Mexico's Copper Canyon
 8 DAYS
September 23 – 30, 2005
September 21 - 28, 2006
PRICE PER PERSON:
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Single
$2269 |
Double
$1939 |
Triple
$1879 |
INCLUDED: Round-Trip Air / Airport & Hotel/Transfers / All Meals
(B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) / Trip Cancellation & Interruption Insurance / 7 Nights Lodging / Roundtrip Train / Gratuities on all Included Meals / Bottled water provided on motorcoach / Purified water provided at all meals / Taxes & Fees.
GRATUITIES: All tips to local guides, restaurant waiters and hotel porters. Tips to the Caravan Tour Director and Driver are not included.
NOT INCLUDED: Country entry or departure fees / Airport porter fees
1 FLIGHT / El Paso, Texas: Our group of Goodtime Travel guests will fly to El Paso on the border and join other Caravan travelers for this awesome fully escorted adventure to Mexico's untamed Copper Canyon. We will enjoy roundtrip daytime Copper Canyon train rides in first class chartered train cars. El Paso is the closest American gateway to the Copper Canyon. Transfer by hotel courtesy shuttle to your hotel, the Hilton El Paso Airport. After dinner, Caravan will host a welcome briefing. D
2 El Paso to Creel, Mexico: Cross the Rio Grande by private motorcoach this morning. Enter Mexico at Juarez, a bustling border town. See the expansive pristine Samalayuca Sand Dunes. Continue through huge expanses of rangeland and occasional pecan tree orchards before arriving in Mennonite country. The hard-working Mennonites have transformed the desert into fertile farmland. Lunch at a Mennonite camp. Visit a traditional Mennonite store. Then drive by vast apple orchards en route to Creel, where you see the statue of Christ the King. Creel, at 7700 feet, is the highest overnight on the tour. Dinner in Creel. BLD
3 Copper Canyon Train, Divisadero : Your morning is at leisure in Creel. Visit the Mission Store, a trading post which buys crafts from Tarahumara Indians and resells to visitors. All profits benefit the Tarahumara Indian hospital. Next - All Aboard - for your Copper Canyon train trip, considered one of the top scenic rail journeys in the world. Shortly after boarding in Creel, the train circles back over itself in a complete loop known as El Lazo. Enjoy lunch in the dining car. Make a brief stop in Divisadero. See the overlook and visit the Divisadero open market. As you descend from the top of the Sierra Madre, you see cascading waterfalls and sheer canyon walls give way to rolling hills and tropical farmlands. See palm, banana, papaya and mango trees. Copper Canyon sunsets are a delight. Dinner is in the dining car. Arrive in the picturesque colonial town of El Fuerte. Spend a relaxing two nights at a restored colonial mansion. BLD
4 El Fuerte, River Float Trip : On your El Fuerte River float trip this morning, you may see parrots, woodpeckers, kiskadees, kingfishers, doves, cormorants and other desert birds in their natural habitat. If the water level on the river is too low for rafting, you will visit a Mayo Indian village instead. Next, a brief walking tour to visit the 17th century cathedral and government palace. After lunch, the afternoon is at leisure to stroll the cobblestone streets and the charming plaza of El Fuerte, center of all social life. Before dinner, enjoy a colorful and festive Mexican ballet folklorico. BLD
5 Copper Canyon Train : Reboard your chartered train car this morning for another thrilling train ride through the Canyon. You start at sea level and climb to 8,000 feet. The entire railroad passes through 86 tunnels and 38 bridges in the 25,000 square mile canyons of the Sierra Madre.
The five major canyons are collectively known as the Copper Canyon, which is four times the size of our Grand Canyon. The Tarahumara Indians live in the Canyon. Stop this morning in Temoris where you can see three ascending levels of the railroad. Enjoy lunch on board in the dining car.
Your round trip train ride gives you a second chance to view the grandeur of the Canyon. Arrive at Posada Barrancas Mirador, the only hotel in Barrancas where each room has a terrace overlooking the Copper Canyon. Enjoy Mexican serenades before dinner. BLD
6 Barrancas to Chihuahua : Morning at leisure to enjoy spectacular views of the Copper Canyon from your hotel. Walk to see the Tarahumara Indians who live in the canyon caves below or mingle with the Tarahumara artisan vendors who gather in front of the hotel. After lunch, drive by the old Bocoyna mission, built by the Jesuits in 1692. Continue to Chihuahua for a fun two night stay. Your hotel is only two blocks from the main square and pedestrian promenade. Enjoy a traditional Mexican dinner. BLD
7 Chihuahua, Paquimé Pottery : This morning enjoy a full sightseeing drive of beautiful Chihuahua. Visit the government palace, home to a series of magnificent murals depicting Mexican history. Visit the baroque cathedral. See the 18th century aqueduct and drive by beautifully restored colonial homes. Visit the Museum of the Revolution, former home of Pancho Villa, hero of the Revolution. Learn the story of Mexico's fight for freedom. Next, visit Casas Grandes Trading Post for a demonstration of Paquimé pottery-making. Enjoy lunch. The rest of your day is at leisure. Farewell dinner tonight. BLD
8 Chihuahua to El Paso / FLIGHT: After breakfast, Caravan transfers you from your Chihuahua hotel to El Paso, arriving at the airport at 1:30 p.m. The Goodtime Travel group then flies home. What an adventure this has been. Muchas Gracias! B
The Copper Canyon Train: The Chihuahua-Pacifico Railway, completed in 1961, after 90 years of construction, is a modern marvel of engineering. The same rails are used by all trains going through the Canyon. With Caravan you travel both the south and the north route in a spacious air-conditioned chartered first class train car. Your first class Copper Canyon cars have been newly refurbished.
They are operated by Ferrocaril Mexicano, exclusive owners of the Copper Canyon rail route. You sleep in comfort at memorable lodges and hotels. Both your Copper Canyon train rides are scheduled in the daytime for the best lighting for views and photography. With Caravan's roundtrip train you can see a different side of the Copper Canyon in each direction.
Reservation Deadline: All unsold spots may have to be released back to Caravan that are not sold by March 1 st , so, please hurry and get your deposit in if you desire to go.
Deposit: $300 per person is due at time reservation is made.
Final Payment: Balance is due in full no later than July 20, 2005
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