COPPER CANYON

INTO THE LANDS OF THE RARAMURI

"The geography was thrilling, and the opportunities to meet and observe indigenous Rarámuri people was an amateur anthropologists dream! This trip was centered around Semana Santa, the week leading up to Easter, Mexico's biggest holiday. Organizing the trip was a major feat for Jen and Jaime, and we felt as if we were on the adventure with them." - Sydney (Into the Lands of the Raramuri 2025)

INTO THE LANDS OF THE RARAMURI

A GRAND JOURNEY THROUGH THE COLOSSAL CANYONS OF CHIHUAHUA MEXICO

STARTS: Los Mochis, Sinaloa Mexico

ENDS: Chihuahua City, Chihuahua Mexico

DATES: March 28 - April 9, 2026

DURATION: 12 Nights / 13 Days

PRICES INCLUDE TAXES AND ARE BASED ON COST SHARING. IF YOU WOULD LIKE A PRIVATE ROOM FOR 1, THE EXTRA COST IS $15,500 MXN. PLEASE REQUEST A ROOMMATE, AND WE WILL TRY TO MATCH YOU WITH SOMEONE TO AVOID THIS EXTRA EXPENSE.

PRICE INCLUDES IVA TAX

The price is $71,760 MXN (Approximately $3900 US / $5350 Canadian / $3300 Euro) for 12-14 Guests. If you need a difference currency, please scroll down for our currency converter!

INCLUSIONS:

IVA Taxes Included. Hotels x 12 Nights included (Double Occupancy). Breakfast x 12, Lunch x 2 and Dinner x 3. First Class Ticket for the Chepe Express from El Fuerte to the Creel. Walking Tour in El Fuerte, Birding Excursion on the Fuerte River, Cultural Mayo Tour, Basket Weaving & Cooking, Storytelling, Tram Car Ride across the Copper Canyon, Rowing on Lake Arereko, Visit Basaseachi Canyon, Semana Santa Observations and more. Food supplies for the Raramuri families we visit is included, but if guests would like to add personal items, we would be grateful. We will send everyone some ideas of helpful items that are appreciated. Tips for the luggage handlers who help us at the train and hotels are covered, as are your room tips for housekeeping. Tips for your team leaders are NOT included. These are discretionary and appreciated.

Would you like a detailed itinerary? Please email Jennifer at coppermoontravels@protonmail.com. We have stopped posting our itineraries in detail due to an issue we had involving someone from abroad who promoted one of our tours as their own. In order to keep our guests safe from online scams, we ask that you please contact us directly.

CURRENCY CONVERTER

TRIP OVERVIEW

The lands of the Raramuri were the most difficult for the Spanish to enter...

With a rugged terrain of steep canyon walls and uneven ground, Raramuri territory was the most difficult to conquer due to the formidable conditions that include snow in winter. This resulted in contact happening much later than in other regions of the country. The first priest to arrive in Cerocahui had so much difficulty convincing the Raramuri to accept Christ, he left. This truly was a land that broke even the most devout, yet has long been the home of the light-footed runners...

and despite being called Tarahumara, they are actually Raramuri...

As with many names that were changed by colonizers, the Sierra de Tarahumara was named for the Tarahumara people, which is an incorrect descriptor. Their cultural group is Raramuri, and the local indigenous peoples will be pleased when you get this correct....

The Raramuri once lived according to the winter vs summer climate...

Prior to contact, many indigenous groups across the world moved their communities between select villages over the year in correlation with the seasons. The Raramuri were no different, moving into the highlands for spring and summer, then retreating to the sub-tropical canyons for the winter where it was warm...

but the colonizers divided them into two groups that are now distinct...

The women of the highland and canyon base wear skirts and blouses, some with small floral patterns and others from solid but vibrant cloth, typically ornamented with triangle-patterned hems.. The men are the most distinct, as those in the highlands are less remote and have adopted western dress, whereas those in the canyon base still wear their traditional white loin cloth with vibrant coloured blouses. Among the young people in the canyon base, modern clothes are more popular today than ever before and eventually, it's possible that the traditional dress will fade into the past, with the exception of ceremony.

We will visit several look-out points and the base of Batopilas Canyon...

Unlike many tour companies that stay along the rim for the duration of their tours, we bring you into the depths of Batopilas Canyon to discover the cultural pulse of this ancient land. The colonial town of the same name is bustling with local tourism during Semana Santa, but the experience of coming here is unlike any other....

and ask for permission to witness the cultural observations here...

The Raramuri worldview of today is syncretic, so though they practice Catholicism, they fuse it with their traditional beliefs. This has manifested into unique cultural rituals and interpretations of biblical stories that are re-enacted during Semana Santa. Traditional protocols demand that we seek permission to enter Raramuri ceremonies, including offering specific goods that are requested. It is important to understand permissions, as some others who arrived did not bring goods and were taking photographs, which was deeply frowned upon and viewed as disrespectful. Our boxes of goods were both blessed with a ritualistic dance, after 15 mins of negotiations that included a request that one of us go to the store for a carton of cigarettes! On our last visit, the guides were given permission to take limited photos, but our guests were not permitted. These are some of the signs that these ceremonies are far from touristy or for show - in fact the protocols we witnessed while there were about business transactions, agreements, blessings, introductions and welcoming rituals before the ceremony could even begin. A truly life-changing event to witness...

We will enjoy a lot of nature and powerful scenery...

From birding on the Rio Fuerte and waking up at El Mirador hotel overlooking the Copper Canyon at sunrise, the raw magnificence of this region is astounding and impossible to put into words or capture on camera. We will also spend one afternoon rowing on Lake Arareco, followed by a picnic by the shore...

or the adrenaline rush of optional zip-lines and a tram-car ride...

Though the zip-line is optional, this tour includes a fantastic tram-car ride across the famous Copper Canyon, which is located at the Divisadero Adventure Park. This region will have a plethora of Raramuri handicrafts for sale, including an abundance of pine-needle baskets, which we will later try weaving! After lunch, we will enjoy some light hiking to the old train station before returning to our hotel to enjoy the hummingbirds and fantastic views of this massive geological magnificence...

We have beautiful accommodations, and one very rustic place...

If you prefer luxury accommodations, our last lodgings in the canyons may be too rustic for you. In this case, please let us know and we will make arrangements for you to stay in the town, so you can still visit during the day. This lodge was built to emulate the ancient cave-dwellings of this region, so they are very primitive. The benefit of staying here is observing a stunning sunset in a landscape that is truly other-worldly, then waking up to pristine tranquility with no-one around for miles...

with mythical scenery, a private waterfall, a tree-house and more...

The lodgings here are primitive and accessible by a dirt path. The huts are built on the edge of the canyon with a trail that descends to the base of a private waterfall that feeds the trout pond, with the trout caught fresh right before meal time. The owner has a wonderful story about how he came to own this property, along with his vision to keep it primitive for a rustic experience. Please contact us for more information if you have any questions or. concerns!

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS TOUR

Birding by boat on the Rio Fuerte
Hiking on the Canyon Rim
Hiking in Basaseachi Canyon
Rowing on Lake Arareko
Surroundings of our Eco-Lodge

Mayo Culture Deer Dance & Medicine
Mayo Pottery Demonstration
Raramuri Basketweaving Workshop
Raramuri Cooking Workshop
Raramuri Storytelling
Semana Santa Observations in Cusarare
Semana Santa Observations on Good Friday
Semana Santa Observations in Satevo
San Sebastian Cave

1st Class El Chepe Express Train from El Fuerte to Creel

Cusarare Mission Museum
Sisoguichi Mission
San Ignacio Mission
Church of Steve

Valley of Mushrooms
Valley of Frogs
Monk Statues
Ancient Petroglyphs

This trip is a little more challenging to organize for flights....

Guests must fly into Los Mochis Airport, or arrive by land. Los Mochis is accessible through Mazatlan or Arizona by land, but the flights are not very well connected to international locations, meaning most of you will need to fly through major hubs such as Mexico City or Guadalajara. Flying home from Chihuahua City will also prove as challenging, with most flights detouring through these same cities. Please contact us with your location so we can assist you with flights.

We recommend staying an extra night to see Chihuahua City....

Sadly, my camera battery charger died on our last tour so I do not have any decent photos of Chihuahua City yet, but it is an incredible place! The colonial centre is packed with history, including the home of legendary Pancho Villa and the assassination spot of Father Hidalgo. The architectural splendour is jaw-dropping and surprising. There is also a wonderful cultural gallery that has some good quality Mata Ortiz pottery, which is one of the most famous ceramic centres of Mexico, located about 4 hours north of Chihuahua City, near Casas Grandes. If you would like to stay an extra night, we will book your hotel for an additional charge and book our tour with a local guide who is a font of knowledge. The tour is very reasonably priced and well worth paying for the discovery of this opulent city....

QUESTIONS?

Please do not hesitate to contact Jennifer if you have any questions or would like to schedule this tour at a different time for a private group.

Email: coppermoontravels@protonmail.com

WhatsApp: +52 443 639 2782 (Please text first)