Day 1 - ARRIVE PHOENIX
Welcome to Phoenix! A complimentary transfer is provided to your tour hotel. A Trafalgar representative is at the hotel late this afternoon to greet you and answer questions.
Day 2 - PHOENIX – TUCSON – SAN CARLOS
Heading south, stop in Tucson for passengers joining the tour. Crossing the border into Mexico, travel into the Sonoran Desert, stopping in the small town of Santa Ana for lunch. From here, journey to Hermosillo to view the cathedral and murals at the Government Palace. Arrive in time for sunset at our beachfront resort in San Carlos. There is time to relax before tonight's Welcome Drink and dinner.
Day 3 - SAN CARLOS – SEA OF CORTEZ CRUISE – ALAMOS
Visit a cactus garden and find out more about these amazing desert plants. 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, visit the first modern cultured pearl farm in the Americas. Join a guided tour of the farm and hear about pearl oysters, farming, pearl grading and quality selection. Next, 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 colorful folkloric show.
Day 4 - ALAMOS – EL FUERTE
Alamos' colonial history is brought to life on this morning's guided walking tour. 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, journey into the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountains to the town of El Fuerte. This evening, you are personally welcomed by a member of the Torres family who will take you to the family’s beautifully restored mansion built in the late 1800’s. Here, 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.
Day 5 - EL FUERTE – COPPER CANYON –
POSADA BARRANCAS (2 Nights)
Today, board your private rail car and start your 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. 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 you along the precipitous Septentrion and Urique Canyons into the heart of the Copper Canyon, over four times as large as Arizona's Grand Canyon. Disembark in Posada Barrancas, your home for the next two nights.
Day 6 - COPPER CANYON SIGHTSEEING
Spend the entire day exploring this dramatic area, one of the last undiscovered treasures of North America. Hear about the geological forces that created the seven individual canyons, collectively known as the Copper Canyon. Also, spend time with the local Tarahumara Indians, a semi-nomadic tribe whose ancestors have lived in the canyon's caves for thousands of years, and gain insight into their timeless traditions and culture. Then visit a local medicine man and discover the natural remedies used by the Tarahumara Indians.
Day 7 - COPPER CANYON – CASAS GRANDES
Travel to Creel via the Oteros Canyon before descending from the Copper Canyon into the Chihuahuan Desert and the city of Casas Grandes. This evening, 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.
Day 8 - CASAS GRANDES – PAQUIME – PHOENIX
Today, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Paquime, a vestige of the great Chichimeca civilization. Many of the ancient dwellings and pyramids have been excavated and can be explored. Then, continue across the Chihuahuan Desert, back into the U.S. and stop in Tucson before arriving back in Phoenix late this afternoon.
Day 9 - DEPART PHOENIX
A complimentary transfer is provided to Phoenix International Airport.
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 realize that this corner of Mexico is still remote and rustic. Some of the accommodations and services are basic by American standards. Meal choices may not be as extensive as on other Trafalgar tours and hotel facilities may be limited. The tour reaches an elevation of 8,000 feet and requires walking on uneven surfaces and climbing some stairs. This tour is best enjoyed by the experienced traveler in reasonably good health who can take it in good humor when all 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.
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Hermosillo – See the cathedral and murals at the Government Palace. "
San Carlos – Visit a cactus garden and find out more about these unique plants; cruise the Sea of Cortez on a private boat; visit a pearl farm and learn about cultured pearl farming.
Alamos – Walk through colonial Alamos with a local guide; visit beautifully restored Colonial mansions; meet the local Mayo Indians and learn about their language and culture; enjoy a colorful folkloric show.
El Fuerte – Delight in a presentation of traditional Hispanic and indigenous dances.
Copper Canyon Train – Ride the "Train in the Sky" into the vast Copper Canyon by private First Class rail car.
Posada Barrancas – Spend two nights at the Copper Canyon; walk on easy mountain paths along the canyon's rim; meet the Tarahumara Indians and experience their timeless culture; visit with a local medicine man and learn about local natural remedies.
Casas Grandes – Watch the ancient craft of live pottery firing; visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Paquime.
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