Mexico's Copper Canyon
Roundtrip Train
2010 Price Per Person - $U.S.
Double $188; Triple $169; Single $228 |
Welcome
to Mexico’s majestic Copper Canyon. Enjoy an exciting roundtrip Copper Canyon
train
ride in a first class chartered train car. Your adventure begins in Phoenix,
Arizona. Transfer from Phoenix
Sky Harbor Airport by hotel courtesy shuttle to your hotel. Rooms are available
for check in after
3:00 p.m. Join Caravan for a 6:00 p.m. welcome briefing.
Drive
south through Tucson and Green Valley to Nogales. See large saguaro cacti en
route. Enter
Mexico this morning. Enjoy lunch. Continue on a modern four lane highway through
huge expanses
of rangeland and occasional pecan tree orchards. Then journey through the Sonora
Desert to
Obregon for overnight. Enjoy dinner. BLD
This
morning visit the Yaqui Indian Museum. Learn about the tribe’s traditions,
costumes, art, and the
famous deer dance. Enjoy lunch. This afternoon visit a Mayo Indian Village. See
the remains of the
old Tehueco Mission, dating from 1650 and the neighboring church built in 1811.
Arrive in the picturesque
colonial town of El Fuerte, founded in 1564. El Fuerte has been named a
“Pueblo Magico”
(“Magical Town”) by the Mexican Government because of the plaza’s
beautifully preserved colonial
architecture, romantic atmosphere and festive shows. Enjoy dinner. BLD
This
morning, “All Aboard” for your Copper Canyon train trip, considered one of
the top scenic rail
journeys in the world. You start at sea level and climb to 7,500 feet. The
entire railroad passes through
86 tunnels and 38 bridges in the 25,000 square mile canyons of the Sierra Madre.
The five major
canyons are collectively known as Copper Canyon. Journey through Temoris where
you see three
ascending levels of the railroad. Enjoy a box lunch. Your scheduled arrival is
early afternoon at your
hotel on the rim of Copper Canyon. See sweeping majestic views from your room
directly overlooking
the canyon. Overnight elevation approximately 7,500 feet. Enjoy dinner. BLD
Morning
at leisure to enjoy spectacular views of Copper Canyon from your hotel. Walk to
see the
Tarahumara Indians who live in the canyon caves below, or mingle with the
Tarahumara artisan vendors
who gather in front of the hotel. After lunch, reboard your chartered train car
for another thrilling train
ride through the Canyon. As you descend from the top of the Sierra Madre, you
may see cascading
waterfalls. Sheer canyon walls give way to rolling hills and tropical farmlands.
See palm, banana,
papaya and mango trees. Copper Canyon sunsets are a delight. Dinner is in the
dining car. Return to
El Fuerte for a relaxing two night stay. Overnight elevation approximately 300
feet. BLD
On
your El Fuerte River float trip this morning, you may see parrots, woodpeckers,
kiskadees,
kingfishers, doves, cormorants and other birds in their natural habitat (river
and weather conditions
permitting). Next, a brief walking tour to visit the 17th century cathedral and
government palace.
After lunch, the afternoon is at leisure to stroll the cobblestone streets and
the charming plaza of
El Fuerte, center of all social life. Before dinner, enjoy a colorful and
festive
Mexican ballet folklorico. BLD
This
morning, see a demonstration of Paquimé pottery-making, made famous by the
Casas
Grandes Indians. Then, drive north. After lunch, continue to Hermosillo, the
capital of the
state of Sonora. Sightseeing drive of the government palace and Asuncion
Cathedral.
Visit Zaragoza plaza. Enjoy dinner. BLD
Drive
north this morning through the vast Sonora Desert with sweeping views of the
Sierra
Madre. The Sonora’s ecosystem includes a unique variety of plants and animals.
Box lunch.
This afternoon, re-enter the United States at Nogales, Arizona. Arrive at your
hotel in Phoenix.
Please do not schedule flights for this evening as there are often long
delays crossing the border. BL
The
tour ends after breakfast at your hotel. Transfer to the Phoenix Sky Harbor
Airport by
hotel courtesy shuttle. Thanks for vacationing with Caravan. ¡Muchas
Gracias! B
About The Copper Canyon Train
The Chihuahua-Pacifico Railway, completed in 1961 after 90 years of
construction, is a
modern marvel of engineering. The same rails are used by all trains going
through the Canyon.
With Caravan you travel both the south and north route in a spacious
air-conditioned
chartered first class train car.
The train is operated by Ferrocaril Mexicano, exclusive owners of the
Copper Canyon rail
route. In the rare event of a train stoppage. Caravan will make alternative
arrangements.
Both of your Copper Canyon train rides are scheduled in the daytime for the
best lighting
for views and photography. Often the train can be delayed for up to a couple
of hours.
A roundtrip train ride doubles your chances of viewing the canyon during
daylight. Also,
by going roundtrip, you can see a different side of the canyon in each
direction.
Comfort and Safety, First Class Car
Caravan has reserved an entire first class train car. For your comfort, there
are always
more seats in your car than there are clients. For your safety, the seats in
your train car
are only available to Caravan clients and are not open to the general public. For
your
health, Caravan spends only one night on the rim which has an elevation of
7,500 feet.
Accommodations
in the hotels and lodges are rooms with two beds and private bath or
shower. A limited number of single rooms are available. Triple rooms are
usually
two beds, sometimes with a cot or rollaway.
Hilton
Garden Inn Phoenix Airport North
The Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Airport North hotel is located one mile from
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The hotel opened in 2009. The
hotel offers
complimentary 24-hour airport shuttle service, complimentary wired and
wireless high-speed
internet access, a fitness center and an outdoor heated pool and spa. The
Great American
Grill, the hotel's casual restaurant, is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Room service is
available from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The lounge is open from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m
Fiesta
Inn
The Fiesta Inn is a newly opened, modern hotel located in Obregon, Mexico.
Located in the Yaqui Valley, Obregon is the second largest city in the
northern Mexican state of Sonora. The Fiesta Inn has a fitness center, a
large outdoor swimming pool, a lobby bar and the Café La Fiesta restaurant.
All guest rooms have air-conditioning, cable TV, coffee and tea makers, and
hairdryers.
Rio
Vista Lodge
The Rio Vista Lodge is located in the colonial town of El Fuerte. The lodge
is
situated on a hill above the town, adjacent to the historic fort. From
the patios,
you can see the El Fuerte River and the Sierra Madre Mountains. Sunsets can
be spectacular.
Mirador
The Posada Barrancas Mirador is located a
t the canyon's edge, near the highest point of the canyon. The Posada
Barrancas Mirador is the premier hotel on the canyon rim and is the only
hotel where each guest room has a spectacular view overlooking the canyon.
From the hotel you may walk to see the Tarahumara Indians who live in the
canyon caves below. You can also shop for native crafts from the Tarahumara
artisan vendors who gather in front of the hotel.
Posada
del Hildago
The Posada del Hidalgo is centrally located for exploring El Fuerte. This
beautiful hotel is a former colonial mansion built by Señor Rafael Almada
in 1890 for 100,000 gold pesos. Most of the original pine beams and
furniture were brought by boat from San Francisco, California. The hotel
features a swimming pool, restaurant, high ceilings with wood beams and two
story balconies. Most of the rooms are air conditioned and all have private
tile baths.
Fiesta
Americana
The Fiesta Americana hotel is located in Hermosillo, the modern capital of
the Mexican state of Sonora. This full service hotel has two restaurants and
a lobby bar. Hotel amenities include a fitness center and and outdoor
swimming pool
Caravan's
Phoenix, Arizona hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Airport North
(3838 East Van Buren Street) provides a courtesy shuttle from the Phoenix Sky
Harbor
International Airport (PHX) to the hotel. Upon arrival, request a pickup using
the
Hilton Garden Inn North's courtesy phone at the baggage claim area or
call the hotel
directly at: 602-306-2323. The shuttle operates 24 hours daily.
Taxis cost approximately $25 and take 10 minutes.
Caravan's
Phoenix, Arizona hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Airport North
provides a courtesy shuttle from the hotel to the Phoenix Sky Harbor
International
Airport (PHX). The shuttle operates every half hour on the hour, 24 hours
daily.
You can sign up for a shuttle at the hotel's front desk. Taxis cost
approximately
$25 and take 10 minutes.
and Ends |
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