Mexico’s Copper Canyon Railway

Day 1

Arrive Mexico City, transfer to hotel in the city centre.

Transfer to your hotel in the historic centre of the city. Mexico City, known by the local people simply as ‘DF’ (Distrito Federal), was built on the site of Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec Empire, and it lies at 2,250m above sea level. Vast, chaotic and vibrant, this sprawling megalopolis of more than 20 million people has a multitude of attractions.

Stay at - Hotel Historico Central

Day 2

Visit Teotihuacan pyramids and Guadeloupe shrine.

Today you’ll be driven to the archaeological site at Teotihuacán, home to some of the most remarkable relics of ancient civilisation in the world. The immense ruins – dominated by vast pyramids – are thought to date from around 300BC.  The identity of the city’s founders and where they came from remains a mystery. It was completely abandoned until the Aztecs arrived, eventually collapsing for good in the 7th century AD.

Continue to the basilica of Guadalupe, a statue of the Virgin Mary atop a hill where a local Christian convert claimed to have seen her in a vision.  Here, pilgrims approach the shrine on their knees across the flagstone courtyard. The most devout make the whole pilgrimage on their knees.

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Stay at - Hotel Historico Central

Day 3

Fly to Chihuahua in northwest Mexico.

Fly to Chichuahua in northwest of the country in the afternoon (2.5hrs); overnight here. Now a rather unprepossessing industrial town it does have an interesting historical centre and some grand mansions in the suburbs.

Day 4

Travel to Creel by road and overnight.

Travel by road to Creel, a journey of about 3.5 hours. The route runs parallel to the track for most of the journey. The scenery features cattle grazing pastures, with long Pampa grass narita azul)  and some of the world’s largest apple orchards, run by Mennonite communities. Open plains give way to oak forests and limestone as the road climbs to the rim of the canyon. Arrive at the mountain town of Creel where you’re now positioned to board the train the following day.

Day 5

By train to Posada Barrancas.

Board the train, looping out of the canyon onto a pine-wooded sandy plateau. This is the most dramatic stretch of the canyon. You can make a short stop here to gasp at the superlative views from a dizzying lookout point; you’ll probably be met by indigenous Tarahumara indians selling hand crafted gifts.

Stay at - Posada Barrancas Mirador

Day 6

Optional zipline across the canyon.

You might choose an optional adventure to experience the spectacular cable car and or zipline across the Canyon. The cable car is one of the most dramatic in the world, flying over ravines and boulder fields: at several points you are hanging at 450m above ground level. If you are feeling even more adventurous, whizz along seven ziplines and two hanging bridges down into the canyon: the trip takes about 90minutes. It’s quite a daunting prospect but there’s a guide with you at all times. The most extensive zip line is 1,130m long. From the bottom of the canyon you might take the cable car back up.

Stay at - Posada Barrancas Mirador

Day 7

Continue by rail to El Fuerte

Get ready for your third day on the tracks. This is the most spectacular section of the whole journey as the train sweeps round bends, crosses cantilever and box-girder bridges, disappears into and re-emerges from tunnels and climbs switchbacks as it snakes its way down the cliff face, eventually arriving in El Fuerte. The day’s rail journey is about 5.5hrs.

Stay at - Posada del Hidalgo

Day 8

At leisure in El Fuerte. Fly from Los Mochis to Mexico City

There’s time to relax and stroll around the pretty, colonial town of El Fuerte before the drive to Los Mochis airport – about 90 minutes along good paved roads. As you head away from the arid mountains, the latter part of the journey passes working farms and fertile sugar cane and maize fields.

A 2-hour flight takes you back to megalopolis Mexico City where your driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel for a further 2-night stay.

Stay at - Hotel Historico Central

Day 9

At leisure in Mexico City

We can pre-book a range of optional excursions for your final day in Mexico, or feel free to explore independently.

Stay at - Hotel Historico Central

Day 10

Transfer to Mexico City airport