RELAX: ENJOY A VACATION WHERE YOU CAN'T STAY IN TOUCH

Copper Canyon Trails offers 8- and 10-day burro-aided camping vacations into some of the most pristine geography in North America. Inside this vast network of canyons that make up Mexico's Barranca del Cobre live a tribe of Indians reknowned for their ability to outrun a deer. The Tarahumaran call this region home, and maintain a lifestyle many would call primitive. In fact it is just more simple, and sustainable. Curious? Let Copper Canyon Trails take the worry out of your next adventure vacation. Come hike with us carrying little more than a daypack, while your gear arrives by burro, carefully deposited outside your tent, already set up. Taste delicious regional meals prepared before your eyes on an open fire. Knowledgable guides ensure you get the maximum experience in this fascinating environment. Enjoy 4 to 5 nights camping under the stars, semi-tropical vegetation, hot springs and waterfalls barely 300 miles from the United States border, south of New Mexico, on the continental divide.

DEEPEST CANYONS IN NORTH AMERICA

The Copper Canyon area is a large plateau of volcanic tuff deeply cut by rivers. The Tarahumaran Indians began to migrate here from the fertile plains of Chihuahua about 500 years ago. As Spanish efforts to find slave labor for their silver mining operations increased, the Indians adapted to these inaccessible canyons. Today, Copper Canyon Trails is retracing these fabulous routes, and providing adventurous travellers with an unparalleled hiking opportunity in North America.

We also offer several self-supported backpacking trips. Backpacks are more like a "no pain, no gain" experience. With the exception of the Pamachi backpack as described in the January 2009 BACKPACKER magazine, all backpacks are custom designed. We access a network of trails from a number of trailheads in the area. The hikes are more demanding, but allow passage through some routes too difficult for burros. But be forewarned, backcountry hiking is very dependent on seasonal conditions. Luxurious post-monsoon growth can obscure routes. Seasonal rains make fords impassible. We can tailor routes and level of difficulty to your level of experience, but conditions may require us to alter routes and itineraries. Novice backpackers need not worry, though. You don't have to get far away from the crowd to enjoy the spendid natural environment and tranquility that the canyon country has to offer. We'll even help you choose a new route, if you've been here before and want to expand your repetoire.

Take the guesswork out of the mix: Go Guided!

If you're short on time, but have the desire and stamina, we can fulfill your most aggressive itinerary. Or if you're looking for peace and solitude; or birdwatching rare species at the extremes of their range; or soaking in hot tubs miles from the nearest road; or discovering waterfalls during the rainy season, we can make your dreams a reality. Contact Us to customize a trip.

PIEDRA VOLADA: MEXICO'S HIGHEST WATERFALL

We camp out, or stay in rustic lodges. Accommodations may be spartan as much of the region is without electricity, but the meals are filling and the locals are friendly. We may experience remote ranch life for some meals. Group size is from 3 to 12 clients, always with 2 English speaking guides. Small group size gives us the opportunity to maximize your experience and minimize our impact. Backcountry meals are typically prepared using local ingredients as available.

CUSTOMIZE YOUR TRIP

LINKS TO OUR FRIENDS

Copper Canyon Trails is recommended by the definitive Mexico travel guide, Carl Franz' People's Guide to Mexico. We recommend this timeless travelbook not only for its perpetual usefulness, but for its entertainment value in reliving the pitfalls of a savvy gringo travelling in Mexico. Carl and his partner Lorena Havens have forgotten more about Mexico than most anybody will ever know, but they stay current and have a well used website where comments and up-to-date information are appreciated.

We inherited our Urique burro crew from Gary Zeigler and Amy Finger of Adventure Specialists. Gary, a world renowned authority on the Inca, and Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society, recently discovered the Inca city of Llactapata, greatly increasing our knowledge of the importance of the Machu Pichu complex. They offer personalized tours in the Andes.

Copper Canyon Trails supports and works with Center for Biological Diversity. Their efforts to call attention to the fragmentation of fragile desert ecosystems have demonstrated the interconnectedness of diverse habitats; and Sky Island Alliance. Their pioneering efforts to document the larger habitats required for large mammals with the help of citizen-scientists have produced data that is used to establish wildlife corridors between distant mountain ranges; the "sky islands" separated by "desert seas". They have recently documented native jaguar hunting ranges as far north as southern Arizona. Please check out the websites of both of these worthy environmental organizations based in Tucson, AZ. We also support and admire NativeSeeds/S.E.A.R.C.H. For years this non-profit organization has maintained the integrity of distinct plant species in the Desert Southwest, including the Sierra Madre and the Colorado Plateau. In this GMO world when airborne pollen can compromise indigenous species, forever eradicating hereditary traits, this is an increasingly arduous task. Recently a seed farm has been opened in Batopilas to grow-out local seeds.

Those concerned with indigenous inhabitants, particularly with a hankering to run 30 miles or more for a gourdful of Tesguino should contact Caballo Blanco, founder of the Club Mas Loco, and promoter/participant in ultra-marathon events held yearly in the Sierras.

TRAVEL INFORMATION

BY AIRPLANE

There are daily afternoon flights to Los Mochis (LMM), Sinaloa, from Tucson (TUS), AZ, on AeroMexico at 1-800-237-6639. The 4 hour flight costs about $US 750.00. LA has recently added twice weekly Los Mochis flights on Delta, 1-800-221-1212. Houston and Dallas now have Chihuahua flights. If you don't have a travel agent, you can try ours: Earl Fox, at Inter-National Travel Connection, (719)684-9392, Fax: (719) 684-9391, in Colorado.

BY BUS

Tufesa Bus Lines has service from L.A., Las Vegas, Phoenix, and San Francisco daily to Los Mochis. The site is a little difficult to navigate, but if there's an office in your city, the difficulties stop once you get onboard. Las Vegas to Los Mochis is $137 USD as of November, 2009.

After the hike you can continue on, by train or bus, to Chihuahua City. There are convenient connections to U.S. cities via El Paso, TX. The cathedral area in downtown Chihuahua is very picturesque. A large plaza with a centrally located gazebo is dominated by the soaring bell towers of the cathedral. As sunset approaches, this area becomes a social center as prospective or perpetual couples make the paseo. There is a lot of revolutionary history in this town, and a facinating Pancho Villa museum is located in a period-decorated palace called Quinta Luz. 2010 is the 100th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution. Viva Villa

BY CAR