Who's been to Copper Canyon?

[Jack]

And what were your impressions?

I took the Copper Canyon train ride from Los Mochis to Chihuahua once, but it was about 20 years ago. My then-wife and I made a one-night layover at the hotel on the very lip of the canyon. Divisidero, or something like that. I imagine the area is more touristy now. I hope not. There were only about five other hotel guests that evening, and we all ate and sang in the restaurant.

Stepping out the door of our hotel room later that night we walked into utter darkness. There were no lights. Just a couple of feet directly ahead put one at a low, rinky-dink, ill-maintained fence, which was the only thing keeping us from stepping off the edge of the canyon. It would have been quite a free-fall. A dramatic and effective way to end one´s life, if one were so inclined.

Jack,

the Copper Canyons as they should be more accurately described are absolutely breath taking. I am admitedly biast as taking group tours to there and other places in Mexico is my carrer. The Copper Canyon is however a destination which I have been goin to since i was 8 but everytime I return it is still breathtaking. Although most people tend to go in March and April the best times to go are Oct. and Nov.. There are a variety of ways to do this trip all depending on your own perosanble interest. Feel free to get a hold of me and I'd be happy to start steering you in the right direction.

Colin Caparros
ccaparros@acloserlooktous.com
www.acloserlooktours.com

[Jack]

travel to places in Mexico other than the standard places like Baja, Puerto Peñasco, and the like. In other words, are there many real "travelers" here, or just tourists, going to the usual places. Only one person responded to my query on Mexico City, and two about Copper Canyon, which makes me wonder. I've wandered around CC several times, going down to Urique and Batopilas on some wonderful old busses, and being really ready to stretch my legs in La Bufa, standing on the edge of the tailings, looking down at the river. The train ride along the rim is exciting and beautiful, while the ride down to Batopilas is long and tiring, yet beautiful and awe inspiring. Our stays at a friend's place in Urique were a mixture of relaxation and energetic, as we hiked up the Mescalero trail, returning to some nice cold Tecate we had stashed in the reefer. Too bad more of the folks posting here don't get out and about more; they're missing out on so much not available in Puerto Vallarta. Oh, well, to each his own. They'll never know the beauty of Lake Arareko outside Creel, nor the pride shown by the farmers of Cuauhtemoc.

[greenie]

We went to Creel by RV in 1999. The KOA there was almost new and very expensive. It was good seeing trees again after camping on the ocean in Sinaloa. Never being ones to join other tourists, we started driving down into the Canyon but the trip down featured some pretty steep drop offs with no guardrails. There were plenty of sights to see topside; waterfalls, vistas, and geological points of interest.
The poverty of the Indians was striking - children everywhere begging.
The scenary was beautiful - but I have no strong desire to return.

[Jack]

I can understand your trepidation, trying to negotiate some of that narrow road in a big RV. I presume the road you were traveling was the one going down to Batopilas? I've been down that road numerous times, and now that more of it is paved, I suppose it will be easier on folks like you, with larger vehicles. Sorry you didn't make it all the way down, because you missed out on some very beautiful scenery, and a town that was, at that time, almost without electricity, depending upon the river flow to generate power. I, too, have moved on to other places, but I still remember the good times I had there. Urique is another village down at the bottom, not as far driving, but a worse road.