Copper Canyon

Christmas with the Raramuri Indians

At Christmas Raramuri (Tarahumara) Indians of the Copper Canyon have ceremonial dancers within the Church to celebrate their faith.

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.

Please note that these celebrations are an authentic expression of faith for the Raramuri --few, if any, other outsiders will be present, and we ask that all visitors be properly respectful of the Raramuri and their beliefs.

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Itinerary

Lodging

Meals

Day 1: Arrival in Los Mochis and transfer to colonial El Fuerte

December 23

Meet your Copper Canyon Adventures guide at the Los Mochis airport and immediately escape the noise and traffic of this young agricultural city with your transfer to El Fuerte, a charming and historical city vibrant with heritage and tradition. Enjoy welcome cocktails/beverages and dinner at the Hotel El Fuerte, an island of comfort and seclusion only a block from the heart of Colonial El Fuerte. Beautiful and warm, the Hotel El Fuerte prides itself on personal service and attention to detail. To complement this wonderful hotel, take a stroll after dinner 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. Welcome to Mexico—enjoy!

Hotel El Fuerte

Dinner

Day 2: The Chihuahua al Pacifico Railroad

Train and Christmas Eve in the Cerocahui Area

December 24

You ride 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! After, enjoy the famous canyon rim overlook at Divisadero.

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!

Hotel el Paraiso del Oso

BLD

Day 3: Christmas Day (horseback riding available for additional charge)

December 25

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. 

Hotel el Paraiso del Oso

BLD

Day 4: Cerocahui, Cerro Gallegos and Urique

December 26

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!

Hotel el Paraiso del Oso

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Day 5: Bahuichivo to Areponápuchi

December 27

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 with rooms right on the canyon rim. Quiet and natural, the Mansion is a wonderful place to stay in a beautiful area.

Hotel Mansion Tarahumara

Rim Rooms

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Day 6: Three Canyons excursion and canyon rim exploration (horseback riding available for additional charge)

December 28

This morning you enjoy 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.

At the Copper Canyon Adventure Park you can take a tram ride for a bird’s eye view of the canyon and the river below (on your own for about $25 round trip).

If you prefer more adventure, the park also has the second longest zip-line in the world. In this half-day excursion you will traverse several side canyons in 7 stations and walk over 2 swinging bridges.  With the longest of the lines over a kilometer long with a depth of over 1000 feet, you are sure to never forget this trip!  Of course, you are in good hands with specially trained adventure guides and state of the art equipment.  (on your own for about $60 including the tram return).

In addition, there is the “Via Ferrata”, an obstacle course with rappelling, rock climbing and horizontal traverses that is an amazing test of outdoor skill, once again with the latest in safety equipment.  (on your own for $45)

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.

Hotel Mansion Tarahumara

BLD

Day 7: Creel

December 29

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.

Hotel Mansion Tarahumara

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Day 8: Canyon rim and return to El Fuerte

December 30

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.

Traditional Folkloric dance
Following dinner, you will enjoy a folkloric dance show highlighting Sinaloan dance, including the Yaqui/Mayo Indian "Deer Dance", and dances from other regions of Mexico.

Hotel El Fuerte

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Day 9: Petroglyphs, Ocolomito and El Fuerte New Years Eve!

December 31

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, a Copper Canyon Adventures exclusive. 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.

Hotel El Fuerte

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Day 10: 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

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