Lodge-based Exploration of the “Other” Grand Canyon

Hidden in the heart of Mexico’s Sierra Madre Occidental lies Copper Canyon, a spectacular complex of nearly impenetrable chasms covering more than four times the area of the Grand Canyon (and much deeper)! This rugged wilderness of pine-studded mountains and formidable canyons is still a well-kept secret, known to but a few hardy adventurers and the indigenous Tarahumara, celebrated for their amazing long-distance running feats.  On this adventure (one of the few truly active trips offered in Copper Canyon) you’ll explore this great wilderness on foot to meet the Tarahumara in their remote villages, enjoy spectacular vistas (sometimes of multiple canyons!), see cascading waterfalls, and splash in cooling river pools (great bird-watching, too!). At night you’ll relax in comfortable accommodations, where you’ll dine beside a roaring fire, enjoy margaritas and spirited conversation, and view incredible nighttime skies unhindered by the lights of civilization.

Activities

5 days easy to moderate hiking

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• • Experience Copper Canyon on foot, from the forested highlands, to the lofty interior mesas, to the subtropical canyon floor —not just from the train!
• Meet the unassuming Tarahumara people in their rugged homeland
• Unique natural history and great birding (some 290 species!)
• Relax in comfortable lodging after a great day on the trail (margaritas included!)

2010 Prices
$2,595 (4-14 members)
$480 single supplement

Minimum age is 12

Duration: 9 days Start Location: Chihuahua City End Location: Chihuahua City Best time to go: January - April, November - December

Itinerary

• 

  Day 1 : Chihuahua City

  Arrive in Chihuahua City, Mexico, the capital of the state of Chihuahua.

• 

  Day 2 : Cusárare

  Drive to Cusárare, nestled in pine forests of the Sierra highlands at 7,200 feet. Afternoon hike to Tarahumara cave dwellings and pictographs, and to enjoy scenic vistas of the land of the Tarahumara.

• Day 3 : Cusárare

  Hike along the Cusárare River to Cusárare Falls, more than 100 feet in height. Optional afternoon loop hike on centuries-old paths leading through forests, farms, and ranches to the village of Cusárare, with its church dating back to the 1700s (and doors that are only four feet tall!).

• Days 4 - 6 : Batopilas / Hacienda San Miguel / Huimayvo

  Spectacular drive to the historic Mexican mining pueblo of Batopilas on the canyon floor (a 6,000-foot descent), where you'll stay at a hacienda. You'll spend the next few days exploring the rugged environs. Options include visiting the historic mission at Satevó, exploring remote Tarahumara villages where you can meet the locals and learn about their life in the canyon, and scenic hikes to the tops of nearby mesas.

• Day 7 : Drive to Cusarare, stopping along the way for an incredible rim overlooking hike

  Drive back to Cusárare, stopping along the way for lunch and a hike to a canyon rim overlook.

• Day 8 : Valley of the Monks & Return to Chihuahua City

  Side trip to Divisadero for dramatic views of Copper Canyon proper, or hike in the otherworldly Valley of the Monks, a hidden little pocket of eroded rock pillars. Drive to Chihuahua City.

• Day 9 : Fly Home

  Depart Chihuahua City.

Properties shown are representative of the accommodations we use on this trip, may not be inclusive of all accommodations we use, and are subject to change.

Expert leadership is the key to an exciting, unforgettable experience. Our trips feature gifted leaders for whom leading trips is a true vocation. Besides showing you wonders you’d never find on your own, they make sure everything runs smoothly and safely without a hitch. They are knowledgeable about all aspects of your trip, and take great pleasure in sharing their insights with you. More than just guides, they positively elevate your experience by being teachers, companions, and the best of friends. You’ll be in good hands with them every step of the way.

• Keith Albritton

  Keith Albritton was raised in Wisconsin, but has always had a passion for mountain and desert environments. Armed with boundless curiosity and a degree in geography, he headed west in the mid-eighties to begin what has now become a twenty plus year career as a field naturalist and wilderness guide. An interest in birds first carried him to Mexico in 1986 (where he now runs MTS Copper Canyon offerings), as well as other work stints in Belize and the Galapagos. When not working south of the border, Keith splits time between Salida, Colorado and a cabin in Wisconsin's northwoods.

• Jon Bohach

  Jon has been leading trips in the Copper Canyon region for more than a decade, and has an in-depth knowledge of the natural and human history of the region. Fluent in Spanish, Jon’s the ideal guide for your Copper Canyon adventure, and we’re confident he’ll enrich your experience in one of the world’s most interesting landscapes. Jon has also worked for MTS on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho, where he has worked for 12 seasons.

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