A Trip of Extremes..from hot to cold from high to low.
Picture Book with all the pictures of our trip. Click on the first picture...the engine. Then click on the "Full Size" button for best viewing.
We had heard of the Copper Canyon for years and were looking forward to seeing this wonder of the world but just had not had the right opportunity to do it. This year everything came together and we did it!
We wanted to see as much as we could and keep our costs reasonable. You can do this trip over the top of several thousand dollars or on just a under a $1000.
March 21st we left Mazatlan for El Fuerte. We booked a spot in the Hotel Bugambillas courtyard to park our RV while we did the train excursion to Copper Canyon. 175 pesos per night with 15 amp service via extension cords. No water or Internet. Hotel Bugambillas is at an altitude of 252 ft. We had a 15 amp plug-in to maintain our fridge while we were away for almost a week. Beware of the blackflies - use bug spray before stepping out of the RV here. We were met by a swarm and had numerous bites within moments of arriving! Daytime seems to be worse than after dark.
We caught the El Chepe train in El Fuerte the next morning for a 4 hour ride to Posada Barrancas (altitude of 7,500 ft). The train travels at a slow speed (typically 25 mph, 40 kph) as it is climbing from 252 ft to 7,500 ft, going through many tunnels. At the town of Temoris, travels up 3 levels of tracks along the side of the mountain to gain altitude.
We stayed at Cabanas Diaz for 2 nights in rustic cabins, each with their own fireplace. Our package of room, food and tour cost $2100 pesos per couple. Our tour guide Armando drove us to observations posts along the rim of Copper Canyon from Posada Barrancas to Divisadero, and onward to Creel.
Just outside Creel, we visited the Mission de San Ignacio, Valle de las Ranas (valley of the frogs), Valle de las Hongos (valley of the mushrooms) and the cave dwelling of a Tarahumara family. We stopped in Creel for lunch and to explore the town. Everywhere we stopped there were groups Tarahumara Indians selling their woven straw items. The cheapest prices for these woven straw items were in the stores in Creel. Creel is at an altitude of 7,694 ft.
We stopped at the Teleferico (tram) Divisadero for a 45 minute ride over the canyon at a cost of $250 pesos per person. There were also zip line rides available from the tram station. There is also an extreme bicycle trail down the canyon for the highly experienced and adventuresome.
Here is a link to a video of the
cliff face at Divisidero.
March 23rd we left Posada Barrancas by train for a 90 minute trip to westward Bauichivo. (altitude 5,495) Alberto of Jade Tours met us at the station for the 45 minute drive down to the town of Cerocahui. We toured the church and stopped for Happy Hour the Mission Hotel in Cerocahui. (altitude 5,325 ft) The mission was established in 1555 but the church was not built until 1690. The hotel is an expensive place to stay so we only had drinks at the bar which were very good.
The next morning we left early for the 2 1/2 hour drive down to Urique which is the deepest part of the Copper Canyon. (altitude 1859 ft) The road down is a mostly one lane dirt road traveling along the edge of the mountain. It was like scenes from an Indian Jones movie: few spots wide enough to pass another vehicle and pure drop off beside the car! The drive was worth it as the view of the canyon was spectacular!
We walked the town of Urique viewing the airstrip (which does dual duty as a street), the church established in 1690 and the old mine pay office. We did the return 2 1/2 trip up to Cerocahui in time for dinner. Package cost of hotel, meals and tour was $2400 pesos per couple.
March 25th we were ready to be driven back to Bauichivo to take the train back to El Fuerte. A Chevy Suburban was supposed to meet us a 1 PM and did not show. Now we were getting a little worried. Our host, Francia, scrambled to get a Ford Exporer but it was too small for 6 passengers plus the driver. Francia then coaxed a Jeep into duty and John and Pat jumped in with the other 4 in the Explorer. Off we went 15 minutes late and worrying about missing the train. Along the route, we met up the Suburban and switched over. John and Pat were very pleased as the Jeep was very stiff and bumpy and very dusty.
All ticket costs were for First Class tickets. Second class would have been cheaper but there no seats available as we were traveling during the Easter holiday week. (Santa Semana) Our train fares were as follows:
El Fuerte to Posada Barrancas $749 pesos per person
Posada Barrancas to Bauichivo $420 pesos per person
Bauichivo to El Fuerte $599 pesos per person
Our packages were for stays at small, inexpensive hotels. The cost we paid for the package of 2 nights stay, tour and food at Cabanas Diaz was the same as the cost of one night in a room at the Mission Hotel in Cerocahua where it cost an additional $120 pesos for buffet breakfast and $210 pesos for supper on the days we visited there..
Our total cost for one couple for our tour was $845 CAD which included hotel, food, drinks, tips and tour guides.
Picture Book with all the pictures of our trip. Click on the first picture...the engine. Then click on the "Full Size" button for best viewing.
