Northern Mexico: Solar Eclipse & Copper Canyon
Group Tour
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Overview
Get ready for a trip to eclipse all others in 2024, as select parts of the Americas will be graced by the solar event of the year. We’ll head to northern Mexico, grabbing a seat centre-stage of the action to bear witness to a total solar eclipse.
Aside from the main show, Mexico’s rarely travelled northern region is also worth exploring, so we’ll be taking the opportunity to experience a completely different side of the country, usually known ...
Get ready for a trip to eclipse all others in 2024, as select parts of the Americas will be graced by the solar event of the year. We’ll head to northern Mexico, grabbing a seat centre-stage of the action to bear witness to a total solar eclipse.
Aside from the main show, Mexico’s rarely travelled northern region is also worth exploring, so we’ll be taking the opportunity to experience a completely different side of the country, usually known for its crowd-drawing ruins and beach resorts. Setting off from the Pacific Coast, the route takes us over the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range and through the Chihuahuan Desert. Boarding the incredibly scenic CHEPE train, we’ll arrive into the undisputed highlight of the north, the Copper Canyon, for a few nights of breathtaking walks and stunning vistas. During various sections of the journey, we’ll hop on and off of the train to visit colonial towns, indigenous communities and captivating landscapes.
As well as the range of scenery, this tour includes an eclectic mix of experiences. If the sight of a solar eclipse wasn’t special enough, through short hikes, historic museums, remote community visits and bustling city stays, we’ll also learn about the long history, geological variety, trade and life in Mexico’s north.
HIGHLIGHTS
At a glance
MEALS
TRANSPORT
GROUP SIZE
EXPERT TEAM
ACCOMMODATION
6 nights x Superior
ENTRANCE FEES
FITNESS RATING
WILD MILES
ACCOMMODATION
Wherever possible we aim to use characterful accommodation that enhances the overall travel experience. This can obviously vary greatly across both countries and tours. On this particular trip we will be in comfortable hotels throughout. Please note that the accommodation mentioned in the itinerary is intended as a guide only and is always subject to availability.FITNESS RATING
LOW: You should be comfortable walking around towns and cultural sites. May include some optional walks (typically 1-2hrs).LOW/MODERATE: May be of a long duration and/or involve numerous border-crossings. May include easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-3hrs/day). You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle.
MODERATE: May include several easy/moderate day walks (up to 2-5hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You should be relatively fit and lead a generally active lifestyle. Previous experience of similar trips helpful.
MODERATE/HIGH: May involve several days of moderate hiking (up to 3-6 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.
HIGH: May involve several days of moderate/strenuous trekking (up to 4-7 hrs/day) possibly at altitude. You must be a very fit and active traveller with appropriate trekking experience.
Wild Miles Club
When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:
| Blue | More than 10,000 points | 2.5% discount |
| Bronze | More than 30,000 points | 5% discount |
| Silver | More than 45,000 points | 7.5% discount |
| Gold | More than 60,000 points | 10% discount |
Map & Itinerary
Individual departures may vary so please refer to the information in the tour specific links in the Dates and Prices section below
Day 1 Tour starts in Mexico City
Day 1 Tour starts in Mexico City
The tour starts this evening in Mexico’s capital city. Rooms at the airport hotel will be available from early afternoon for anyone arriving before the suggested group tour flights (see GETTING THERE section below). Please note that no other services are provided today and we've chosen an airport hotel (rather than a city centre hotel) due to the scheduled early departure time of the domestic flight to Los Mochis tomorrow morning.
Day 2 Mexico City - Culiacán - El Fuerte
Day 2 Mexico City - Culiacán - El Fuerte
Early this morning, we'll head to the nearby airport terminal in time for our flight to Culiacán where we’ll be taken straight to the town of El Fuerte on arrival. This small, colonial town on the banks of the Rio Fuerte was founded in 1564 and surrounds a fort (or fuerte) built by the Spanish colonisers during times of conflict with the indigenous population. After lunch and a tour of the town this afternoon, we begin to delve into Mexico’s complex and fascinating history.
Day 3 El Fuerte - Creel (Copper Canyon)
Day 3 El Fuerte - Creel (Copper Canyon)
After breakfast we’ll board the famed CHEPE Express train, considered to be one of the most beautiful train rides on the continent. It departs from the coast, winding its way through some otherwise inaccessible areas and calling at various stops along the immense Copper Canyon. Enjoying the afternoon on board, we’ll alight at its final stop along the canyon in the small lumber town of Creel, a popular entry point to area. The region is the ancestral home of the Rarámuri (also known as Tarahumara) who have made world headlines for their running abilities. From the station we’ll head straight to our hotel for check-in and dinner.
Day 4 Copper Canyon
Day 4 Copper Canyon
The morning offers the chance to meet a Rarámuri family in their home environment before exploring their beautiful “backyard” on foot in the Valley of the Frogs and the Valley of the Mushrooms, named for their uncanny rock formations. The walk ends at the peaceful Lago de Arareco, before being dropped back at our hotel. The Jesuit Order played a formative role in the socio-politics of the area, particularly for the Rarámuri, and Jesuit missions and churches can be found all over Copper Canyon. As such, we’ll also head to the Cusárare mission to visit the church there. Following an old path carved out by the Rarámuri's ancestors, we’ll enjoy a walk up through fresh pinewood forests to reach the beautiful Cusárare Waterfall before heading back to Creel for some tacos. As we stroll through the streets later in the afternoon on a short walking tour, the town’s involvement in the lumber trade should immediately become apparent. Amongst the quaint wood furniture outlets and humble timber construction companies are also shops where Rarámuri from around the area come to sell their artisan wares.
Day 5 Creel (Copper Canyon) - Posada Barrancas (Copper Canyon)
Day 5 Creel (Copper Canyon) - Posada Barrancas (Copper Canyon)
Dubbed the “Grand Canyon of Mexico”, Copper Canyon is actually made up of a series of six canyons, carved from six rivers that merge into the Rio Fuerte and drain into the Gulf of California. At more than double the size of its U.S. counterpart, the endless network of undulating cliffs and ravines are best appreciated from above. So, today we’ll transfer to the other main entry town to take the Austrian-made cable car (or teleférico) across the canyon opening, offering unrivalled views. The cable car brings us to the trailhead of an old, indigenous pathway where our hike through the rocky, copper and green-coloured ridges begins. The rest of the afternoon and evening is left at leisure to soak up the majestic views of the Urique Canyon, the deepest of the six canyons, from our hotel, perched on a cliff’s edge.
Day 6 Posada Barrancas (Copper Canyon) - Cuauhtémoc - Chihuahua
Day 6 Posada Barrancas (Copper Canyon) - Cuauhtémoc - Chihuahua
A short morning walk along the edge of the valley where two canyons meet offers a gentle close to our time in Copper Canyon. A local Rarámuri family skilled in basketry using pine needles and agave leaves can often be found in the area, so we’ll try and drop in to meet them before driving to Cuauhtémoc. The breadbasket of Chihuahua, there are some 50,000 German-speaking Mennonites living here across more than 200 villages. We will get to know a local family, sample some of the region’s produce at a dairy farm and visit the Mennonite Museum to learn more about this fascinating community. After our tour, we will continue to Chihuahua where we will spend the next two nights. Driving distance 316km, 6 hours approx.
Day 7 Chihuahua
Day 7 Chihuahua
Following breakfast, we'll head out to the city for an interactive dive into the history of Chihuahua and the North. At the Museo Histórico de la Revolución, set in the splendid former mansion of General Pancho Villa, we can learn about the Mexican Revolution and its impact on Chihuahua, the largest state in the country. During our time here we'll visit the cathedral, the town market and the government palace, which houses a basement cell where the founding father of Mexico, Miguel Hidalgo, was imprisoned before being executed in the city in 1811. We’ll also learn of the importance of mining in the region, and a visit to the Villa Quinta Gameros museum, once owned by a wealthy mining magnate of the time, will testify to the immense riches this trade produced.
Day 8 Chihuahua - Hidlago del Parral
Day 8 Chihuahua - Hidlago del Parral
Driving to the charming town of Hidalgo del Parral this morning, we’ll have time to admire some of its numerous churches and the San José Cathedral. The town is also home to the opulent Palacio Pedro Alvarado, formerly owned by a silver magnate and a controversial hero of the Mexican Revolution who met his demise here. A short walk from his palace brings us to the source of his wealth at La Prieta mine. This afternoon we’ll have the chance to explore the historic silver mine, touring its museum of antique artifacts within a former drift of the mine before following one of the old tunnels to a magnificent viewpoint over the town.
Day 9 Hidalgo del Parral - Torreón
Day 9 Hidalgo del Parral - Torreón
Making our way to Torreón, our base during the eclipse, we’ll break the journey up with a stop at Mapimí, a small village with a fascinating history and the location of the Ojuela Bridge, claimed to be the third largest in Latin America. The impressive piece of engineering connects the ghost town of Ojuela, an abandoned mining settlement, with the entrance of its ore mine discovered as early as 1598. Crossing the bridge offers spine-tingling views of the deserted ghost town and the deep gorge below. Equipped with carbide lamps, one of the local miners will be our guide into the mine today as we explore the shafts and tunnels within it. We’ll then continue on to Torreón to settle into our hotel and discuss plans for the big event tomorrow.
Day 10 Torreón
Day 10 Torreón
For just a few minutes early this afternoon, a small slither of the earth’s surface will be plunged into total darkness as the moon passes between the path of the sun and the earth, creating the incredible optic of completely blocking out the face of the sun known as a total solar eclipse. The uncommon event is being dubbed the ‘Great American Eclipse’, and one of the spots predicted to offer the longest duration of a total blackout is Torreón, which will be at the heart of the narrow ‘path of totality’. The opening act begins an hour or so before the main event as the moon calmly and steadfastly glides into position teasing with a partial eclipse. As the moment of awe approaches, the excitement and plummeting temperatures result in goosebumps letting us know that the prized view of a diamond ring is near. Assuming that the weather gods are kind to us, gasps and cheers will likely mark the moment we join the tiny proportion of the population to ever witness one of nature’s most spectacular shows. The rest of the day will no doubt be spent taking in the wonder of what just happened before our eyes.
Day 11 Torreón - Parras de la Fuente
Day 11 Torreón - Parras de la Fuente
From the excitement of Torreón to the serenity of Parras de la Fuente, we’ll head to this desert oasis (often shortened to just Parras) for a relaxed tour around the idyllic town known as the ‘Oasis of Coahuila’. In the midst of the barren desert, the small town’s amenable climate and ample freshwater supplies should leave no doubt in any new arrival’s mind that this is one of nature’s special gifts. Unsurprisingly, the town is blessed with numerous spas, historic pools and vineyards, boasting the ‘oldest winery in the Americas’ dating to the 1600s. The afternoon and evening are set aside for a guided tour of this much-loved bodega Casa Madero before having the chance to enjoy a tasting of some top-quality wines with dinner.
Day 12 Parras de la Fuente - Porvenir de Jalpa - General Cepeda
Day 12 Parras de la Fuente - Porvenir de Jalpa - General Cepeda
Leaving the luscious springs behind, we’ll head back onto the desert road in search of Porvenir de Jalpa where fossilised findings in what has been called a ‘dinosaur graveyard’ were discovered in 2014. A dirt path leads us around some of the marked dinosaur footprints clearly etched into the ground from millions of years ago. Later we’ll drive onwards to General Cepeda where we’ll stop by a family-run eco-farm that has been committed to conservation and organic agriculture for over 30 years. A tour of the ranch and processing areas will teach us how they cultivate the maguey plant (a species of agave), make use of natural pesticides and use sustainable methods in the manufacture of their products, which include coconut water, nuts, jams and sheep’s cheese. Continuing to the beautiful colonial city of Saltillo, we will visit the highly acclaimed ‘Museo del Desierto’. Rounding off the knowledge acquired on our journey, this natural history museum houses stone-age tools, fossil exhibitions and insight into the ecology and biology of the region.
Day 13 Saltillo - Tour ends in Monterrey
Day 13 Saltillo - Tour ends in Monterrey
After breakfast, we'll transfer to the airport in the neighbouring city of Monterrey where the tour ends.
ACCOMMODATION USED ON THIS TOUR
Camino Real Aeropuerto, Mexico City
The large, modern hotel has all the standard facilities needed to pass the time before a flight including a gym, indoor pool, a Mexican restaurant and a café. Rooms are contemporary with international amenities. The hotel’s main selling point is its very convenient location. Being directly connected to Terminal 1 via an enclosed pedestrian bridge and with easy access to Terminal 2 via a free shuttle, make Camino Real the best option for stop-overs before an early morning flight.
Mansion Serrano, El Fuerte
This boutique hotel offers charming, colonial-style, wooden furniture and touches, and a lovely outdoor patio and pool if guests need to cool off in the midday sun, all within a five-minute walk of the town centre. The Fuerte River is also an eight-minute walk from the hotel. Rooms are simple with plenty of character and amenities such as Wi-Fi and air conditioning and there is a quaint bar and restaurant on site serving authentic Mexican dishes.
Hacienda Don Armando, Creel
The excellent boutique hotel is set in a beautiful stone and wood building on the edge of town, about a 15-minute walk from the centre. Rooms encircle the outdoor pool and jacuzzi with views to the surrounding mountains. The new restaurant is fast becoming known as the best option in town, serving regional Chihuahuan dishes with culinary artistry. Rooms are cosy and quaint with somewhat of a Mexican alpine feel and come with four-star amenities.
Hotel Mirador, Posada Barrancas
Teetering on the edge of the canyon, close to its highest point, the spectacularly located Hotel Mirador is set against the backdrop of some of the most inspiring landscapes in Mexico. The 48 charmingly appointed rooms and suites reflect a mix of modern comfort and traditional Tarahumara Indian influences, with custom-made furniture, private tiled bathrooms and private terraces. Located just a 10-minute drive from the Chihuahua-Pacifico (CHEPE) train line, the hotel is ideally placed for hiking down to the dwellings of the Tarahumara and can also organise horseback rides and helicopter tours of the canyon.
Quality Inn Chihuahua San Francisco, Chihuahua
Centrally located in the historic downtown district of the city, and just a short walk from Chihuahua’s main cathedral and its bustling Plaza de Armas, the Quality Inn has 131 rooms, all with private bathrooms, cable TV and air conditioning. The hotel also features a relaxing lounge bar, wireless internet and an elegant restaurant. Ideally located to take advantage of the city's shops, bars and restaurants, the hotel is a short 10-minute drive from the Chihuahua CHEPE train station, which offers regular services to the Copper Canyon and the Sierra Tarahumara Mountains.
Nuve, Torreon
The mid-sized, contemporary Nuve hotel can be found in central Torreón. The rooms are simple with a minimalist style and neutral décor. Despite this, they are well-furnished with modern desks and wardrobes, and complimentary toiletries. The three-star hotel has limited facilities but does offer a stylish restaurant and bar with great views of the city.
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Hotel Rating
Accommodation displayed here should be taken as a guide only. *Please refer to the Detailed Itinerary of your individual departure for more information.
PRIVATE HOLIDAYS: DATES DON’T FIT?
All group tours can be taken on a private basis.
Additional Details
Responsible Travel
With local people, culture and eco-systems in mind, responsible travel and sustainable tourism are at the core of Wild Frontiers. We believe that a successful trip not only delivers a unique and unsurpassable journey for our travellers but also benefits the people and places we visit.
When designing our tours, we actively seek out experiences that have a positive impact on the communities and precious environments we visit - from supporting social enterprises; resting our heads in rural homestays; and eating at locally owned restaurants; to helping fund conservation projects that protect wildlife and their habitats.
Visit the Responsible Travel area of our website to read more, including the work of the Wild Frontiers Foundation through which we fundraise to aid community empowerment and education projects.
Reducing Single Use Plastic
We recognise the environmental issues and challenges around single-use plastic in many countries we visit and are actively working with our partners on the ground to reduce plastic waste on our tours and within the hotels and restaurants we visit. You can help to reduce your personal plastic waste by taking a refillable, filtered water bottle with you on your trip. Filtered water bottles can be refilled from water sources including your hotel room and restaurant taps, drinking fountains and refill stations. Every time you refill your bottle without the use of single-use plastic, you will be helping to reduce waste and protect the environment. Filtered Water Bottles | Wild Frontiers (wildfrontierstravel.com)
Getting There
If you would like us to send you a quote for the suggested tour flights or on any alternative flight that may suit you better, please let us know, noting that for our US clients, we will most likely refer you to one of our preferred partners. For this trip our suggested flights from the UK (subject to change) are shown below.
If you wish to arrange your own flights you are completely free to do so and in this case we can arrange any transfers or supplementary accommodation that you may require. However please note that if you are planning on making your own flight arrangements, we recommend that you first check with us to see if the trip is guaranteed. We then suggest that you purchase flights that are flexible and ideally refundable as due to the nature of adventure travel, itineraries and destination accessibility can change at any time. For more information, please refer to our booking conditions.
| Flight Code | Departing | Arriving |
|---|---|---|
| BA 243 | London Heathrow (LHR) 12:45 | Mexico City Airport (MEX) 18:45 |
| BA 5080 | Monterrey Airport (MTY) 14:21 | Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) 17:06 |
| BA 1531 | Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) 21:30 | London Heathrow (LHR) 12:45 |
Visas
VISAS
Visas are necessary for many of the destinations we travel to and while we aim to provide you with the most up-to-date information, requirements frequently change and as such for the latest advice we advise that you check with the relevant embassies or contact a reputable visa agency. More details can be found here - www.wildfrontierstravel.com/visa
For this tour UK passport holders currently do not require a visa for Mexico. However, those travelling on the suggested group flights will require a visa or an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) visa waiver to transit the USA. If travelling on a British passport, you should just need an ESTA.
Please note that as of January 2016 US policy (subject to change) has stated that anyone wishing to travel to or via the USA must have a biometric passport. In addition, anyone who has travelled to several countries including Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Cuba, Yemen or Somalia since March 2011, is required to apply for a US visa (rather than just an ESTA). If you are affected by this, the process is fairly straightforward and you can read more about it here - www.wildfrontierstravel.com/us-visa.
Passports should ideally be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the end of your tour.
Non-UK passport holders or non-UK residents should contact the relevant embassies for individual requirements.
VACCINATIONS & ADDITIONAL TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements for travellers to Mexico.
For all destinations, please make sure you are up-to-date with any standard vaccinations (e.g. MMR, Hepatitis A, Tetanus) as recommended by your local health care provider.
Malaria is present in some parts of Mexico and precautions are essential.
For the most up-to-date information on all vaccination requirements and the most suitable anti-malarial tablets, we strongly suggest that you seek advice from your local travel centre or consult an official travel health website such as www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk or www.travelhealthpro.org.uk
Covid Testing: No mandatory testing is currently required for vaccinated or unvaccinated travellers.
If necessary further details will be sent out to you upon booking, however ensuring that correct and valid visas & vaccinations are obtained remains the sole responsibility of the client.
Extensions
If you have more time available, why not arrive early to adjust to a new time zone or just to get a feel for the country before your tour starts? Alternatively, you might choose to allow a few extra days after the tour to relax or to undertake some further exploration.
The choice is completely yours and we can usually arrange anything from simply additional accommodation and transfers to full tailor-made itineraries*. Please contact the office for more details and to discuss your requirements.
*Please note bespoke, tailor-made itineraries need to be a minimum of 7 days and we can only offer them in countries where we have a tailor-made expert
Governmental Travel Advice
Many governments issue advice which highlights potential hazards their citizens might experience when travelling abroad. We strongly suggest you refer to your country’s particular advisory site before booking and contact us if you have any queries or concerns. Click to follow links to the advice of the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or the US State Department.
Non-UK citizens should consult the travel advice of their respective governments.
Warning
The FCDO sometimes advises against certain parts of this itinerary.
Wild Frontiers has many years’ experience of running trips which contravene FCDO advice but these decisions that are never taken lightly and are always taken in conjunction with our local partners after extensive consultation. As part of the booking process, you will need to sign a disclaimer to confirm you have read the advice, that you are still happy to travel and that you will obtain travel insurance which is not invalidated by the FCDO advice.
For more information, please see the Insurance section or contact us. Non-UK clients should be sure to check the travel advice of their own governments as well as the small print of their insurance policies. Should you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Key Information
IS THIS TRIP FOR ME?
It may sound obvious but Wild Frontiers tours are not always for everyone and it is important to us that the tour you choose is the most suitable. All our tours have a fitness rating as a guideline but you should check the day-by-day itinerary carefully. In certain instances we may ask you to complete a travel questionnaire before confirming your booking in order to ensure your suitability. Should you have any concerns about your ability to partake in any aspect of the tour then please contact the office.
KEY ASPECTS TO CONSIDER
This is not an overly strenuous tour in itself but it includes some easy/moderate hikes (all optional) in the Copper Canyon and some long journey days (both by train and by road). We’ll also visit several places which are less commonly visited by foreign visitors so please come prepared for a different Mexico experience from one which you may have previously experienced!
RECCE TOURS
As we all know, the world is a constantly changing place - destinations & routes that were once cutting-edge now regularly find themselves appearing in mainstream brochures. Coming up with truly original tour ideas is a constant challenge but at Wild Frontiers we are committed to offering you a real alternative to the mainstream and each year we run a handful of new and original adventures. These are our so-called Recce Tours and since the very beginning have proven incredibly popular with those of you who like to act as our “guinea pigs” and join us on these tours. Fantastic fun and highly rewarding, Recce Tours will assuredly not go 100% to plan and it is not uncommon for clients to take an active role in tweaking the itineraries along the way. More challenging than our normal tours, these will often require a greater degree of flexibility...they will not be for everyone.
TRAVELLING SOLO AND SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS
As a company approximately 70% of our clients are solo travellers, so it’s very unlikely you’ll be alone!
Our prices are typically based on twin-share accommodation but single supplements are not compulsory for any Wild Frontiers tour. If you prefer not to pay a single supplement we’ll pair you with someone else of the same sex for you to share with throughout the trip. On this trip, if you do opt to pay for a single supplement then please note that it will cover you for all nights of the tour.
Please note that paying a single supplement entitles you to lone occupancy of a single room. In many cases these rooms will be of the same size as a double/twin room, but in some cases they may be smaller.
INSURANCE
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours. You should be aware that due to some of the geographical areas visited and some of the activities included on certain of our trips some standard insurance policies may not always provide adequate cover. As such we strongly recommend that you purchase a policy that adequately covers your trip. Please see the Insurance section for more details.
General Information
TOUR PRICE
All our tours are priced on a land-only basis, giving you maximum flexibility when deciding how to get to and from your tour.
DEPOSIT
A 10% deposit is required to confirm your booking.
PROTECTION FOR YOUR MONEY
For further details please see our travelling with peace of mind page
WILD MILES
This tour will earn you 11114 Wild Miles
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED
We believe in a completely transparent approach to pricing with no hidden extras. As such, please note that the following are not included in the cost of the tour.
Visas & Travel Insurance: Visas will always be tour/nationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatory
Tips: Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documents
International Flights: Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UK
Airport Transfers: We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights
Beverages & any costs of a personal nature: This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs
WILD FRONTIERS COMMUNITY
If you’re still not sure if this trip is right or just want to see get some different perspectives, then why not have a look at the wide variety of resources we have on our website? Browse our community section to read our blogs, watch videos and find out about our events.
WHY WILD FRONTIERS?
We are frequently asked what makes Wild Frontiers different from other tour operators. Visit our Why Wild Frontiers page to find out.