10-Day Copper Canyon Trekking Tour from Los Mochis with Rio Urique Camp

10 Days Duration

Experiences

About This Tour

Experience the historic charm of El Fuerte before journeying through the breathtaking landscapes of Copper Canyon, from Divisadero's canyon rim to the depths of...

Duration: 10 Days · Tour type: Private · Activity level: Hard · Accommodation: Not included · Transport: Included · Wheelchair access: No · Cities: La Paz, Chihuahua, Los Mochis, Copper Canyon · Languages: English, Spanish

Know before you go: Train service is every other day. Plan your arrival and departure dates carefully.; Witness the elusive view of the Rio Urique, seductively hidden from the canyon rim at Divisadero. Great birding opportunities await the patient, along with rare educational and cultural exchanges with the local Tarahumara on this hiking tour. Most guests arrive at the rim by the Chihuahua al Pacifico (ChePe) train, and tickets for various levels of comfort and speed are available on their website. If you fly into Los Mochis, Sinaloa, airport (LMM), make your way to Los Mochis or charming colonial El Fuerte, two hours away.; We offer a pickup service with quirky hotel accommodations in El Fuerte. This service includes a transfer from the airport to the hotel the night before and to the ChePe station the following day.

About La Paz

Mexico

La Paz

Encompassed by spiked Sonoran cacti and the deserts of the Baja, La Paz remains indelibly Mexican in character. Get a local guide to reveal its Tex-Mex and the hotspots lining the Sea of Cortez.

Explore La Paz Mexico All destinations

What's Included

All-inclusive from Los Mochis airport meet and greet
English-speaking Copper Canyon tour guide
Arrival at the canyon rim on the first-class Copper Canyon Train
Airport transfers to and from the airport

Not Included

Flight to Los Mochis, Sinaloa (LMM)
Tips and gratuities
Personal expenses

Itinerary

1

Day 01

Arrival in Los Mochis and Transfer to El Fuerte

Begin your tour at the airport in Los Mochis, Sinaloa (airport code: LMM). You will be met by your Copper Canyon tour guide for your transfer to the hotel in El Fuerte. Begin your tour at the airport in Los Mochis, Sinaloa (airport code: LMM). You will be met by your Copper Canyon tour guide for your transfer to the hotel in El Fuerte. Relax and enjoy the tropical atmosphere with a cool coconut drink, expertly opened with a machete before your eyes, or sip a margarita prepared from local oranges. Relax and enjoy the tropical atmosphere with a cool coconut drink, expertly opened with a machete before your eyes, or sip a margarita prepared from local oranges. Enjoy an optional second night in El Fuerte, a colonial town founded in 1564 by Don Francisco de Ibarra and steeped in history. Rumour has it El Fuerte was the home of the legendary Zorro. Enjoy an optional second night in El Fuerte, a colonial town founded in 1564 by Don Francisco de Ibarra and steeped in history. Rumour has it El Fuerte was the home of the legendary Zorro. You can explore this walkable town or enjoy a river trip that highlights a colourful myriad of local birds and an ancient petroglyph site if you have extra time. You can explore this walkable town or enjoy a river trip that highlights a colourful myriad of local birds and an ancient petroglyph site if you have extra time.
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Day 02

Journey to Divisadero and the Canyon Rim

At 7 am, leave the hot coastal plains around El Fuerte for the cool, pine-tree-clad rim of Copper Canyon at almost 8,000 feet above sea level (2,200 m). The complete rail journey from Topolobampo through Ciudad Chihuahua to Ojinaga/El Presidio is no longer intact, but 86 tunnels and 37 bridges enhance the remaining portion. Divisadero, your arrival point in mid-afternoon, is cool and temperate, set in an extensive pine forest on a high mesa. We enjoy a tasty late lunch, street-food style, followed by a 4 km orientation hike to the hotel at Posada Barrancas. At 7 am, leave the hot coastal plains around El Fuerte for the cool, pine-tree-clad rim of Copper Canyon at almost 8,000 feet above sea level (2,200 m). The complete rail journey from Topolobampo through Ciudad Chihuahua to Ojinaga/El Presidio is no longer intact, but 86 tunnels and 37 bridges enhance the remaining portion. Divisadero, your arrival point in mid-afternoon, is cool and temperate, set in an extensive pine forest on a high mesa. We enjoy a tasty late lunch, street-food style, followed by a 4 km orientation hike to the hotel at Posada Barrancas. We will meet you at Estación Divisadero train station for your transfer to the Bavarian-inspired castle, Mansion Tarahumara. A fixed dinner at 7:30 is included. We will meet you at Estación Divisadero train station for your transfer to the Bavarian-inspired castle, Mansion Tarahumara. A fixed dinner at 7:30 is included.
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Day 03

Descent into the Mile Deep Canyon

Meet your local guides and arrieros (Spanish for burro drivers) and begin a 3,500-foot descent to camp at a spring-fed orange grove. Notice the life-zone changes as you leave the coniferous mesa and descend through the Apachean-Madrean woodland bioregion to the arid Chihuahua desert. Meet your local guides and arrieros (Spanish for burro drivers) and begin a 3,500-foot descent to camp at a spring-fed orange grove. Notice the life-zone changes as you leave the coniferous mesa and descend through the Apachean-Madrean woodland bioregion to the arid Chihuahua desert. Local homesteads perch precariously on exposed ledges with nearly sideways-slanted cornfields. Local homesteads perch precariously on exposed ledges with nearly sideways-slanted cornfields. A scenic rocky outcrop offers photo opportunities and a good spot for lunch. A scenic rocky outcrop offers photo opportunities and a good spot for lunch. The locals keep goats, so beware of loose rocks. The locals keep goats, so beware of loose rocks.
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Day 04

Hike Down to the Rio Urique

A moderate 1,200-foot (400 m) descent is a great way to loosen tight leg muscles after yesterday's tough descent. A moderate 1,200-foot (400 m) descent is a great way to loosen tight leg muscles after yesterday's tough descent. Take the rest of the day to relax at our spacious beach camp. Take the rest of the day to relax at our spacious beach camp. Tonight's campsite is under a brilliant canopy of stars, next to the gently burbling Rio Urique. Swimming is recommended. Tonight's campsite is under a brilliant canopy of stars, next to the gently burbling Rio Urique. Swimming is recommended.
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Day 05

Optional Upstream Hike to a Warm Waterfall

Those eager for the optional full-day hike to get to know the area must get an early start to beat the heat. Those eager for the optional full-day hike to get to know the area must get an early start to beat the heat. Utilize old Tarahumaran trails on a traverse a couple of canyons upstream to a warm waterfall. Utilize old Tarahumaran trails on a traverse a couple of canyons upstream to a warm waterfall. A small dry bag (12-20 litres) is recommended for valuables on the return hike. Three river crossings are refreshing after the hot climb, and two are definite swimmers. Sure-footed river shoes and a dry sweater for the other side are recommended. This hike features an active low-tech mining operation, Tarahumaran ruins, the art of tracking, and birding opportunities. A small dry bag (12-20 litres) is recommended for valuables on the return hike. Three river crossings are refreshing after the hot climb, and two are definite swimmers. Sure-footed river shoes and a dry sweater for the other side are recommended. This hike features an active low-tech mining operation, Tarahumaran ruins, the art of tracking, and birding opportunities.
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Day 06

Half-Day Hike and Mine Tour

Head out for a half-day hike around our campsite, highlighting Tarahumaran life. This hike features a riverside beach with deep pools, a bubbling cascade, and smooth water. Nearby is a functioning Tarahumaran rancho, where we witness animal husbandry, orchard irrigation, and terraforming, as well as an abandoned gold mine. Head out for a half-day hike around our campsite, highlighting Tarahumaran life. This hike features a riverside beach with deep pools, a bubbling cascade, and smooth water. Nearby is a functioning Tarahumaran rancho, where we witness animal husbandry, orchard irrigation, and terraforming, as well as an abandoned gold mine. Listen for the bells to find where the donkeys have strayed. The arrieros rein them in, and we hike up to the outskirts of a Tarahumaran village for the night. Listen for the bells to find where the donkeys have strayed. The arrieros rein them in, and we hike up to the outskirts of a Tarahumaran village for the night.
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Day 07

Ascent to the Hot Spring Camp

Ascend 450 m (1,500 ft) to a hot spring pool and the first night's camp. Ascend 450 m (1,500 ft) to a hot spring pool and the first night's camp. Depending on the season, visit with the owner of a remote Tarahumaran rancho. Depending on the season, visit with the owner of a remote Tarahumaran rancho.
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Day 08

Climb Back to the Canyon Rim

Ascend 3,500 feet as we return on our outbound trail. Ascend 3,500 feet as we return on our outbound trail. Local ranchos with tiny cornfields and stone fruit orchards blend seamlessly with the surrounding hills. Local ranchos with tiny cornfields and stone fruit orchards blend seamlessly with the surrounding hills. Breathtaking views and well-deserved bragging rights follow us to the hotel. Breathtaking views and well-deserved bragging rights follow us to the hotel. Back at the hotel, hot showers and cold drinks await us. Back at the hotel, hot showers and cold drinks await us.
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Day 09

Travel to Ciudad Chihuahua

Have breakfast and catch one of six departures for Ciudad Chihuahua. Have breakfast and catch one of six departures for Ciudad Chihuahua. Nearby Parque Aventura Tarahumara offers a via ferrata and two interesting ziplines. Nearby Parque Aventura Tarahumara offers a via ferrata and two interesting ziplines. An early train departure allows you to visit Creel. An early train departure allows you to visit Creel. A night in Creel allows you to return to the coast on the ChePe. A night in Creel allows you to return to the coast on the ChePe.
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Day 10

Departure or Return Journey

Fly home if going to Chihuahua. Fly home if going to Chihuahua. Catch the train back to El Fuerte or Los Mochis, or aim for the midnight departure on the ferry from Topolobampo to La Paz, Baja California Sur. An eight-hour crossing gets you to Baja about dawn. Catch the train back to El Fuerte or Los Mochis, or aim for the midnight departure on the ferry from Topolobampo to La Paz, Baja California Sur. An eight-hour crossing gets you to Baja about dawn.

Meeting Point

Meeting point: Aeropuerto Internacional de Los Mochis (LMM), Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico · Tour start: Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico — Tour ends at the same location as the start point.