Authentic Copper Canyon

The Authentic Difference

Our purpose is to provide a genuine “real Mexico” experience for you that enriches your life and the lives of our friends in Mexico.
We accomplish this by keeping our groups small and being sure your trip is excellent and in touch with the culture and customs of the Copper Canyon area. We take you to real rural Mexico and our trademark is to walk the streets, experience the land, and truly appreciate the Sierra Madre vibe.

We Invest in the People of Copper Canyon

At Authentic Copper Canyon, we are committed to making a difference in helping meet the basic needs of the people of Copper Canyon. 10% of our profit goes directly to needs there and our current target is “Fundación Tarahumara José A. Llaguno” as they serve the Tarahumara Indians.

What exactly can I expect on my Copper Canyon train trip?

A typical day includes 2-4 hours rolling along on the train, some time to explore at our destination, and always something memorable…like visiting a Tarahumara village, taking a short hike to a beautiful vista point overlooking the canyon, exploring a genuine Mexican market, etc.

• The food is awesome…come hungry.
• There is always plenty of time for visiting with the locals or exploring the landscape.
• The train is fun…you can lean out the window and gawk at the knock-out views or hang out in the dining car and try your Spanish or relax in your seat and visit or whatever!
• We value spontaneity, fun, and the enrichment of all involved.
• Each of our adventures will be safe, well-planned, memorable, and most of all an authentic experience.
• When you book one of our trips to Copper Canyon in 2009, you can look forward to an adventure of a lifetime!

People enjoy riding the rails through this vast land with Dave Hensleigh, and he enjoys it too! His experience, his keen insight on the land and culture of the country, his unbridled passion for the experience there- all of this combines to make him the ideal Copper guide. 

Roots: 

Dave hails from rural roots in Kansas and was educated in the Midwest and Texas, earning an undergrad in Math and a Masters in Biology. All through his youth, the trails, mountains, grasslands and wild places of the Midwest and West were his haunt. One summer in college was spent roaming Yosemite, and since, backpacking the Sierras has been a hobby. 

Experience:

For thirty years, Dave has been leading groups of people on trips and adventures and his cumulative experience in this work is vast. Several years ago he connected with Copper Canyon, fell in love with the place and its people, and immersed himself in the Sierra Madre culture. 

 Vision:

He started Authentic Copper Canyon with a vision to give curious travelers a vivid experience in the true life of Copper and its people- not simply a vacation or resort experience. Recently, writers traveling with Dave on the train referred to him as a “relationship machine.”  No one on the train is a stranger and he has friendships up and down the canyon. Dave is curious and loves to facilitate the serendipitous journeys for which Authentic Copper Canyon is famous. 

 The Team:

Dave has assembled a team of guides and providers in the Sierra Madres that work together to provide vivid, safe and memorable experiences for each guest. This articulate group are experts on  the history, wildlife, and lore of the Copper Canyon region. 

 Welcome Aboard!

Travel with Dave for just a day and you will know the place more deeply, you will meet and enjoy some new Mexican friends…and your life will be enriched.