Copper Canyon Mazatlan

DAY 1 – Cross into Mexico traveling from the low lands of the Rio Grande Valley to Torreon for your first night in Mexico. Overnight at the Hampton Inn in Torreon.

DAY 2 – After your included breakfast, continue to Durango, a real John Wayne type of town where many western movies have been filmed. Afternoon tour of some of the Mexican movie sets and the downtown area. Visit the 300 year old cathedral built in 1695. Overnight at the Hotel Plaza Vizcaya in Durango. B

DAY 3 – Today we’re off to the Pacific Coast Town of Mazatlan. Cross the Continental Divide enjoying picturesque but rugged scenery. Arrive in Mazatlan, the most important commercial fishing port on the Pacific. Spend two nights in our beach front hotel. Overnight at the Luna Palace in Mazatlan. B, PL

DAY 4 – City tour of Mazatlan including the American and Canadian retirement area, sightseeing and shopping along the oceanfront with picture stops along the way. Free time to shop in the local downtown market or relax on the beach as you enjoy an afternoon and evening at leisure. Overnight at the Luna Palace in Mazatlan. AB

DAY 5 - Sleep a little later or take a stroll on the beach before our mid-day departure. A new super highway paralleling the coast speeds you through the state of Sinaloa and a rich agricultural belt. Arrive into Los Mochis where wide streets and swaying palm trees remind one of South Texas. Please pack the items you anticipate using in the canyon in a carry on bag. Be sure to pack snacks for tomorrow’s train sometimes arrives a little late to our destination. Overnight at the Hotel Santa Anita in Los Mochis. AB

DAY 6 - Early this morning, board the train for an exciting ride through 86 tunnels and over 39 principal bridges. An extraordinary variety of scenery assaults the eyes – cactus covered plateaus, mountains thick with coniferous forests grow among the copper colored rocks of the Canyon. Dress in layers as you will rise from sea level to about 8,000 feet in elevation at Divisadero, our lodging for tonight. After a light lunch, we suggest that you rest awhile before exploring the area. Your hotel sits right on the rim of the Canyon affording you a most awesome view. Watch the changing colors of the sunset from the dining room windows as they reflect radiant hues on the canyon walls. You may want to bring binoculars! Overnight at Hotel Divisadero Barrancas in Divisadero. CB, Light L, D

DAY 7 - The Copper Canyon system is home to one of the largest Indian groups left in Mexico, the Tarahumara. These isolated nomadic people are known as the world’s fastest runners and are said to be able to outrun a deer. Explore the area visiting Balancing Rock and a Pioneer Home. Overnight at the Hotel Divisadero Barrancas in Divisadero.  B, L, D

DAY 8 - After breakfast, the bravest ones may want to take an optional ride on the teleferico that runs from rim to rim across the canyon. Or maybe another hike into the pine forest or even last minute shopping for those georgeous hand woven baskets.    Be ready to board the train after lunch.   Between Divisadero and Creel, the train makes a 360 degree turn around itself – Don’t miss this engineering feat called El Lazo, seen only from the train. Soon we arrive in Creel, a lumbering town so typical of the wild, wild west that you might expect John Wayne to come around the corner at any time.  Our coach awaits to whisk us away to Chihuahua. Overnight at the Quality Inn San Francisco in Chihuahua.  B, L

DAY 9 - Chihuahua, meaning dry place, was built on the river flowing down the hills of the Sierra Madre Occidental.  The city has figured prominently in the history of silver mining, cattle ranching and in the colonial and revolutionary evolvement of Mexico. Visit the Cathedral and the home of that hero (bandit?) Pancho Villa. Travel through Jimenez and into Torreon, the cotton capitol. Continue to Parras, an oasis in the desert of Coahuila. Overnight at the Rincon de Montero in Parras. D

DAY 10 - Parras is famous for candies and wine as it boasts the first winery established in the Americas.  Visit both before we’re off to Saltillo, once the capital of Texas.  City tour including the Santiago Cathedral before continuing to the Rio Grande Valley with memories of a trip of a lifetime! B

NOTE: Bring warm layered clothing and sturdy walking shoes. Binoculars recommended!