SEMANA SANTA IN THE COPPER CANYON
INTO THE LANDS
OF THE RARAMURI
"Jennifer and her company Copper Moon Travels create tours that are fun, enriching, educational, and, out of the ordinary. Copper Moon Travels imbues 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. We stayed at an Eco-Lodge overlooking a canyon full of volcanic spires; awe inspiring. For a travel adventure to remember for a lifetime, book a tour with Copper Moon Travels!!" - Bill & Pablo (Copper Canyon 2025)
INTO THE LANDS
OF THE RARAMURI
SEMANA SANTA IN THE COPPER CANYON
STARTS: Los Mochis, Sinaloa Mexico
ENDS: Chihuahua City, Chihuahua, Mexico
DATES: March 20 - April 5, 2027
DURATION: 16 Nights / 17 Days
PRICE FOR 12: $85,089 MXN (Approximately $4700 USD / $6550 CAD)
SINGLE OCCUPANCY: $16,500 MXN (Please contact us if you would like to share a room. We will try to match you with a roommate.)
INCLUSIONS: All hotels x 16 Nights, all breakfasts, 1 picnic lunch, 1 lunch & 1 dinner (dessert and drinks are separate). First Class Ticket on El Chepe Express included. All tours, activities and entrance fees are included. We will use private transportation with professional drivers and services with a bilingual National Certified Guide for the duration of the tour. We hire local guides in specific places due to their knowledge. Your tour price includes 2 donations for 2 indigenous Raramuri communities, in keeping with traditional protocols for gaining permission to observe their rituals. Your tour price also includes various tips for hotel staff (luggage handlers) and the train personnel who will assist us loading luggage on the train.
Tips for team leaders are discretionary but appreciated. Please leave a small room tip for your housekeeper, as this is also customary in Mexico. Your flights are not included for this tour.
CURRENCY CONVERTER
ABOUT THE RARAMURI
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, their name is 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....
TRIP OVERVIEW
El Chepe is famous, but the best part is stepping off the train...
Most travel agencies traverse the Sierra Tarahumara over a week, never leaving the Canyon Rim for the adventurous journey into the Raramuri Heart of this territory. For such a remote location and high expense of arriving here, we truly recommend honouring your journey by staying for the full two week experience...
and descending into the heartland to witness incredible Raramuri rituals...
Descending into the canyon base is a hair-raising adventure, as part of the road features switch-backs. That said, we will travel slowly and carefully to reach the base, stopping at a landing with breathtaking panoramic views and a chance to photograph this twisting and exciting road. Once in the lowlands of the canyon, there are special cultural rituals to observe that are far from the tourist route, with a deep authenticity that is life changing to observe..
CONTINUED...
Beyond the canyons are mysterious remnants of Mogollon Culture...
After we emerge from the canyons, we are destined for Casas Grandes, where we will explore the small village of Mata Ortiz, where ceramicist Juan Quezada reinvented coil pottery once crafted by the ancient Mogollon who dwelled in this region...
including the razed city of Paquime and a nearby cave dwelling...
We will visit the ancient city of Paquime, which is located in the desert, and are also bound for the foothills of the canyons, where an ancient granary was located in a cave along a network thought to be traversed by ancient traders...
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
TOUR DIFFICULTY
This tour requires mobility and balance. There is light hiking along the rim, but those who love to hike will have plenty of extra opportunities, as our guide will take you out in the morning or afternoons, depending on our schedule. Our last tour worked well for everyone, as those who weren't interested in hiking stayed behind to rest and enjoy the scenery.
APPROPRIATE GEAR
We recommend bringing a walking stick if you are up for hiking. Everyone should have at least one pair of sturdy shoes, a warm coat for cooler evenings, layered clothing and light-weight clothes for daytime in the canyon base. Sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and bug repellent are also highly recommended for El Fuerte and Batopilas, where the climate is hot and bugs abundant. Please bring ear-plugs for Batopilas, as Semana Santa celebrations are loud and go well into the early morning.
GROUP COOPERATION
Not everyone is made to travel in groups. We ask you to consider how flexible and adaptable you are, before committing to this tour. We work hard to stick to our itineraries as much as we can, due to the expectation and investment from our guests. Sometimes, we must change plans due to spontaneous closures or other unseen obstacles, such as an accident that closes the road or a sick guest who needs to stop at a clinic. We appreciate travellers who can roll with the punches and stay open-minded despite alterations that are necessary.
OUR LODGINGS
We will stay in eight locations during our epic adventure...
Our hotels are a mix of boutique hotels, a mansion with many staircases, an opulent living museum, and one very rustic cave-like dwelling that despite being a rough and primitive stay, has the most spectacular views of anywhere else we've been throughout the canyon system...
so we suggest packing light, to make hotel changes easier...
March can still be cool on the canyon rim, but warm once we descend into Batopilas Canyon. We suggest a layered, capsule wardrobe, which is best described as outfits that all match one another. You will want comfortable, breathable clothing for light hiking, sturdy shoes, and a warm coat for evenings. We also recommend a daypack for our day trips. If you struggle with stairs or hills, consider bringing a collapsable walking stick. One of our hotels is seated on a cliff overlooking the canyon, with rooms that have a lot of stairs in order to take advantage of the view. The hotel has a car to bring guests near the top of the property, and staff to help carry our luggage. That said, if you struggle with stairs, please advise me when you confirm your booking so I can request a room that is closer to the dining room (these rooms do not have the incredible views, but will be easier to manage.)
PHOTO GALLERY
It's impossible to take a bad photograph here...
For those of you who love photography, the Copper Canyon is a powerful landscape full of vibrant colours when the local Raramuri step into view. Sunrises and Sunsets are glorious as are the sheer and sharp cliffs, hiking trails and stunning colonial village of Batopilas. You will enjoy photographing every corner of this adventure...
HOW TO BOOK YOUR TOUR
A 25% non-refundable deposit confirms your seat...
Unless we must cancel this tour, your 25% deposit is non-refundable and is what confirms your seat for this experience. Please do not book your flights until we confirm the tour is going ahead. The tour cut-off is January 1, 2027 - so if we do not have 10-12 guests by then, we will be forced to cancel this tour, in which case, your deposit will be refunded immediately.
WHY DO WE HAVE SUCH A STRICT RESERVATION POLICY COMPARED TO CORPORATE TRAVEL COMPANIES?
As sole proprietor of a small business, I cannot afford the fall-out of guests who are noncommittal. Recently, we had 3 guests who verbally committed to our Chiapas tour only to change their minds within a few days for non-emergency reasons, leaving me with unfair and substantial financial loss. I was obligated to the 3 guests who had not only paid deposits, but who had also booked their flights. Unfortunately, this has happened far too many times for me to keep working on trust, which is why I now require a deposit in order to confirm your seat.
So if you are committed and ready to travel, please contact us but do not book your flight until we have confirmed that we actually have a minimum of 10 guests!
What is expected after the tour and flights are confirmed...
Once your deposit is paid and tour is confirmed, I require another 25% deposit so I can pay deposits for hotels, van rental and other expenses.
The balance is due in full upon arrival. If you prefer to pay the balance with a credit card, I need to invoice you two weeks in advance, as it takes 10 business days for the deposit to enter my account. If you are paying with cash, we only accept Mexican Pesos, as exchanging foreign cash costs us nearly 20%.
PAYMENT METHODS
Our preferred payment method is WISE, formerly Transferwise...
If you do not have a WISE account, please click here to start an account. We recommend using your smart phone, as it's easier to upload ID and verify the account. You will need your standard banking information to connect your bank account to the transfer app. Once your account is open, you need to transfer money from your bank into the WISE account in order to make payments.
When you are ready to pay, simply email me for a payment link. The beauty of WISE is that I can request the payment in Pesos, so the exchange isn't messy.
Please Note: If you use my referral to sign up for your account, your first transaction is discounted.
Just click on this link to get started: https://wise.com/invite/ihpc/jenniferb907
We can also accept Interac Transfers to our Canadian or Mexican accounts...
If you do not have a WISE account, we can also accept traditional wire transfers to our Canadian or Mexican bank accounts. Please email us for deposit information.
Canadians can e-transfer us through a simple email transfer...
If you have a Canadian bank account, we can accept an e-transfer to coppermoontravels@protonmail.com
Or you can pay 5% to use Stripe if you are paying with a credit card...
As all other payment methods do not cost us any processing fees, we do not add them into our prices. If you are using a credit card, we must charge 5% to cover their processing fees. If you are paying with a credit card, please click on the link below to make your payment!
The amount is in Mexican Pesos
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS TOUR
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Mayo Cultural Dancing & Medicines
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Mayo Ceramics Demo & Traditional Lunch
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Birding on Rio Fuerte
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El Chepe Express Train (First Class)
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Basket Weaving Class with Raramuri Women
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Hiking on the Canyon Rim
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Tram Car Ride Across Copper Canyon
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Cusarare Mission Church & Museum
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Raramuri Rituals in Batopilas Canyon
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Visit Church of Satevo
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Ex-Hacienda San Miguel
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Raramuri Rituals on the Canyon Rim
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San Ignacio Mission & Valley of Hongos & Frogs
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Rowing on Lake Arereko
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Mata Ortiz Ceramics (Direct Shopping from Artisans)
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Ancient Archaeological Site of Paquime
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Ancient Archaeological Site of Cuevo de Olla
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El Fuerte
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Canyon Rim
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Batopilas
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Guachochi
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Canyon Rim
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Creel
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Casas Grandes
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Chihuahua City
Important information about your flights for this tour....
Please make sure you are in Los Mochis by 2:00 PM on Saturday March 20, 2027. We will depart Los Mochis this afternoon for El Fuerte, arriving on time for happy hour. For your return flight from Chihuahua City on April 5, 2027, you can depart at any time. The commute from the hotel to the airport takes about 30-45 mins, depending on the time of day. We will ask the hotel to arrange taxis for everyone and will try to arrange transportation so guests can carpool together...
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)
