Fabulous trip to Tolantongo. The many pools at the hot springs and the cave with a waterfall are spectacular. The cheese tasting and later the wine tasting were lovely. The fellow travelers were deligtful. I’ve been on two of Jen’s trip and she puts together amazing events.

This is my second time using copper moon Jennifer the organizer and owner of the company is amazing and caring and goes up and beyond to make everything more special! We had definite complications as the tour started the morning of the cartel disruptions in puerto Vallarta but we rolled with it and Jennifer managed to not only save the tour but make it better ! The butterfly experience was surreal and I could have been there in the forest for ever ! 100% recommend this tour !! Once in a life time experience made even more magical because of Jennifer and how she treats the guests but also the people who live in the areas the butterflies come to !Jennifers level of respect for the people around her is very special! Do not miss out on this amazing experience with her. You will not regret your decision

My wife and I travelled with Jennifer on a 2 day tour from San Miguel to visit the Monarch Butterflies. What a truly unforgettable trip materially enhanced by her organizational skills, patience, good humor and inclusion of Prof. Pablo Jaramillo as monarch expert. His enthusiasm, remarkable knowledge and delivery of complex information in an easy to understand manner further enhanced our experience. In addition, the stops we made at the pottery shop (with its unique garden) and in the town of Tlalpujahua (where we had lunch and spent the night before the monarch experience) were also very enjoyable. As for the visit to the butterfly reserve, suffice it to say it's a truly spiritual experience. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity that we're so grateful we pursued and especially grateful to Jennifer for all her kind assistance. We very much look forward to taking other trips with her.

Jennifer Bjarnason's tours are a window revealing real-life community experiences, whether it be a family on the Island of Pacanda making bread for Day of the Dead and hanmade basekets, or butterfly fishermen performing a magical fishing practice by the light of the moon. Jennifer arranged all the meals as well, which were abundant and delicious. The transportation was perfect, and she keeps her tours relatively small so one can gain access to the smaller communities and more authentic experiences. I highly recommend this tour.

I just returned home from 10 day tour of Dias de los Muertos in Pátzcuaro. We visited several small towns nearby to see how the locals celebrated their loved ones during the holidays. We even made ofrendas to gift to families. One of the highlights for me was visiting a couple of copper making workshops and actually making a small salt dish to take home. Jennifer is a wonderful tour host and very thoughtful for her clients.

I cannot say enough positive things about my trip to Michoacán with Copper Moon Travels. I was looking for an authentic travel experience, in depth learning about culture and history, finding off the path experiences, and an understanding of what made the region unique. From the site visits, to the meals, guides, and transportation, everything was seamlessly planned and exceeded my expectations. Thank you Jen and team!

I cannot say enough positive things about my trip to Michoacán with Copper Moon Travels. I was looking for an authentic travel experience, in depth learning about culture and history, finding off the path experiences, and an understanding of what made the region unique. From the site visits, to the meals, guides, and transportation, everything was seamlessly planned and exceeded my expectations. Thank you Jen and team!

This was a very well curated Copper Canyon tour. My second time through the canyon but this time was so full of interesting experiences I can't say enough about it. Our guides , Jen and Jaime , were so helpful and knowledgeable, every stop was filled with new places, hotels, restaurants. We would never have found these places on our own. We went over semana santa, some places were filled with national tourist but we felt safe and welcomed everywhere we went. That was my second trip with Copper Moon Travels and I am looking at where to go next with them. Thanks for another wonderful trip. First one was through Chiapas on a mainly birding tour. Again, unforgettable time.!

Jennifer and her company Copper Moon Travels create tours that are fun, enriching, educational, and, out of the ordinary. We experienced her Dia de Muertos "immersion" tour a couple of years ago and it was something we will never forget. But, this review is for our recent Copper Canyon: Into the Land of the Rarámuri tour. Putting together a 2 week tour, via van and train, accomodations at 6 hotels, for 12 people covering close to a 1,000 kilometers is no simple task. Cooper Moon succeeded at every level. Any tour of this complexity will experience glitches, but a mark of a special tour company is their ability to effectively handle these hiccups. Jen and her team were on top of every logistical situation. The quality of the tour execution is important, but the content of the tour is paramount. Copper Moon Travels inbues in their tours a depth of educational, cultural and historical attributes that are unmatched, imho. Because of Jen's extensive list of contacts we were able to witness two Rarámuri Semana Santa (Holy Week) ceremonies; a rare and not to be missed experience. Additionally, there were encounters with local residents where we were priveleged to share a bit of their life journeys with them. The El Chepe Express was very entertaining and provided some majestic views of Copper Canyon. The El Mirador hotel, while somewaht dated, does provide spectaular views. We stayed at an Eco-Lodge overlooking a canyon full of volcanic spires; awe inspiring. So much to see and take in! For a travel adventure to remember for a lifetime, book a tour with Copper Moon Travels!!

Copper Canyon is a remote part of Mexico that I've fantasized about visiting for years. I don't think there could have been a better team to lead our small group of 13 people than Jennifer Bjarnason and Mexican guide Jaime Hernandez. Jen absolutely loves what she does, researches like crazy to find interesting, less-traveled places, and impressively maintained her sense of humor and patience throughout the two-week adventure. Jaime, who I've known from day trips near his hometown of Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, has encylopedic knowledge of Mexican history and culture, as well as an uncanny ability to relate to everyone he meets. He's the perfect person to be our ambassador to new towns and cultures. We stayed in interesting, non-generic hotels and had excellent local drivers to navigate the sometimes nerve-wracking twisty, steep roads. 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. When we encountered the kind of minor glitches you might experience on a DIY road trip, we rolled with the punches and had fun. If you're a traveler who is comfortable with a more adventurous approach to experiencing the fascinating, less commercial parts of Mexico, Copper Moon Travels won't disappoint. I look forward to more of these trips in the future!

My wife and I just completed Jennifer's Ancient Mysticism and the Maya tour of Chiapas. She did an outstanding job of putting together the itinerary of activities and booking accommodations. There were many highlights on this tour that we would never have known about or had access to if not for her deep knowledge of the area. The tour guide Jaime is a walking encyclopedia of knowledge about all aspects of Mexico. The only caution I would make to those considering this tour is that parts of it are somewhat strenuous and would be very difficult for those with mobility issues.

I have been on a few tours with Jen of Copper Moon Travels, and all of them were wonderful! Jen and her sidekick, Jaime, are a great team and Jen’s passion always shines through. I would urge anyone who wants to experience the Day of the Dead, an art collection and workshop tour, or a butterfly tour to sign up with Copper Moon Travels…you will not be disappointed!

What a fantastic wondrous trip. We traveled from Guadalajara across Michoacán stopping visiting artisans including clay potters and sculptures and the most amazing textile artists. Each visit provided us with a unique and beautiful perspective of each artists work and process. So much unbelievable talent but each artisan so humble. We were able to purchase artwork from each (boy if I had more room😊) if we chose and several fed us wonderful lunches with handmade tortillas, soups and beautiful star shaped tamales. Many of the women in these small villages still wear their beautiful hand embroidered blouses, skirts and aprons which was so endearing. We witnessed a communion, and a quinceanera and the celebration of candelaria. Each visit and celebration allowed us to view the beauty of the culture which is so sweet. The people we met along the way were so welcoming. We visited a wonderful market in the town of Parachu that was a feast for the eyes with amazing embroidered textiles and food. We also visited beautiful churches including an amazing sanctuary in Zamora and the the so very interesting ruins of a cathedral due a volcano in 1943. All of our hotel stays were beautiful, unique and boutique like but also very comfortable with hot showers. Lastly we stayed at a little resort called Aqua Blanca in the most beautiful setting in the rainforest. From there we went to two mariposa santuaries (Sierra Chincua and Rosario) which were both amazing! And the Monarchs OMGOSH! Enough said about them! They filled my bucket. On top of all that we had Jaime along for the trip starting our days with humor and song and then teaching us about Mexican history and geography. Such an interesting man! Trecia Neal (expert in her field) to explain the migration of the Monarchs, birdwatching with Adrian and Trecia (both ornithologists) and Jesus with his unique perspective on the art of Mexico especially Michoacán. And not to leave out Dan our good humored, professional, steady driver who made us feel as if we were in very safe hands while getting us to where we needed to be. Last but not least Jen who was knowleadgeable, kind, generous and so hospitable. These people were priceless. By the end of the trip I felt like they were family. So if you are thinking of a tour with Copper Moon travels you will not be disappointed.

A group of 10 went on the butterfly tour. It was spectacular. First we stopped at a wonderfu pottery shop with a splendid garden, where we found unique types of complex glazes. Then we went to our comfortable hotel, where Pablo the botanist gave a fascinating and informative lecture about monarchs, and how climate change is affecting them. the next morning we hiked to sierra chincua, where the butterflies put on a magnificent show. Our leader, Jennifer, was wonderful in every way.

We went on a two day trip to Michocan to see the migrating butterflies. It was an incredible trip and an experience we will never forget. The luxury van ride took us to the sanctuary and we spent a night in the Christmas town of Tlalpujahua. The meals were all excellent and the hotel stay was pleasant. We greatly appreciate the time and effort by Jen that she put into this trip including having an expert on the migration of the butterflies on the trip with us to explain what we were going to experience.

Copper Canyon is a remote part of Mexico that I've fantasized about visiting for years. I don't think there could have been a better team to lead our small group of 13 people than Jennifer Bjarnason and Mexican guide Jaime Hernandez. Jen absolutely loves what she does, researches like crazy to find interesting, less-traveled places, and impressively maintained her sense of humor and patience throughout the two-week adventure. Jaime, who I've known from day trips near his hometown of Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, has encylopedic knowledge of Mexican history and culture, as well as an uncanny ability to relate to everyone he meets. He's the perfect person to be our ambassador to new towns and cultures. We stayed in interesting, non-generic hotels and had excellent local drivers to navigate the sometimes nerve-wracking twisty, steep roads. 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. When we encountered the kind of minor glitches you might experience on a DIY road trip, we rolled with the punches and had fun. If you're a traveler who is comfortable with a more adventurous approach to experiencing the fascinating, less commercial parts of Mexico, Copper Moon Travels won't disappoint. I look forward to more of these trips in the future!

Fabulous Catrina party.. Three top musical bands with great variety, nice steak dinner, fun crowd, cool prizes. Jen knows how to create memorable experiences.

Jennifer - I wanted to thank you for your guide services for the time Andrew, Lily and I were in the Patzcuaro region to experience el Dia de Los Muertos. I never could have been able to understand what this is all about without your help, you put us in a position to experience this for real. I started my Spanish language learning journey through online chats on italki.comand verbling.com in addition to taking classes at Oregon State University. I graduated with a BA in Spanish this June and this trip was intended to serve as a form of capstone for me. This holiday has a significant spiritual component with roots in the catholic traditions as well as in indigenous beliefs. I was able to have several conversations with local people in the Patzcuaro region and ask them what they believe happens to their souls when they die. In this majority catholic system, they were not able to tell me where they were going when they die, because they live within a works-based system where they may end up in heaven or hell, depending on how things go. I believe that my eternal destiny is secure, not based on any quantity of good deeds that I can ever do, but based on the good works and sacrifice of Jesus. For me, he secured my soul's eternal destiny, not my own good works. This gives me an immense sense of security. Given their system of belief that includes eternal uncertainty, I can fully understand the immense hope that El Dia de los Muertos gives to them. They believe that they can be fully reunited with their loved ones, what joy that must bring them. I feel like I have a much greater understanding of this particular facet of Mexican culture and I have you to thank for that experience.

I participated in a one day Día de Muertos Workshop with Jen and her Copper Moon Tours company on October 30th 2024. We went to make altars with Marigold flowers and to have a home cooked lunch on one of the Islands in the lake Patzcuaro with the Purépecha people. Jen put together such an amazing experience for our group. The impressions I was able to collect I will keep in my heart forever and can highly recommend to anyone reading this review to go on a tour with Jen. You will not regret it.

I went on Jen's weeklong Dia de los Muertos tour this past fall. It had been a lifelong dream of mine to get to experience these celebrations, and I was not disappointed. Despite the chaos that can ensue when a group of people with competing needs and desires come together, Jen and the people she works with managed to give us experiences that I won't stop thinking about for a long time. She introduced us to many local people (and art! and foods!) and managed to do it in a way that didn't feel touristy or intrusive but felt as genuine as one could hope for. She is herself very knowledgable but then also manages to find tour guides and locals who can fill in any gaps that she has. I imagine that not everyone would want the kinds of experiences that Jen provides and might prefer a more traditionally tourist time in Mexico, but they were exactly what I look for and I hope to take more tours with her in the future.

Jen is such a lovely lady! Shebwasnt able to help me, but worked to find a tour guide who could. She did this out of the kindness of her heart, and I'm beyind grateful 🙏 The guide she set me up with is a lovely lady, and extremely knowledgeable! I hope to have a tour with Jen at some point, but beyond thankful for her help for this trip. Thank you Jen! And to anyone reading this - reach out to Jen. She will do her best to make sure you get the service and help you are looking for ❤️

Jen arranged the most awesome tour. It was filled with history, culture, archaeology, and nature. It went from a city, through the jungle ruins of the Maya and ended up on the Mexican Caribbean. There were lots of incredible and unique shopping opportunities and everyday had activities that kept everyone engaged. Jen does wonderful job of managing all the details.