Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrive in Los Mochis

   • Begin your tour at the airport in Los Mochis, Sinaloa (Airport code: LMM). You will be met by your Copper Canyon tour guide for your transfer to the hotel in El Fuerte. 

   • Relax and Enjoy the tropical atmosphere with a cool coconut drink, expertly opened with a machete before your eyes, or sip a margarita prepared from local oranges.

   • Enjoy an optional second night in El Fuerte, a colonial town founded in 1564 by Don Francisco de Ibarra and steeped in history. Rumour has it El Fuerte was the home of the legendary Zorro. 
   • You can explore this walkable town or enjoy a river trip that highlights a colourful myriad of local birds and an ancient petroglyphs site with some extra time.

2. Day 2: Arrive at the Canyon Rim

   • At 7 am, you leave the hot coastal plains around El Fuerte for the cool, pine-tree-clad rim of Copper Canyon at almost 8000 feet above sea level (2200m). The complete rail journey from Topolobampo through Ciudad Chihuahua to Ojinaga/El Presidio is no longer complete, but 86 tunnels and 37 bridges enhance the remaining portion. Divisadero, your arrival point in mid-afternoon, is cool and temperate in an extensive pine forest on a high mesa. We have a tasty late lunch, street food style, and have a 4km orientation hike to the hotel at Posada Barrancas.

   • We will meet you at the Estación Divisadero train station for our transfer to the Bavarian-inspired castle, Mansion Tarahumara. A fixed dinner at 7:30 is included.

3. Day 3: Begin Descent into the Mile Deep Canyon

   • Meet your local guides and arrieros (Spanish for burro drivers) and begin a 3500-foot descent to camp at a spring-fed orange grove. Notice the life zone changes as we leave the coniferous Mesa and descend through the Apachean-Madrean woodland bioregion to the arid Chihuahua desert.

   • Local homesteads perch precariously on exposed ledges with nearly sideways-slanted cornfields.

   • A scenic rocky outcrop offers photo opportunities and a good spot for lunch.

   • The locals keep goats, so beware of loose rocks.

4. Day 4: Hike to the Rio Urique

   • A moderate 1200-foot (400-m) descent is a great way to loosen tight leg muscles after yesterday's tough descent.

   • Take the rest of the day to relax at our spacious beach camp.

   • Tonight's campsite is under a brilliant canopy of stars, next to the gently burbling Rio Urique. Swimming is recommended.

5. Day 5: Long Day Hike Upstream

   • Those anxious for the optional full-day hike to get to know the area means we must get an early start to beat the heat.

   • Utilize old Tarahumaran trails on a traverse a couple of canyons upstream to a warm waterfall.

   • A small dry bag (12-20 litres) is recommended for valuables on the return hike. Three river crossings are refreshing after the hot climb. Two are definite swimmers. Sure-footed river shoes and a dry sweater for the other side are recommended. This hike features an active low-tech mining operation, Tarahumaran ruins, the art of tracking, and birding opportunities.

6. Day 6: Half day hike and Mine tour

   • Head out for a half-day hike around our campsite, which highlights Tarahumaran life. This hike features a riverside beach with deep pools, a bubbling cascade, and smooth water. Nearby is a functioning Tarahumaran Rancho, where we witness animal husbandry, orchard irrigation, and terraforming, and an abandoned gold mine.

   • Listen for the bells to find where the donkeys have strayed. The arrieros rein them in, and we hike up to the outskirts of a Tarahumaran village for the night.

7. Day 7: Ascent to first night's camp

   • Ascend 450m (1500ft) to a hot spring pool and the first night's camp.

   • Depending on the season, visit with the owner of a remote Tarahumaran Rancho.

8. Day 8: Return to Canyon Rim

   • Ascend 3500 feet as we return on our outbound trail.

   • Local ranchos with tiny cornfields and stone fruit orchards blend seamlessly with the surrounding hills.

   • Breathtaking views and well deserved bragging rights follow us to the hotel

   • Back at the hotel, hot showers and cold drinks await us. 

9. Day 9: Bus to Cd Chihuahua, for next day flights

   • Have breakfast and catch one of 6 departures for Ciudad Chihuahua.

   • Nearby Parque Adventura Tarahumara offers a via ferrata, and two interesting ziplines

   • An early train departure allows you to visit Creel.

   • A night in Creel allow you to return to the coast on the ChePe.

10. Day 10: Departure

    • Fly home if going to Chihuahua.

    • Catch the train back to El Fuerte, Los Mochis, or aim for the midnight departure on the ferry from Topolobampo to La Paz, Baja California Sur. An eight hour crossing gets you to Baja about dawn.