Rivalling the Grand Canyon for scale and beauty, Mexico’s Copper Canyon is a highlight of the country’s north. On this five-day trip, you’ll take the iconic El Chepe train from El Fuerte in Sinaloa to Chihuahua City, which criss-crosses the canyon via bridges, tunnels and hair-raising cliff-edge passes. Along the way, you’ll stop to hike trails and explore caves occupied over the centuries by the indigenous Rarámuri people – plus visit a tranquil mountain lake, and valleys scattered with sculptural rock formations. Last stop on the line is Chihuahua City, where one of our expert Local Insiders will take you on a tour of its most important sights. All of our trips are flightless in destination, with 100% of all carbon emissions offset. It's just part of how we see the world while being good to it.
This family-run colonial mansion building is just five minutes from the central square of El Fuerte, putting you in prime position to have a poke around town in your down time. Or, if you’re more than ready to flop, you’ll find a shady central courtyard area, and a pool with a slide to splash around in. Rooms are simple, but elegant, with cool tiled floors and traditional wooden furniture.
You might have had rooms with a view before, but nothing like this. This stately, castle-like building teeters right on the edge of Copper Canyon – offering sweeping panoramas right across this extraordinary landscape. Rooms are charmingly unfussy, with brightly coloured bedspreads, wooden beams and folksy artwork on the walls. There’s an indoor pool and gym, should you somehow find the time.
This jolly little hotel, five minutes from the centre of Creel, is a riot of colour. Two-tone painted walls, brightly embroidered bedspreads and bathrooms clad in tutti-frutti tiles add a splash of fiesta to your El Chepe layover. Breakfast in the brightly tiled dining room (complete with tables and chairs, also tiled with a tropical design) is a proper mood-booster.
Tucked behind the Metropolitan Cathedral of Chihuahua, this smart hotel couldn’t be more in the centre of things if there was a bull’s eye stencilled on the city grid. As well as an unbeatable location, you’ll also get sparklingly fresh rooms, with dark wood floors, bright white bed linen and a massive flat-screen TV on the wall. There’s a moodily lit bar, too, for a last hurrah.