Mexico Travel Forum

My wife and I would like to take a tour of El Canyon Cubre in Mexico. There are so many tours and tour companies listed online that I hardly know where to start. We would like to take the railway tour -- 7 to 10 days. Is a round trip of the canyon advisable? What time of year is the best time to book this tour? Are there any "add ons" or side trips that you would recommend? And, most importantly, what tour company would you recommend? Thanks.

I have visited the Copper Canyon (Barranca del Cobre) back in March this year. The place is a great tourist destination and definitely worth visiting for its natural beauty and cultural attractions.

I haven't made the train-tour (but I have taken the train) but for what I heard it is a good option. The best itinerary is flying into, and departing the railway tour, in the city of Los Mochis and ending in Chihuahua, where you can flight out to your destination without the need of getting back to Los Mochis (the trip back would take one full-day and wouldn't add any value to your vacation). Note you can still buy the tickets of the train on your own, and make your own Train tour, even without a Tourist Agency Tour.

The town of "Creel" is the main town along the route and the base for the tourist flow. From there you can schedule excursions to almost every place in the Canyon. The excursion I did, and loved it, is the one down at the bottom of the Canyon to the mining town of "Batopilas". Tourist agencies in Creel organize two or three-days excursions to Batopilas. Three-day likely better than the two considering it takes 5-7 hours to get to/from there (but the trip is part of the attraction as you descend into the Canyon). If you get to Batopilas you can say you have been "into" the Canyon. From Creel you can also take an helicopter tour and see the Canyon "from above"; the helicopter tour will give you an understanding of how large and deep is the Canyon you can't get in any other way.

The best time to visit the Copper Canyon is in Spring where the weather is good and temperature mild.

I do not have a Company to recommend.

Check out my VT Creel page with descriptions of my experience and tips about the Copper Canyon.

Enjoy your trip!
Giuseppe

I went to Copper Canyon this past January and loved it. I went with Grand Circle Travel (www.gct.com) and they did an excellent job at an excellent price. We also went to Mata Otiz and El Fuerte. I have never redone a tour I have been on but this one was so nice that I have actually considered it. It is twe weeks long however. I loved all of it.