The overlook at Cerro Gallegos, considered by many to be the best vantage point in the Copper Canyon
* Visit our friends the Mancinas family and learn more about the Raramuri (AKA Tarahumara) lifestyle and cosmology, to include a traditional Pinole ceremony.
* The village of Cerocahui, featuring the prettiest mission church in the Sierra, and the Raramuri boarding school
* Available either fully guided or as an independent journey
*Available for practically any group size!
“Thank you Les, for a great trip! You made our 30th anniversary something we will always fondly remember. The Copper Canyon is simply indescribable. Our accommodations were unbeatable, and you were there always on time to help us make all our connections.
Your staff (each and every member of your team) is super!”
The magnificent Temoris Valley and the Septentrion Gorge
NEXT SCHEDULED DEPARTURE:
Click here for our complete calendar of scheduled trips
Starts on Saturdays year-round (subject to availability)
"Copper Canyon Panorama"
An exclusive Copper Canyon Adventures Itinerary
Day 1 (saturday): Arrival – El Fuerte
You will be met at the airport in Los Mochis by a representative of CCA and driven to colonial El Fuerte, about 1 1⁄2 hours away. There you will settle in at the Hotel Mansion El Serrano, a lovely hotel very close to the central plaza. Welcome!
The lovely central plaza in El Fuerte, the heart and soul of the city
Overnight (ON) @ Hotel Mansion El Serrano
Meals included: none
Day 2 (SUNDAY): Float on the Fuerte River to the “Cerro de la Mascara” petroglyphs, our exclusive riverside lunch, and a walking tour of colonial El Fuerte (with the fully guided trip only)
Full man figure with tortoise shell or shield body
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.
Enjoying our Riverside lunch
The lime face after tequila
The exclusive Copper Canyon Adventures riverside lunch on the Fuerte River 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.
Your hosts will be Martha and Jose Luis Piña Acuña, two of the nicest people you will ever meet, and some of the finest cooks, too! The family will be cooking and serving their delicious BBQ lunch, the mainstay of the Mexican “Domingo Familiar” or Sunday Family gathering. We are sure meeting Jose Luis and Martha will be one of the many highlights of your CCA trip.
This will be a great afternoon for naturalists, followed by a walking culture and history tour of colonial El Fuerte (on the guided version only). We are certain you will enjoy El Fuerte — 460 years young.
ON@ Hotel Mansion El Serrano
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch (BL)
Day 3 (MONDAY):The world-famous Chihuahua al Pacifico Express train – Divisadero and Areponapuchic
Today you will take the unforgettable Chihuahua al Pacifico (CHEPE) Tourist-Class Express train to the Divisadero station, featuring the most spectacular portion of the train ride, including the dramatic Septentrion Gorge and the three-level loops at Temoris.
As you cross 37 bridges and pass through 86 tunnels in dramatic mountain scenery, you will see for yourself why CHEPE has been named one of the top rail journeys in the world.
(The new Tourist-class Express includes access to the original restaurant car, but NO access to the terrace or Urike dome car. Passengers are no longer allowed to stand in vestibules between cars for photography. Please contact us if you would like to upgrade your Tourist-class service to either Executive (20% more) or First-class (tickets almost twice as much) train service).
Meals or drinks are cash only on the train.
On arrival, about 4:15PM transfer to the Hotel Mansion Tarahumara, right on the canyon rim for great walks and exploration.
NOTE: if you have issues with stairs, we can substitute a different rim hotel, please advise.
ON@ Hotel Mansion Tarahumara—on the rim!
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner (BD)
The world famous Chihuahua al Pacifico trains
Day 4 (TUESDAY): Three Canyons and Copper Canyon Adventure park excursion - Afternoon Free on the Rim
You will enjoy a vehicle excursion to the Copper Canyon Adventure Park and great vistas of three canyons-Urique, Copper and Tararecua-from overlooks at "Piedra Volada" (Flying Rock), with its spectacular overlook and moving stone, and Divisadero, an amazing overlook, the halfway point of the Chihuahua al Pacifico Railroad, and home to an open-air Raramuri Indian artisan's market.
Along the way, visit the Copper Canyon Adventure Park, where you can take an impressive aerial tram over the canyon, experience one of the longest and most thrilling zip lines in the world, the fastest “Zip-Rider” and/or a unique vertical obstacle course known as the "Via Ferrata" (Iron Way). Each of these features of the park are at additional expense. (the park accepts credit cards).
On the amaziing Copper Canyon Zip-Rider
You will have all afternoon for exploring. There are a variety of hikes or horseback rides available, if you wish (at additional cost), or perhaps simply relaxing and enjoying the view would be your preference. You can also arrange to stay longer at the Adventure Park, inquire with the front desk before departure or plan on walking back from the park (about two miles).
ON@ Hotel Mansion Tarahumara—on the rim!
Meals included: BLD
NOTE: The adventure park is now accepting same day reservations, however you need to get there early to make sure you can do the activities you want as they are prescheduled at certain time. Or you can reserve in advance and pay with credit card online, filling out all the waiver forms online if you know what you want to do at the park, which, enables you to know for sure you can do the activity you want at the time you want. https://parquebarrancas.com/
The 'Three Canyons" area, where three major canyons intersect
Day 5 (WEDNESDAY): Private vehicle to Cerocahui - Hotel San Isidro Lodge
After lunch you will board your private vehicle for the two and a half hour transfer to Bahuichivo and the Hotel San Isidro Lodge, a unique local family owned accommodations, located in a picturesque side canyon.
On the way to your hotel, you will visit the historic church at Cerocahui, considered by many the prettiest church in the Sierra.
Construction of the gold-domed church at Cerocahui began shortly after the arrival of the Jesuits in 1679, but after the Spanish King expelled the order in 1767, the church fell into disrepair and ruin. It was not until 1939 that rebuilding of the church began, and it now is one of the most dramatic churches in the Copper Canyon region. The stained glass there is particularly interesting, as it has an unusual Asian connection that your guide will explain to you.
After settling in at the hotel, there will be time for a short hike in the afternoon, to help you get to know the local area.
Close by is a one-room Raramuri schoolhouse you can visit and drop off any school supplies you may have brought with you (not required, totally up to you).
ON@ San Isidro Lodge Meals included: BLD
Day 6 (THURSDAY): Meet the Mancinas family and visit the epic Cerro Gallegos overlook
After breakfast you will be taken to the Raramuri village of Porochi, about an hour away over dirt roads, for your visit with the Mancinas family, Raramuri friends of ours who are very welcoming.
Meet the family, and even have a chance to make pinole, a corn drink which is a staple of the Raramuri in the Sierra.
The Urique Canyon and River
After lunch at the lodge, enjoy an excursion to Cerro Gallegos, perhaps the-finest overlook in the Copper Canyon. The views, and the drive, are amazing! (Even more so with a private open deck vehicle, available on request at additional cost)
ON@ San Isidro Lodge Meals included: BLD
Note: If you wish to continue to the bottom of the Urique Canyon this can be arranged directly with the hotel.
The overlook at Cerro Gallegos
Day 7 (FRIDAY): Free morning – return Express Train to El Fuerte (the best scenery a second time!)
After breakfast, at 9:30, you will be transported to Bahuichivo to take the Express train to El Fuerte, enjoying the best part of the train ride a second. time. There should be some great photo opportunities, as you will be seeing the most dramatic part of the trip in the late-morning sun. You will again be in the Tourist-class section of the train.
On arrival about 3:25pm, transfer to the Hotel Mansion Serrano, your home away from home in the Copper Canyon.
ON@ Hotel Mansion Serrano
Meals included: B
Day 8 (SATURDAY): Departure
Transfer to Los Mochis airport and departure.
Meals: B
I had a wonderful time! I will recommend Copper Canyon Adventures to anyone who is interested in visiting that part of Mexico. Joanne
Trip price includes:
Round-trip travel on the Express Tourist-class of the Chihuahua al Pacifico Railroad, considered one of the most scenic rail journeys in the world,
All lodging,
Most meals, as noted, including the exclusive CCA Riverside lunch,
The services of a professional bilingual guide, if you choose this option
All excursions (including the Fuerte River trip to the Cerro de la Mascara petroglyphs, the walking tour of the Colonial town of El Fuerte (with the fully guided option only), the Three Canyons cultural and canyon rim tour at Areponapuchic, the cultural tour of Cerocahui, the visit to the Mancinas family, including pinole ceremony, and the tour of Cerro Gallegos)
Your Copper Canyon Adventure Park Entrance ticket,
Vehicle transfer from hotel in Areponapuchic to hotel in Cerocahui
All train station/airport/hotel transfers upon your arrival and departure in Los Mochis
A detailed trip information package with maps and supporting documentation.
Trip Price (all prices are in US Dollars, with all travelers arriving and departing on the same flight)
Accompanied by a professional bilingual guide throughout the trip:
One adult traveling: available on request
Two adults traveling: $2165, per person, double occupancy
Four adults traveling: $1595, per person, double occupancy
Six adults traveling: $1395, per person, double occupancy
Eight adults traveling: $1345, per person, double occupancy
(discounts are available for larger groups--please inquire)
Independent trips; where we make all the arrangements and provide complete instructions and ticketing, but do not travel with you on the trip:
One adult traveling: available on request
Two adults traveling: $1495, per person, double occupancy
Four adults traveling: $1395, per person, double occupancy
Six adults traveling: $1295, per person, double occupancy
Eight adults traveling: $1245, per person, double occupancy
Single supplement, regardless of whether guided or independent:
$245 per person, single occupancy
Trip price does NOT include:
Air transportation to and from Los Mochis, where the trip begins and ends (but we can help you with airfare tips and tricks),
Optional activities in Copper Canyon Adventure Park: tram, zip-line or Via Ferrata,
Tips for excursion guides, drivers, servers, and hotel staff, etc. (can be included at your request for convenience sake and recommended for groups of 8 or more, with the fully guided option),
Tip for bilingual guide, if you choose the fully guided version,
Travel insurance (recommended for everything outside our control and liability such as airline/train schedule changes and cancellations, sickness/medical evacuation, lost/stolen/delayed baggage, and acts of God),
Personal purchases such as souvenirs, handicrafts, snacks and alcoholic beverages,
Mexico tourist card ($32-35 per person; added into the price of your commercial airline ticket).
Questions? Want to book? Click here
Enjoying the amazing Copper Canyon
