Skip to Main Content
Road Scholar logo
Mexico

Copper Canyon: Ancient Culture and Nature’s Grandeur

Program No. 24571RJ
Experience Copper Canyon — a natural wonder in Mexico four times larger than the Grand Canyon — and the culture of the Indigenous People who call this region their home.
WishlistShare
Start
  • A street in Batopilas, Mexico, is lined with brightly colored pink and yellow buildings next to a steep, green hillside.
  • An Indigenous person sells crafts by the shore of Lake Arareco in Mexico, with a forest of pine trees in the background.
Small Group
Length
10 days
Rating (4.86)
Activity Level
Starts at
4,249
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
10 days
9 nights
What's Included
25 meals ( 9B, 8L, 8D )
14 expert-led lectures
13 expert-led field trips
1 flight during the program
3 hands-on experiences
2 performances
An experienced Group Leader
9 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Expand All
Activity Note
In Transit. Transfer from airport to hotel: driving time 0.5 hr. Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m. Arrivals at the Chihuahua City Airport (CUU) may be in the afternoon or evening. Due to possible late arrivals, orientation and the welcome dinner will take place on Day 2.
Afternoon:
Afternoon and/or evening arrivals: Independent arrivals at the Chihuahua International Airport (CUU). After passing immigration and picking up your luggage, at the exit look for the Road Scholar sign and meet your Group Leader. You will then board a private vehicle for the half-hour transfer to the centrally located hotel. The Group Leader will assist you with check-in and offer suggestions for dinner. The State of Chihuahua is Mexico’s largest state, known for its wide-open deserts, rugged forested mountains, and deep canyons. Its capital, Chihuahua City, lies at the heart of the state and blends colonial heritage with elegant architecture and lively plazas. As an important center of political, cultural, and revolutionary history, the city features museums, historic mansions, and monuments that tell the story of northern Mexico, while also serving as a welcoming gateway to the state’s diverse landscapes.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own due to probable late arrivals.
Evening:
At leisure. For late arrivals, meet your Group Leader at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Settle in and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Getting on/off van-type sprinters; driving about 5 miles, approximately 0.5 hour round trip. Walking approximately 1.5 miles throughout the day. Standing and walking at a slow pace up to 1 hour per activity. 80 steps in total to access two museums, handrails available.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We’ll review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. The Group Leader will also serve as our Study Leader for most field trips and deliver educational content unless specified otherwise. Transportation will be via private motorcoach and minibuses, ChePe train and one local flight. For meals that offer a choice of dishes, we’ll circulate a form in advance to note each person’s preferences and save time ordering. While in Mexico, purified water will always be available on the motorcoach and minibuses, at the hotels, and in restaurants. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances / conditions. In the event of changes, we’ll alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for understanding. We will depart for a walking exploration led by our Group Leader. Plaza de Armas is dominated by the imposing baroque Cathedral constructed from the profits of the rich silver mines exploited in the past throughout the state. The Cathedral boasts marble brought from Carrara and glass chandeliers from Murano, Italy. In the center of the plaza, the wrought iron gazebo was brought over from France. Chihuahua prides in its handsome Government Palace lined by fine murals. While visiting the building, the Group Leader will interpret the murals that describe the importance of the city and the state throughout Mexican history, especially during the Revolution. An altar dedicated to Hidalgo, considered the Father of Mexico, reminds us of his execution that took place behind the palace.
Lunch:
In a local restaurant
Afternoon:
We will board our transportation and visit Quinta Gameros. Built in the early 20th century, it is one of Chihuahua’s most iconic historic mansions and a masterpiece of Art Nouveau architecture in northern Mexico. During the visit, you will explore its elegant interiors, ornate stained glass, sculpted woodwork, and period furniture, which reflect the luxury and lifestyle of the Porfirian era. We will then visit the ex-home now a museum of famed Pancho Villa, the colorful and controversial hero of the Mexican Revolution. We will return to the hotel to relax and freshen up before departing on foot for our welcome dinner at an elegant restaurant located in a historic mansion.
Dinner:
In an ex-colonial mansion restaurant.
Evening:
The city offers a true Mexican atmosphere. You may stroll through the plaza or along the shopping streets displaying western wear before returning to the hotel. Prepare for check-out the next morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off minibuses; driving about 180 miles, approximately 5 hours, partly on mountain roads. Short walks throughout the day. Standing for up to 1 hour at Mennonite Museum.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Hotel check out in the morning. We will then board our private transportation and depart for Divisadero. As we ride, the Group Leader will lecture on the state of Chihuahua providing an overview of its natural and cultural wonders. We will take a short detour into a Mennonite Colony to learn about the complex history and to witness the rigid lifestyle of these hard-working migrant German farmers. Lunch is in the home of a Mennonite family to taste an array of homemade products.
Lunch:
In a Mennonite home
Afternoon:
We will now venture into the imposing Sierra Tarahumara, the section of the Sierra Madre inhabited by the Tarahumara indigenous people and crisscrossed by a system of eleven canyons, deeper and four times bigger than the Grand Canyon. During the drive, we’ll learn about the formation of the canyons and begin to delve into the reticent Tarahumaras. The canyon exploration begins in Divisadero on the canyon rim. The hotel for the next two nights is located on a cliff at an altitude of 7,200 feet. with a spectacular view of 3 canyons: Copper, Urique and Tararequa. Meet in the evening for dinner in the panoramic dining room. The hotel is full pension.
Dinner:
At the hotel
Evening:
At leisure. You might like to gather with new Road Scholar friends in the bar or sit on the balcony to soak in the silence and the magnitude of the canyon.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of minibuses; short drive on graded road; walking with stops approximately 1 hour on paths mostly flat but uneven.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
The day is dedicated to the majestic canyon and its native inhabitants, the Tarahumaras. With our Group Leader we’ll hop on to a transfer vehicle for a short drive along the rim to reach its most scenic stretch. Continue by foot along a path leading to spectacular viewpoints to fully appreciate the beauty and grandeur of the canyons, a perfect setting for a brief talk on geology imparted by our leader. See the famed Piedra Volada (hanging rock), then take a Gondola ride to a peak in the middle of a canyon. Meet the Tarahumaras. There are about 50,000 Tarahumara living throughout the Copper Canyon still clinging to their native traditions. Some of the women in their colorful dresses quietly gather in the tourist areas and offer their crafts at the same time as they are making them. See them working while attending to their little ones. Spot their simple homes and home-caves that are spread throughout the canyon walls and plateaus. Tarahumaras are known for their extraordinary running abilities, known to hunt deers until the animal falls from exhaustion. Re-board the vehicle and return to the hotel for lunch.
Lunch:
At the hotel.
Afternoon:
We’ll have some time to take advantage of the hotel’s strategic location to relax and delight in the majestic views. If desired, you can join a walk to Tarahumara home-caves located on the cliffs below the hotel. In the late afternoon, gather in a private room to delve into the essence of the Tarahumaras. We will be joined by Tarahumara women who will be making their famous baskets using pine needles and sotol (bush spoon) leaves. We will take turns making a basket while the Group Leader discusses the Tarahumaras’ nomadic lifestyle, strict social structure, rich complex inner life, and ancient traditions that are maintained untouched. Due to their isolation and their deep-rooted beliefs, the Raramuri (as the Tarahumaras call themselves) are considered the least accultured of the Indigenous groups of America, yet the richest in human relations based on sharing and mutual assistance.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. You may enjoy the “sobremesa” — lingering at the table to chat after dinner — as is customary in Mexico. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off minibuses; driving 110 miles, approximately 5 hours riding time on winding steep mountain roads. Walking up to 1 mile on mostly flat but uneven gravel path.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Today we depart for an adventurous excursion to tropical Batopilas. From the canyon top we’ll descend to the very bottom of Batopilas Canyon, one of the deepest and most spectacular. The drive is memorable, a descent of over 6,700 feet. On a first stop, we will a home-cave and meet its reserved inhabitants. At Ejido Cusarare, ejido meaning a communal tract of land, we’ll detour along a riverbed then continue by foot through a rich pine and oak forest to reach the 100 feet Cusarare Fall. Simple Tarahumara homes and caves each with a “milpa”, a small family plot of farmland, dot the area. A lunch stop is in a secluded simple restaurant.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
A series of switchbacks takes us down along canyon walls where every turn reveals a breathtaking scenery. As we ride, observe the changes from oak and pine forest to lush sub-tropical flora with papayas, mangos, oranges, and avocados. We’ll stretch our legs and delight our senses at La Bufa overlook before the final descent into Batopilas, 4,265 feet in 22 miles. Reserved Tarahumaras can be spotted living and working throughout the area, including some of the men still wearing the traditional clothing. The climate and vegetation changes as we arrive in tropical Batopilas. We’ll then settle into the restored 19th-century Hacienda, a peculiar quaint hotel, with time to freshen up before departing for dinner.
Dinner:
At a local home restaurant
Evening:
We’ll leisurely stroll back to the hotel.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of minibuses, driving about 10 miles, under 1 hour total riding time. Walking up to 1 mile mostly on cobblestone streets.
Breakfast:
In a private home
Morning:
Batopilas was established by silver miners and Jesuit missionaries in the 16th century. Nicknamed “the town that glitters like a jewel”, it is considered the “Treasure of the Sierra Madre” because of its mining days, as we learn in a lecture from our Group Leader. Silver made the town rich and famous, the second Mexican town to have electricity. The 300 exploited veins of La Bufa reached world fame, giving a total yield of 300 million ounces. Silver bars were transported to the canyon top on trains of up to 100 mules. Step into the past as we stroll by mansions practically unchanged, along cobblestone streets and through “plazuelas”. A ride in our minibus along the Batopilas River takes us to the Jesuit mission of Satevó, known as the “lost mission” because there are no records of its existence.
Lunch:
At a local family restaurant.
Afternoon:
We’ll visit the remains of the once grand Shepherd’s Mansion. Ousted from the US, Alexander Shepherd found refuge in Batopilas, established the prosperous Batopilas Mining Company, and became “the silver magnate”. Continue the walk by the old aqueduct, still in use today. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure to explore on your own. Before dinner, we’ll regroup at the hotel and learn about the history and process of agave-based Mexican beverages such as Tequila, Mezcal and the locally made Lechuguilla during a presentation by our Group Leader, then taste them to distinguish flavors. Salud! Walk to a local restaurant for dinner.
Dinner:
At a local home restaurant
Evening:
At leisure. Enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of the remote setting. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of minibuses; driving 80 miles, approximately 3.5 hours riding time on winding steep mountain roads. Walking up to 1 mile on mostly flat but uneven terrain and on sidewalks.
Breakfast:
In a private home.
Morning:
We’ll check out of the hotel for the return drive to the high Sierra, delighting on the majestic scenery now viewed driving uphill. We will stop to admire tranquil Lake Arareko, its azure waters surrounded by boulders and a pine forest. We will stretch our legs on a brief walk, see Tarahumara women making and displaying their crafts, and choose a rock to sit on for our box lunch.
Lunch:
Box lunch.
Afternoon:
We’ll then explore the indigenous Ejido San Ignacio, a scenic valley enclosed by cliffs. Tarahumara dwellings, caves and simple wooden homes are dispersed throughout the valley; women in brightly colored dresses can be spotted throughout. A quaint mission serves as a social center where Tarahumaras gather for their traditional celebrations. The Group Leader will discuss the unique manner in which Catholicism is practiced among the Tarahumaras adapting it to their nature-based beliefs. We will enter the adjacent indigenous boarding school taught in Spanish and Raramuri, the native language. Lastly, we will walk though amusing rock formations in the shape of frogs and mushrooms that adorn the valley. Continue to Creel, the largest town in the canyon area. Established in the 1900s as a logging center, today Creel is a picturesque town where Tarahumaras from far and near come to trade their crafts for supplies using an exchange system, although recently cash was introduced. We will drive through town for an overview before check in to the hotel. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. You may wish to visit the Tarahumara Museum and the Mission Store, a craft center which supports Tarahumara economy. Gather at the hotel bar for Happy Hour before dinner.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a train and walking through train cars while in motion; train time approximately 7.5 hours. Minimal walking on sidewalks. Please note that in case the train is cancelled – occasionally due to extreme weather conditions or maintenance – we have an alternate plan that will take us to a spectacular canyon and waterfall. We will try to provide as much advanced notice as possible in case the change is necessary. Getting in/out of vans.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After check-out, we will transfer to the train station to board the train for what has been described as “the ride in the sky.” The Chihuahua-Pacifico (ChePe) railroad line is a major engineering feat passing through 85 tunnels and 37 bridges. The project began as Albert Owen’s dream to build a railroad connecting the sugar cane paradise of Los Mochis with the central United States, taking almost 80 years to be completed! With the morning sun shining on the cliffs, we’ll enjoy the most striking portion of the line in which the train descends almost 8,000 feet in the 170-mile stretch between Creel and El Fuerte. The Group Leader will be sharing information on the sights along the route as the train twists and turns down the Septentrion Canyon, over bridges and through tunnels.
Lunch:
In the restaurant on the train.
Afternoon:
Train ride continues. Upon arrival, we will transfer to the charming historic hotel in El Fuerte covered with subtropical vegetation. The colonial town was a leading commercial and agricultural center for Mexico’s northwest for three centuries. A fort (El Fuerte) sits on a hilltop overlooking the rushing El Fuerte river. The Group Leader will guide us on a walk through town, interpret the murals in the City Hall and share important historical events.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. You may wander through our historic hotel, declared a colonial monument and reputed for its many famous guests. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of a motorcoach; Total driving 65 miles, approximately 2 hours plus 2 hours flight. Walking approximately 400 feet with your luggage across the International Bridge (Carts available). Please note that due to the timing of the internal flight, today's activities may be subject to change. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Optional early morning walk along the El Fuerte River. Afterward, check out of the hotel. The surrounding area is home to the Mayo indigenous people. We will visit one of their communities—remarkably preserved through time—and meet a local family. The Group Leader will highlight their traditional way of life: modest sleeping quarters made of adobe and mesquite branches, and outdoor living spaces that include a kitchen with a wood-burning stove, a sink, and a dining table. Roll up your sleeves alongside your hosts to make tortillas, then discover the community’s history and traditions conveyed through song and dance, including the renowned Deer Dance. Later, we will transfer to Los Mochis Airport for our flight to Tijuana, followed by crossing the CBX International Bridge into the United States.
Lunch:
Upon arrival at the airport, we’ll receive box meals which we can enjoy either at the gate or on the plane.
Afternoon:
Upon arrival, private transportation will meet us at the exit of the Tijuana U.S. Terminal. We will head to a local restaurant for a farewell dinner, where we’ll share favorite memories and experiences with our Road Scholar companions. Our final stop will be the hotel for an overnight stay.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
The Group Leader will be present for farewells and to help us with departures from the hotel. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
Please select a day to update the map
Map details are not available for this location.