Copper Canyon TREKKING TOUR

Date: APRIL, OCTOBER , 2012 new!
Duration: 6 days
Groups: 12 people

Day 1 -Chihuahua/Creel

09:30 pick you up at your hotel in Chihuahua and we transfer to Creel (4:00hrs drive) on the way that extends over the northwestern high  plateau of North Mexico, we visit the Mennonite colonies, a cheese factory and have a traditional Mennonite lunch in a farm. Continue after lunch towards Creel, as we begin to climb the Sierra Tarahumara, arriving there in the afternoon, register at the hotel dinner, hotel night.***

Creel is a small town of about 3000 inhabitants, some Tarahumara Indians, Mexican Indians or just Mexican, it was originally a lumber town until about 15 years ago that it has slowly awaken to its new role, that of tourism. It is still where most of the people from the sierras buy their goods, making it sort of the gateway to the Copper Canyon Region. After breakfast we transfer or walk to the Arareko Indian Community. Here in the valley named the same, we'll find very interesting natural rock formations like the mushrooms, the nuns, the frogs, the hen and on and on as long as you let your imagination run wild. We continue to the Cusarare Falls where we eat lunch, after which we go on to the mining town of Batopilas 170km 6 hrs of a fantastic road. First we cross the Copper Canyon and then we go down the Batopilas Canyon on a dirt road that t is very much like a roller coaster that goes from 7000 feet to 1000 feet at the bridge crossing the Batopilas river, we go by the old mineral of La Bufa where we can see the enormous hills of leftovers the mine exploitation left and then finally we arrive to Batopilas where if we arrive early enough, we can  take a dip in the river. Walking tour to the Sheppards Mansion and to the San Miguel Mine tunnel, dinner with Dona Trini and hotel night.***

Before sun up we transfer to Cerro Colorado where after loading all our support burros with the supplies, equipment and your luggage (one burro per person more less), we start our trek up to Terreros, a little ranch up the mountain. It is a 2400feet ascent so we take it easy, eat on the way and when we get there we have to set up camp and after a great tasting dinner (you will be very hungry) hit the hay or air matresses in this case. Camping night. Our support vehicle remains for two days in Kirare a high part of the road so we can communicate with it through our emergency radio, just in case we have some trouble, we also have with us a saddled mule in case somebody needs to be taken out of the sierra and can not walk. just to be safe.

After breakfast early in the morning, we continue going up through oaks and pine trees with some of the most impressive views of the Sierra Tarahumara, lunch at Ojitos,  maybe even a little siesta, continue our trek on a pretty good trail, with some of the most impressive views of the Sierra Tarahumara,  keeping in mind that this is an ancient trail once used by the Raramuris Indians before the Spanish conquistadors arrived and then when they did come with the priests to save them from evil they used the same trail to conquer  the tribes and explore for gold and silver. Tonight we camp at La Estancia,  just as we star going down the other side of the sierra where we can see the River Urique and our destination. Dinner camping night.

Again after breakfast and the usual bout with the burros, we begin our descent, this part of the trail must be one of the worst in all the land with these horrible round rocks just ready to flip you on your back.  El Pandito, marks the limit of the oak and pine tree forest and we start to see the thorny bush of the low Canyon area called Quebradas by the people from the region, here again we can watch some interesting birds like the Magpie jay, and some strange plants for some of you like the Ocotillos, Agaves, and Lechugillas from which the Indians make this great tequila like spirit. We eat lunch at los Alisos (a spring on the way) and after a rather hot trek through the last of the descent, we get to cross the river in order to arrive to our camp where we meet again with our support vehicle. We have a great ( really great) swim bath in the Urique River have a real deluxe dinner, and sleep with the lullaby of the river. Camping night.

Early in the morning breakfast,  and transfer in our vehicle to the railroad station of Bauchivo, on the way we visit the town of Urique and once we go up to mesa de Arturo we visit the old Mission of Cerocahui, continue on to Bahuchivo where we have to board the train to Los Mochis at around 15:00hrs Mexican time (give or take), transfer to the hotel once in Los Mochis, dinner at the hotel, and the luxury of sleeping in a bed. Hotel night ***.

INCLUDES:

3 hotel nights, 3 camping nights, all camping equipment,  all meals during the tour, all transportation during the tour including train tickets, 2 specialized guides, 2 local guides, radio communication to support vehicle for emergencies, limited Mexican insurance.  

Sleeping Bag (32deg.), flash light, camel bag, medium heavy coat for night�fs cool, trekking boots, raincoat, personal hygiene kit, small back pack, medium size pack for the trail, burros will carry it, and anything else you might think necessary for the trip,  that you can fit in those two bags. (you can leave some luggage in the support vehicle).