Our Trip To The Copper Canyon in Mexico

Well, it’s been awhile since we’ve been on the road, maybe I shouldn’t say that because we did travel to and from our winter home in Alamo Texas and have been gone for about 5 months. We did enjoy some time on the road with our friends Robert and Lonna on our way home this spring in the Hill Country of Texas and Marksville La. Looking at the mileage on my truck, I’m just short of 100,000 miles and it’s a 2003. It’s just broken in! Anyway this posting is about our incredible trip to the Copper Canyon in Mexico. Although we were on the road, I did not have to drive. It was a fantastic tour bus trip from our park in Alamo with 17 other couples from our park and another couple from another park to the interior of Mexico. Some asked if we were afraid to go because of all the press about violence. Yes there are some problems at the border towns but after that it’s no problem. The press tends to go overboard. Our tour guide Andy Guerrero was absolutely amazing about the history and ancient cultures of Mexico. He is truly a walking encyclopedia. He is also good natured and a prize winning history writer. It made the trip much more exciting. His knowledge exceeded the boundaries of Mexico. Our two drivers were outstanding, maneuvering the bus through the narrow streets of each city and the windy roads from Durango to Mazatlan. Getting on to the trip, we started our 9 day trip on March 5th at the border in Reynosa. After crossing the border and clearing customs it was a relaxing drive to Monterrey on a divided highway with mountains on each side. We had lunch in Monterrey then continued on to Parras for an overnight stop. The motel was a former hacienda with a very nice courtyard.




Happy hour with friends in the courtyard included a bottle of wine we bought at a winery we toured along the way then dinner.







Day 2 we continued on to Durango. Had fun at John Wayne’s favorite scenic Mexican Movie Studios where “Big Jake” and “Chism” were filmed. They put on a little western skit for us that included some of our group as actors.














Also visited the main plaza and a impressive cathedral built in 1695. Durango was very clean, not what I would expect in Mexico.
On the third day we continued our scenic drive across the continental divide. Then stopped for a picnic lunch with an incredible view!














We later arrived in Mazatlan for two nights at the beachside Playa Mazatlan Hotel. Relaxing on the beach front, touring the city, shopping, enjoying the pool and an evening dinner show were welcome after the long drive.














The forth day was the city tour. This is truly a beautiful tropical city.
The fifth day it was on to Los Mochis where we passed through the agricultural area of Culiacan the Tomato Capital of Mexico also lots of corn and pecan plantations. This was a full day of driving for an overnight stay in Los Mochis to catch the train to the top of the Copper Canyon. It was an early wakeup call at 4:30 so we could be on the train by 6:00. The train called the Chepe runs from Los Mochis to Chihuahua. This was the highlight of the trip. It took us 9 hours.
We go as far as the Divisadero-Creel area which is at the top of the canyon some 8,000 feet. It’s a slow climbing, winding ride through 86 tunnels and many airborne bridges spanning deep gorges. The ride brings breathtaking views along the way. Taking pictures is a challenge as many of the best shots disappear into darkness as we go through tunnels. Sadly the train is going to be replaced by a 4 lane highway in the near future and used for freight only. We arrive at the hotel Cabanas Divisadero located on the rim of the Canyon. It was very cloudy that evening and somewhat disappointing as we could not see the canyon. The next morning, seventh day, was a different story as the clouds lifted giving us a spectacular view of the canyon. Brigitte stepped out the front door of our hotel and its 5 steps to the edge. We were about in the middle. She stood long enough for a picture then promptly came back in. She is afraid of heights. Later we enjoyed the view, taking many pictures during a 3 mile walk along the canyon. A van was offered for those who did not want to walk. Brigitte did the van, I the walk. Then we met the colorful Tarahumara Indians selling their handicrafts along the way.
Many woven baskets and hand made jewelry were bought. They also showed off some of their dances and games they play. This tribe was just recently discovered. About mid-afternoon we boarded the bus to continue the trip to Chihuahua passing through the rich farmlands and orchards of Mennonites that migrated to Cuauhtemoc from Canada. It’s another story that I will not go into. We did visit the Mennonite farm of Abraham, who is a friend of Andy’s and welcomes visitors with their questions. Then it was on to the Hotel San Francisco in Chihauahua.

The eighth day was sightseeing in Chihuahua that included a tour of Pancho Villa’s house, now a museum. Then on to the main plaza, a cathedral and an aqueduct that was built by the Spaniards in 1754 and is still in use. Then back on the bus and on to Torreon for an overnight stay at the Hotel Camino Real.

Day nine was a visit to another cathedral, main plaza and the Governor’s Palace. Then on to Saltillo to see where sarapes are woven. Then on to Monterrey for lunch. We arrived back in the Rio Grande Valley about 8:00pm. We learned so much about the Mexican culture, its people, government, schooling, industry and agriculture. We have a totally different outlook of this country on the rise. By the way the word “Gringo” was derived from the Mexican-American War in which the American army wore green coats and there was no word for green coats in their vocabulary so they invented one called “Gringo” like as the Gringos are coming!
Hope you enjoyed this posting, Dick and Brigitte……