Copper Canyon Hiking Tour, Mexico

The hike from Cerocahui to Batopilas is one of the classic hikes in Mexico. Hikers pass through three different biological life-zones as they descend into both the Urique and the Batopilas Canyons. You hike the El Camino Real, visit two historic mining towns, camp with friendly mountain families and spend time in a ghost town. This hike is professionally supported with top quality equipment and the best pack stock and horses in Northern Mexico. A gentle horse or mule accompanies each group to provide support in case of illness, accident, or other problem.

To stand on the rim of the Canyon, knowing that you got there on your own two feet, now that's something special. Our horse-supported treks make it even more special by eliminating the drudgery. We supply camping and cooking equipment and then transport it so you can concentrate on enjoying your trek. You bring only a sleeping bag and personal items.

Once in camp, you set up your campsite while our staff organizes the kitchen, prepares drinks, and begins cooking a gourmet meal. Over a cocktail or glass of wine, your guide chats about the area, answers questions, and points our natural features. We build the nightly campfire so all you have to do is sit around the fire and swap yarns. What a life!

Wake up to a morning cup of coffee then relax as we prepare a filling cowboy breakfast. Watch as our wranglers skillfully pack and balance loads before tying them onto pack-stock. Now you understand the term "beast of burden!" While our wranglers normally ride, it is nice to know their horses are there for you in case of a sprained ankle or other trailside incapacitation.

An English-speaking guide informs participants of human and natural history of the area. This trip is available only from October 1 to June 1 as summer rains frequently make river crossings impassable.

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Itinerary / Highlights

Day One: The famed Copper Canyon train takes you from your departure point to Bahuichivo station where you will be transferred to a small hotel. Hike to Tarahumara Indian Burial Cave, time permitting, or do a historical tour of Cerocahui. Welcome cocktail with Mexican bar-b-cue and fiesta around a roaring campfire in our patio.

Day Two: Hike through the dramatic El Cajon Canyon then past picturesque Tarahumara Indian ranchitos as you climb 400 meters to Pass of the Cross for lunch and a dramatic overview of the canyons below. Continue your hike to the Tarahumara pueblo of Huicorachi.
Doña Natividad, our host in Huicorachi is a charming Indian lady and one of the few who talk openly about Tarahumara lifestyle. A short hike leads to a dramatic preview of the tierra we will be hiking the next few days. A special campfire cookout accompanied by dinner wine highlights festivities with our host family as we celebrate our first successful day on the trail (4-5 hours hiking).

Day Three: Filling breakfast accompanied by hand-made tortillas. Morning visit to the primary schoolhouse where hikers can talk about their homeland and share small items they may have brought. We have a special relationship with this school having been Padrinos (honorary sponsors) of graduating classes for many years. A visit to the humble adobe church ends our stay in Huicorachi. Mid-morning departure descending 1400 meters to Urique, in the very bottom of the canyon. Founded as a gold rush town in 1690, this friendly pueblo is now a county seat and commercial center for surrounding ranchitos. Pack trains of mules or burros and individual pack animals are a common scene on the streets. Arrive in time for a delicious meal while packs are taken to your room at Hotel Estrella Del Rio overlooking the beautiful Rio Urique. Late afternoon free for swimming or relaxing. (5-6 hours hiking)

Day Four: Follow the Rio Urique on a pleasant riverside hike through the pueblos of Guapalaina and La Laja stopping for a last cold refresco (soft drink). Take a swimming break before tackling the 350 meter climb to our exclusive camp at the ghost town of Los Alisos on El Camino Real. During the late 1800s this important trail carried millions of dollars worth of silver from Batopilas. Once a thriving community, Los Alisos was completely abandoned following a wild west shootout that split the community. We have purchased part of the town and established a base camp with running water and full facilities in a grapefruit orchard with mango, orange, chile picin, guayaba and lime trees nearby (4-5 hours hiking).

Day Five: A light continental breakfast facilitates an early-morning start on the 4000-ft climb out of the Urique Canyon. We've planned this hike to be mostly in the shade with a mid-morning snack break along a quiet mountain pool. Lunch at the most beautiful lookout in the region, bar none, then a short hike to a mesa where Tarahumara Indians distill the legendary and powerful lechuguilla. If our timing is right, we may be able to refill some bottles with the drink. Leaving the mesa we continue an hour on a pleasant hike (mostly level) to our camp at Trigo. (6-7 hours hiking).

Day Six: Leaving the rim views of Trigo, hike past Estación, once an important re-supply stop on The Silver Trail from Batopilas to Creel. Huge pines signal the start of rare first growth forest where you sink into deep pine needles during a break overlooking San Fernando Canyon. Soon hikers encounter a dramatic narrow trail skirting the canyon drop with majestic cross-canyon views of Cerro Colorado. Pine trees give way to scrub oak, then to towering cactus of the dry tropical thorn forest as hikers descend steeply to Los Terreros. Here they spend the last night on the trail with the Cervantes family. Their charming rancho on the edge of the Munerachi Canyon offers spectacular canyon views at sunset and especially during the full moon. (5-7 hours hiking).

Day Seven: Leaving Los Terreros descend 1000 feet to the rustic mining pueblo of Cerro Colorado for cold soft drinks before continuing the hike along historic aqueducts to the famous silver mining town of Batopilas. Cerro Colorado signals the start of gently descending trails and roads to Batopilas. Who can resist the call of a local cantina as our dusty hikers enter Batopilas. Batopilas may be in a dry county but that's another story. After washing down the dust, we continue to our hotel for a hot shower and well-deserved break before a gala farewell dinner. (3-4 hours hiking).

Day Eight: Morning free for optional activities such as a visit to the famed "Lost Cathedral." Afternoon transfer to Creel. ln the event of a group of less than six we opt for the 5:00 AM public transport to Creel. Or you may opt to stay this night in Batopilas at your own expense and depart for Creel at 5:00 AM the following morning on public transportation.

Other Details

Accommodation Details

Three overnights are in small country hotels and 4 nights camping on the trail.

Day 1 Hotel Paraiso
Day 2 Camp atTarahumara pueblo of Huicorachi
Day 3 Hotel Estrella Del Rio
Day 4 Camp at Los Alisos
Day 5 Camp at Trigo
Day 6 Camp with the Cervantes family
Day 7 Hotel in Batopilas