Holidays in the Copper Canyon

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, – January 1

Day 1, December 23: Arrival
You will be met at the airport in Los Mochis by an English-speaking guide 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.
Overnight (ON) @ Hotel El Fuerte
Meals included: Dinner

Welcome to Mexico-Enjoy!

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 Rarámuri Indians. Well-preserved and striking, this cave will give you an idea of one way the indigenous peoples of this area live
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 walks or horseback rides around the Oso, or just enjoying the mountain scenery as you get ready for another special Christmas meal. Some of the areas for horseback include destinations to raramuri households or remote caves.
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 Rarámuri 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 Rarámuri 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.

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 Rarámuri Indian artisan's market.
Or enjoy the Canyon rim in a special way on the back of a strong horse. Enjoy the beautiful views from a different vantage point.

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 will 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.
Another option before the train is a morning canyon rim ride to an area you haven’t seen before.
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.
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.

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, 2006: 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.
(maximum group size 12)


Not included in trip price:

Airfare to and from Los Mochis, Mexico (airport code LMM), where the trip begins. Note: when booking airfares 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!

Tips for trip guides.

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).