Mexico's Copper Canyon

Day 1 (Door to Door)

Arrive Phoenix

Enjoy your private car door to door transfer to your departure airport before your flight to Phoenix where a transfer is provided to your first hotel.
Hotel: Courtyard Marriott Phoenix Airport (FC)

Day 2

Phoenix - Tucson - San Carlos

Heading south, we stop in Tucson for other passengers joining the tour. Crossing the border into Mexico, we then travel into the Sonoran Desert, stopping in the small town of Santa Ana for lunch. From here we journey to Hermosillo to view the colonial cathedral and murals at the Government Palace. We arrive in time for sunset at our beachfront resort in San Carlos. There is time to relax before tonight's Welcome Drink and dinner. (FB, L, D)
Hotel: Marinaterra Hotel and Spa (MFC)

Day 3

San Carlos - Sea of Cortez Cruise - Alamos

This morning we visit a cactus garden and find out more about these amazing desert plants.We then board a private boat for a scenic cruise on the Sea of Cortez, viewing a variety of marine life and learning about their habitat. After lunch at a waterfront restaurant, we visit the first modern cultured pearl farm in the Americas. We join a guided tour of the farm and hear about pearl oysters, farming, pearl grading and quality selection. Next, we travel south through the rich farmlands of Obregon City to the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountains and the colonial town of Alamos. Designated as a National Monument, the city's cobblestone streets are lined with beautiful Colonial and Spanish buildings. This evening, soak in the local culture at dinner with a colourful folklore show. (FB, L, D)
Hotel: Casa de los Tesoros (MFC)

Day 4

Alamos - El Fuerte

Alamos' colonial history is brought to life on this morning's guided walking tour. We visit some of the restored mansions built when Alamos' silver mines were some of the richest in the world. Also, there is the chance to meet local Mayo Indians and learn about their language, culture and customs. After lunch we journey into the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountains to the town of El Fuerte. This evening, we are personally welcomed by a member of the Torres family who will take us to the family's beautifully restored mansion built in the late 1800's. Here we enjoy a performance of traditional Hispanic and Indigenous dances followed by a 'Be My Guest' Dinner featuring delicious local Black Bass, just-caught in the El Fuerte River and fresh local produce from a nearby farm. (FB, L)
Hotel: Torres del Fuerte (MFC)

Day 5

El Fuerte - Copper Canyon - Posada Barrancas (2)

Today, we board our private rail car and start the journey on the "Train in the Sky" into Mexico's Copper Canyon. Taking almost 100 years to build in this rugged terrain, this rail line is considered to be an engineering marvel. We travel from sea level to 7,500 feet in less than 150 miles, passing through tunnels and over soaring bridges. This rail excursion, voted "Most Exciting Train Journey in the World," takes us along the precipitous Septentrion and Urique Canyons into the heart of the Copper Canyon, over four times as large as Arizona's Grand Canyon. We disembark in Posada Barrancas, our home for the next two nights. (FB, L, D)
Hotel: Mansion Tarahumara (MFC)

Day 6

Copper Canyon sightseeing

We spend the entire day exploring this dramatic area, one of the last undiscovered treasures of North America. We hear about the geological forces that created the seven individual canyons, collectively known as the Copper Canyon.We also spend time with the local Tarahumara Indians, a seminomadic tribe whose ancestors have lived in the canyon's caves for thousands of years and learn about their natural remedies from a local medicine man. Later we board the aeriel tram and descend into the canyon to experience its grandeur in a way few have done before. (FB, L, D)
Hotel: Mansion Tarahumara (MFC)

Day 7

Copper Canyon - Casas Grandes

We travel to Creel via the Oteros Canyon before descending from the Copper Canyon into the stark Chihuahuan Desert and the city of Casas Grandes. This evening we observe live pottery firing by local potters who have established the Mata Ortiz Pottery style, a recently established art form based on the ancient pottery tradition used at the archaeological site of Paquime. Later, we get together for a Farewell Dinner. (FB, L, FD)
Hotel: Hotel Hacienda (MFC)

Day 8

Casas Grandes - Paquime - Phoenix

Today we visit the UNESCOWorld Heritage Site of Paquime, a vestige of the great Chichimeca civilisation. Many of the ancient dwellings and pyramids have been excavated and can be explored. We then continue across the Chihuahuan Desert, back into the US and stop in Tucson before arriving back into Phoenix late this afternoon. (FB, L)
Hotel: Courtyard Marriott Phoenix Airport (FC)

Day 9

Depart Phoenix

A complimentary transfer to Phoenix International Airport is provided for your return flight back to the UK. (FB)

Day 10 (Door to Door)

Arrive UK

On arrival at your UK airport, your driver will greet you and escort you to your waiting private car for your door to door transfer to your home.

Please note: This tour was designed to introduce you to the remote, yet stunning, beauty of Northern Mexico. Knowing what to expect will assist you in preparing for this tour and will ultimately make this a more enjoyable holiday. It is important to realise that this corner of Mexico is still remote and rustic. Some of the accommodation and services are basic by British and American standards. Meal choices may not be as extensive as on other tours and hotel facilities in some towns may be limited. The tour reaches an elevation of 8,000 feet and requires walking on uneven surfaces and climbing stairs. This tour is best enjoyed by the experienced traveller in reasonably good health who can take it in good humour when all of the comforts of home aren't readily available. Train schedules and other parts of the itinerary may be subject to delays or variation due to circumstances beyond our control.

Dates and prices

Destination Info

Overall customer rating 5 () 2 Reviews

• • Product :
    A marvellous location, nowadays almost devoid of tourists. The warning in the brochure about "experienced traveller" and "good humour" is quite right, but this is not the fault of the Mexican hotels, which do their best. Trafalgar sub-contract to a local firm called "A Closer Look", and they are simply not up to the standard of most Milestones tours. I could give a dozen specific examples. There is also a significant error from Trafalgar in the pre-tour information pack, which states that the courtesy phones for the hotel shuttle are "outside of the baggage claim area." This applies to US customers on DOMESTIC flights, not to INTERNATIONAL arrivals, which have their own area, and even then it is not easy to find. When you arrive jet-lagged on the BA flight in the late evening and have just queued lengthily through immigration, the last thing you want is a fruitless search for a non-existent phone. The information pack should say: "After collecting your baggage, go to the domestic arrivals area, where there are a number of desks. Next to the "Arizona Shuttle" there is a notice board with a list of local hotels, including TWO Marriott Courtyards. Be sure to select the one at 2621 South 47th Street. The telephone code for this is #07" (One of the other Brit couples went to the wrong hotel, and did not get to the right place till nearly midnight. They were not amused!)

  • Service Rating :
    Well done to Milestones staff in arranging extra days in Phoenix before the tour and Tucson afterwards. Also for sorting out (eventually!) a problem caused when the Tucson hotel charged us rather than Trafalgar for Day 8 accommodation.
    

  • Response :
    The whole team would like to thank you for taking the time to leave us your feedback, following your recent tour to Mexico.
    
    With Milestones we like to give you the option of extending your tour, giving you the opportunity to stay a little longer in the city where your tour starts or concludes, perhaps to visit friends or family or simply take more time to make your own discoveries.
    We are pleased to read that your Personal Travel consultant was able to help with your requirements, as you have mentioned.
    
    We are sorry to hear about the error you encountered with the hotel charges and that some of the information that you received was incorrect, we sincerely hope that this did not cause you too much inconvenience.
    I will refer your comments to the Product team, so that they can look into it this fully and make any amendments where necessary.
    Everyone here at Milestones is very proud of the product we offer and customer feedback is extremely valued, to help us to maintain and improve our services where possible and it also allows us to make necessary changes.
    
    We hope to welcome you on another tour in the future.
    
    Kind regards,
    Debbie Pullum
    Customer Relations

  • Left 73 days ago

• • Product :
    Part of Mexico not everyone has experienced. Well worth a visit.

  • Service Rating :
    The tour was well organized and accommodation very good
    

  • Response :
    Thank you for taking the time to leave us your feedback on Feefo. We are very pleased to hear that you felt the service was excellent and that you really enjoyed the tour.
    
    This particular tour to Mexico is a first class touring style which shows you all the major sites and attractions, while also including some hidden treasures along the way. You also enjoy the comfort of top hotels, which are all carefully selected for their quality, friendly service and expected levels of comfort.
    
    This tour was designed to introduce you to the remote, yet stunning beauty of Northern Mexico and it is lovely to read that you really did experience the rustic side of this beautiful country.
    
    We look forward to welcoming you back on another one of our Tours in the near future. Please remember as you have travelled with us previously you will now qualify for a 5% discount on any future tour with us.
    
    Kind regards,
    Debbie Pullum
    Customer Relations

  • Left 75 days ago