While people in the U.S. hold the Grand Canyon in awe, it is dwarfed by northwestern Mexico's mammoth Barranca del Cobre, the Copper Canyon. This national park is made up of a number of individual and inter-connected canyons and gorges -- five of which are each deeper than their grand counterpart to the north. Located a mere 250 miles from El Paso, Texas, it is about as far removed from civilization as it gets in Mexico. The region is inhabited by the reclusive Tarahumara Indians, an indigenous group who has preserved its culture, language and traditions. Due to the remoteness of the landscape, most tours of the area are taken partially of fully by rail on the famed Chihuahua-Pacífico Railway -- "El Chepe" as it is known to the locals -- which travels from the Sonoran-Sinaloan transition tropical forest, climbs 8,000 feet into the Western Sierra Madre and skirts the Copper Canyon before terminating in the Chihuahuan Desert. Considered one of the best train journeys in the world, a trip on El Chepe is a relaxing yet stimulating way to admire the beauty and magnitude of the canyon.
Caravan Tours (tel. 800/227-2826: www.caravantours.com) has reserved an entire first class train car on the Chihuahua-Pacifico Railway operated by Ferrocaril Mexicano for its descent into Copper Canyon. The Copper Canyon Train Tour departs from El Paso, Texas and includes hotel, courtesy airport shuttle, border crossing by private bus, travel through the canyon in a first class chartered train car, all meals (except for dinner the first night) and sightseeing. It also includes seven nights' accommodations beginning with the Hilton El Paso Airport Hotel in El Paso, Parador de la Montana in Creel, Posada del Hidalgo (a 19th century colonial mansion) in El Fuerte, Posada Barrancas Mirador (with rooms overlooking the edge of the canyon) in Barrancas and Palacio del Sol in Chihuahua. Among other excursions, the trip takes visitors through the pristine Samalayuca Sand Dunes, along an El Fuerte River float trip, to an evening at a Mexican ballet folklorico performance. The train journey itself passes through 86 tunnels and 38 bridges and takes in both cascading waterfalls and sheer canyon walls. There are regular departures throughout the year but Super Value departure dates are in November and December 2006 and January, February, May 21 to September 25 and November 8 to December 10, 2007. Super Value date tours are priced at $995 based on double occupancy, $875 for triple and $1,295 single. At other times of the year, the Great Value prices are $1,295 for double occupancy, $1,145 for triple and $1,495 for single. Taxes and fees are as follows: $98 (double occupancy), $88 (triple) and $199 (single).
Rusted Rock Tour (tel. 801/641-6198; www.rustedrocktours.com) is offering an eight-day mountain bike and hiking tour that is usually priced at $1,399 per person but is currently available for $899 for its November 12, 2006 departure. Starting in El Paso, Texas, the trip includes airport transfers, transportation across the border to Creel, three days biking around the Canyon, two days hiking, seven nights' accommodations in local inns and all meals. Visit Divisadero, Urique Canyon, La Bufa, the colonial silver mining town of Batopilas, the ruins of the Sheppard Hacienda, the Lost Mission of Satevo and Cuatemoc along the copper canyon route. The trip is led by Rusted Rock Tour owner Richard, alongside local Mexican guides. Participants are encouraged to bring their own mountain bikes, but if you don't have one (or don't feel like carting it to El Paso) Richard can arrange a rental for additional cost.
Grand Circle Travel (tel. 800/95900405; www.gct.com) features a "Northern Mexico and Copper Canyon" tour priced from $1,370 per person based on double occupancy. The 14-day trip visits Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, Divisadero, El Fuerte and San Carlos. You'll travel inland to explore the Copper Canyon, driving from the Chihuahuan desert up through the Sierra Madre Mountains road. After a two-night stay at the Canyon, ride the rails aboard the El Chepe train and take in the vastness of the canyons before experiencing the colonial-style life in the town of El Fuerte from a room in a 350-year-old hacienda. Visit colonial cities, archeological sites, the beaches of the Sea of Cortez, the astounding ruins of Paquimé and meet the local Tarahumara people. The trip price includes round-trip airfare,13 nights' accommodations in mainly first-class hotels (La Posada Lodge in Tucson, Hacienda Hotel in Casas Grandes, the three-star Hotel Palacio del Sol in Chihuahua, Hotel Divisadero-Barrancas in Divisadero, the El Fuerte Hotel in El Fuerte and the three-star San Carlos Plaza Hotel in San Carlos), 28 meals (13 breakfasts, seven lunches and eight dinners), four sightseeing tours (Paquime, Chihuahua, Divisadero, and "A Day in the Life of the Mayo People"), rail transportation aboard the Chihuahua al Pacifico Railroad, private motorcoach land travel, a tour leader and an exclusive Discovery Series of activities including Spanish lessons, village tours, folkloric performances, culinary demonstrations and cultural discussions. Travelers also receive a 5% Frequent Traveler credit toward their next Grand Circle trip. Prices for the December, 2006 departures are as follows:
December 19 or 25
- Los Angeles $1,370
- Dallas or Chicago $1,470
- New York $1,520
- Miami $1,570
December 13, 2006
- Los Angeles $1,470
- Dallas or Chicago $1,570
- New York $1,620
- Miami $1,670
Single Supplement is $445 or you can ask about their free roommate matching service.
Balderrama Hotels and Tours (tel. 800/896-8196; www.mexicoscoppercanyon.com) owns and operates several hotels in the Copper Canyon region and its tours are an extension of its accommodation services. It runs a "Best Selling Copper Canyon" tour package that departs regularly throughout the year and is priced from $774 plus 15% Mexico federal taxes. This seven-day tour includes airport transfers from Los Mochis airport, six nights' accommodations (Posada del Hidalgo in El Fuerte, Mision Hotel in Cerocahui, Mirador Hotel in Barrancas and the Santa Anita Hotel in Los Mochis), five full days in a first class car aboard El Chepe through the Copper Canyon, all meals and transportation to hotels nightly. Children 12 and under pay $358 plus taxes.
The California Native International Adventures (tel. 800/926-1140; www.calnative.com) has a "Copper Canyon 11-day Ultimate Tour" which includes airfare from Los Angeles, Tucson or El Paso to Los Mochis and returning from El Paso, Mexico. The package also consists of ten nights' accommodations in lodges, hotels and in traditional Mexican villages (one in El Fuerte, Chihuahua, Divisadero and Norítari and two in Cerocahui, Creel and Batopilas), transportation, excursions, tips, most meals and experienced bilingual guides. Highlights include a day trip to the village of Urique in the canyon bottom, a visit to the famous Basaseachic Falls, the beautiful village of Cerocahui, hiking along the canyon rim, the town of Batopilas, the Tarahumara community of Kirare, a hike or ride to the "Lost Cathedral" of Satevo, a hike to Cusarare Falls and a petroglyph cave and a Mennonite settlement near Chihuahua. The trip is priced at $2,790 per person based on double occupancy for tours departing October 15, October 28, November 11 or December 23, 2006. A single supplement of $550 applies. Although the 2007 schedule has been finalized with departure dates from January to April and October and December, the 2007 price has yet to be finalized. They also offer a number of shorter and longer escorted tours plus independent packages to Copper Canyon.
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