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MEXICO’S
COPPER CANYON
OVERVIEW
We will again explore Copper Canyon, or Barranca del
Cobre, on a memorable train adventure that will bring
you dramatic scenery, natural history and Tarahumara
Indians.
This expedition offers a unique combination of history
of early explorers, contemporary Tarahumara Indian life,
and the distinctive natural and geological heritage
of the region.
Copper Canyon is one of the world’s biggest canyon
systems. The striking volcanic scenery, bridges, tunnels,
and villages are seen from the “train in the sky”
and on walks. Today, 50,000 Tarahumara Indians live
here much as their ancestors did. Wildlife is a unique
blend of northern species at their southern range and
tropical species at their northern limit.
The itinerary includes:
- Copper
Canyon Complex — Copper, Urique, & Tararecua
Canyons—these rugged canyons are deeper and
larger than the Grand Canyon of Arizona. Volcanic
cliffs rise above forested slopes. The headwaters
rise at 9,000 feet and end at sea level over a distance
of less than 150 miles.
- Urique
Canyon—one of the deepest canyons, Urique Canyon
is filled with subtropical thorn-forest along its
bottom and temperate oak and pine forests along its
upper slopes and rims.
- Tarahumara
Indians—the largest group of native people in
northern Mexico, the Tarahumara live much as they
have for the past 400 years. Many Tarahumara are seasonally
nomadic, living in the canyon bottoms during winter,
and moving up to mountain plateaus for the summer.
They are superb mountaineers, traversing a 5,000 foot
deep canyon in a day to visit relatives or a market
on the other rim. Tarahumara men and women are known
the world over for their phenomenal endurance in foot-races
of over 200 miles across mountainous terrain.
-
Chihuahua al Pacifico Train—completed in 1961
with 408 miles of track, 85 tunnels, and 37 bridges,
the train provides a panoramic view of the canyon
scenery. The first class, Fiat-built train and track
system is one of the engineering feats of the world.
We hope you will join us this year to share the wonders
of Copper Canyon!
Click
here to See the Copper Canyon Map
ITINERARY
Day 1 – Home to Los Mochis, Mexico.
Depart from Tucson on our flight to Los Mochis, Mexico,
situated just inland from the Sea of Cortez. Meet our
expedition leaders and transfer to the colonial town
of El Fuerte, founded in 1564 by the conquistador Francisco
de Ibarra, about an hour from Los Mochis.The El Fuerte
Valley is agriculturally rich, producing many winter
vegetables for North America, as well as sugar cane,
corn, and tropical fruits. Enjoy a tropical drink, dinner,
and trip orientation. El Fuerte Lodge (1 night).
Day 2 – El Fuerte to Bahuichivo.
Early breakfast and transfer to El Fuerte train station,
to begin our adventure on the Chihuahua al Pacifico
“train in the sky.” Today’s ride is
a spectacular introduction to the Copper Canyon Complex,
a system of steep-sided gorges or “barrancas”
which cut through the heart of the mountains of northwestern
Mexico. This region is also home to 50,000 Tarahumara
Indians. The Tarahumara call themselves, “Raramuri,”
meaning foot runner, for their non-stop races which
exceed the length of several marathons. The train passes
waterfalls, switch-backs up mountain sides, and cuts
through a mile-long tunnel before we disembark at Bahuichivo,
a short distance from the mountain town of Cerocahui.
Afternoon walk along scenic Cerocahui Canyon with wildflowers
in bloom after the late summer thunder showers. The
stream is located at the base of a high cliff with pines
and oaks, including the unique “Hand Basin Oak,”
Pinus tarahumara dotting the narrow meadow. Hotel Paraiso
del Oso (2 nights).
Day 3 – Urique Canyon.
A full day to explore Urique Canyon, as we make an ecological
transect by bus and foot. We first ascend through the
Sierra Madre pine-oak forest, pausing to peer across
awesome cliffs to the floor of Urique Canyon, judged
by many to be the deepest and most spectacular. On the
descent to Urique village, the pine-oak forest gradually
gives way to Sinaloan thorn scrub with giant cacti.
Kapok and Tree Morning Glory. The cliffs consist of
thick layers of volcanic ask deposited in cataclysmic
eruptions. The remote hamlet of Urique, nestled in the
canyon bottom 6,000 feet below the rim, embodies the
quiet isolation of rural Mexico of years past.
Days 4/5 – Cerocahui and Copper Canyon.
Spend the morning walking through pine-oak forest beneath
towering rhyolite spires. Visit the Jesuit mission and
boarding schools established for the children of the
Tarahumara who live in remote ranchos. Afternoon train
trip to Aeroponapuchi, mountain home to Tarahumaras,
will take us through the last of the tropical vegetation
and into the Madrean Conifer Forest. Common birds include
Painted Redstart, and Mexican Chicadee. The hotel is
a few minutes walk from an expansive vista overlooking
the junction of three canyons: Barrancas Urique, Copper,
and Tararecua. After lunch take a nature walk below
the barranca rim, where we may see how the Tarahumara
people farm and see handicrafts including baskets meticulously
woven from pine needles, and dolls and animal figures
carved from pine bark.
Our second day will allow for closer exploration of
the vegetation along trails farther from the Lodge and
into the canyon itself. The mixed forest has five species
of pines and four species of oaks which hybridize in
bewildering combinations. For those wanting a hike the
full day there is an alternate option and for those
who would like to take in the grandeur of the Canyon’s
vistas the rim is only a short walk away. Mansion Tarahumara
(2 nights).
Day 6 – Divisadero & Creel.
Optional early morning nature walk. If not too busyin
their fields, local Tarahumara may demonstrate a traditional
dance, as well as their ball game of “rarahipa,”
which involves kicking a hardwood ball miles through
the countryside. We will stop along the way to Creel
at overlooks, including the spectacular view from Divisadero
to enjoy the scenery, diverse habitats, and the Tarahumara
crafts people. The route passes through green mountain
valleys as we approach Creel, where many Tarahumara
come to trade. Optional walk along a stream winding
past Tarahumara homesteads, where we will look for Zinnia,
Sotol, and verbenas growing under Apache pines. Cascada
Inn (2 nights).
Day 7 – Cusarare, or “Place of Eagles.”
We’ll have a full day to explore this area of
natural and cultural fascination. A two mile walk downstream
to the Cusarare Waterfall will take us through forests
rich in pines, oaks, and wildflowers, where we will
look for the feathered forest jewel, the rare Eared
Quetzal. The 101-foot waterfall, which marks the start
of the Casarare Barranca, is a tranquil rest spot. Enjoy
a picnic lunch where we will keep a lookout for raucous
flocks of Thick-billed Parrots, an endangered species
that finds a refuge in Copper Canyon. In the afternoon
visit the exotic Cusarare Mission, where local people
practice a brand of Catholicism developed during the
absence of Jesuits following their expulsion from Mexico
in 1767.
Days 8/9 – Chihuahua to Home.
Travel over the Sierra Madre, with short stops for natural
history exploration. Afternoon arrival in Chihuahua.
Here we’ll visit Pancho Villa’s home, now
a museum honoring Villa and his role in the Mexican
Revolution. Farewell dinner and folkloric dances. Palacio
del Sol. On Day 9, fly to Tucson for the end of the
expedition.
Questions:
Please call Betchart Expeditions Inc.
Telephone (800) 252-4910 or (408) 252-4910
Fax (408) 252-1444
Email:
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