These trips are stand alone trip for those headed north out of Mexico in Spring 2025. Copper Canyon will run March 12-17 from El Fuerte, just north of Los Mochis. The other option is a 3 week Colonial tour out of Mazatlan to Durango, Zacetecas, Guanajuato, Patccuaro, Mexico City and Taxc. It will exit via Laredo around April 18th. You will meet it in Mazatlan at the end of March. Pricing is to be determined. Lots of tours and meals.
For Copper Canyon, you will meet our regular Caravan in El Fuerte on March 12th. You need to be there by about 3 PM.
El Fuerte is the birthplace of the real Zorro, and the original capital of Arizona (Link). We will enjoy an entertaining dinner show, at the very impressive, historic Hotel Posada del Hildago. This hotel reputedly contains the original house of the real Zorro. Do not miss exploring the hotel before you have your meal. . Some claim Zorro was a legend, but he was actually based upon a real character.
In the morning, we will catch the spectacular first class train. This is one of the worlds great train journeys. The first hour is a bit less interesting, so you have time to wear off your hangover from the Zorro festivities the previous evening before you enter the really scenic sections. We do feed you on the train, by the way. We are continually asked about taking your RV on the train. They ceased to do this several years ago, concerned about liability. You would ride in your RV on a flatdeck railcar. They worried about people tossing back the Margaritas, venturing out of their RV, and diving into the canyon.
At Copper Canyon, we will spend 3 nights in Hotels. See the section after the pictures below for details. The new cable car is included and weather conditions permitting, the more adventurous can experience one of the 2 zip lines that cross the canyon. We had one 75 year old customer do that. Her bucket list.
Upon our return to El Fuerte, we will take an early morning nature trip up a river, for some bird watching and to view ancient petroglyphs. We will then return to the hotel Posado del Hildago for a fantastic brunch. Believe me, it's worth starving yourself during the river trip. Try and get by with a granola bar. After brunch, we will visit a Mayo native village and a medicine man, sample some local cuisine and observe native dances, including the famous deer dance of the Mayo & Yaqui Indians.
Read the magazine article by one of our Wagon Masters HERE
Included:
Guided tours
High Quality Meals
3 nights at Quality hotels
Train to Copper Canyon - Round Trip
All Entrance Fees
All RV Park Fees
Music, margaritas, wine at parties & more.
More information after pictures
Copper Canyon Schedule
Note this can vary a bit
Day 1
- We leave the campground in El Fuerte at 8:00 AM and catch the train to Creel. On this excursion you will be traveling through one of the deepest canyons in the world.
- It took more than 90 years to complete the construction of this incredible railroad, which crosses 39 bridges and goes through 86 tunnels.
- We will enjoy a delicious lunch in the dining car of the train en route.
- We will stop at Divisadero, which at 8070 feet above sea level offers a spectacular view of the canyon.
- We will transfer to our hotel in downtown Creel where we will be spending two nights.
- We will have dinner at the hotel, featuring live regional norteño music and wine.
Day 2
- We will start the day with breakfast in the hotel at 7:30 AM, then follow that with a guided tour of the area around Creel. We will explore the regional lands of the Tarahumara Indians, inlcuding a visit to an ancient Jesuit Mission In San Ignacio and a cave dwelling. We will end up at Lake Arareco.
- As we tour the valleys surrounding Creel, we will have the opportunity to observe the living conditions of the Tarahumaras who still live in caves. We will also see dramatic rock formations and several other points of interest along the route. We will have an outdoor picnic.
Day 3
- Following breakfast at the hotel, we board a bus for a 4 hour tour through the regional canyons. We will visit several sites of interest, including the famous Fertility Rock, Oteros Canyon and the four most impressive look out points in the heart of the Sierra Madre: The Balancing Rock, Las Escaleras, Belle Vista & El Puente. We then proceed to the Hotel Manison Tarahumara where we will spend the night.
- A full course lunch will be served at the hotel, then you will have the opportunity to walk along the Canyon rim and visit some Tarahumara famiiles who live near the Hotel. Those who wish may ride the new Cable Car (included), the worlds longest. Winds permiting, you can opt to zip line across and ride the cable car back
- You have a free afternoon that you may spend in the hotels warm pool & jacuzzi or relaxing in the bar & on the terrace.
- Dinner at the hotel with entertainment.
Day 4
- Following breakfast at the hotel, we will view a presentation of traditional Tarahumara dancing and ball races.
- Before our return train arrives, you will have time to wander through the handicraft market near the station.
- Shirtly after we board the train we will have lunch in the dinning car
- We arrive back at the RV Park in El Fuerte in early evening
Both trips require a $400 US or $550 Canadian deposit and then is split into 2 payments. Price is $1450 US or Candian equivalend, $1150 for single (you get your own room). After filling out the form you will be redirected to the payment page. At the bottom of that page are 2 buttons. One for USD and one for Canadian. We are still woking on pricing for the Colonial exit from Mazatlan.