Core truth.

And the reality with cultural travel is that true experiences are out there. It is what we deliver at Authentic Copper Canyon.

Real Guides

I tell my experts in Mexico to have fun, experience the trip each time freshly, get over yourself, and never never never neverdo a spiel. Just be there.

Real Lodges

We focus on the places that are truly local and at the same time ultimately comfortable and excellent. This way our guests have a full feeling of being in the Sierra Madres.

Real Food

We eat local- vendors, woodstove chefs, markets, cafes. And we drink local. Sotol- the drink of Chihuahua- as well as an array of home brewed delicious spirits including lechuguilla.

Real Connection

Our vision is personal connection for each of our guests with the people of Copper Canyon. We love this place. It is our only destination. To be there and to connect our guests with the Chihuahuans is our passion.

My wife soaks in the sunset at Mansion Tarahumara in Copper Canyon.

After countless trips to this paradise, I keep expecting to get tired of the place.

To the contrary it continues to amaze me.

• The Copper Canyon train still rolls through the most incredible landscape
• The Norteño food remains a favorite
• The local people are so cordial
• The weather always seems to reveal some wonder of the local scene- we had some snow this trip

This morning on Morning Edition on NPR, our friends from Janos north of Copper Canyon were featured.  The Jaquez family were interviewed and the spot gave great background and promo for sotol and Don Cuco Sotol in particular.

What is sotol?

This distilled spirit is THE drink of Chihuahua. It is a tequilla-like drink made from the plant sotol. This spiny plant grows wild in the high Chihuahuan desert. The drink comes in many forms and in years past was made by local people and consumed on special occasions.

Who makes sotol?

Local people still make it. On a recent visit to Chihuahua with a Copper Canyon tour I was leading, my dentist gave me a couple of shots from a bottle he had gotten on the street in Madera. Then a few days later I bought 2 liters in a recycled Coke bottle in Areponapuchi. Then we received some from a hotel owner as a gift- no label.

Several companies produce it in Aldama and Delicias….but I think Don Cuco leads the pack for flavor and choice and varieties. They even have a crema that is like Baileys.

How can I get sotol?

Larger liquor stores have some types now. Don Cuco is available in  a few states and is coming soon to Illinois.

Can I go see how they make it?

Yes…absolutely! My small group tours of Copper Canyon include a stop at the Don Cuco hacienda the last day and you can even buy a few bottles to bring back.

Don Cuco sotol...THE drink of Chihuahua.

I love these simple pots that these two young women in Mata Ortiz are producing. I mistakenly got away without writing down their names. Their Dad is Efrain Lucero and they live at the south end of the main drag in Mata.

These young women really seem to enjoy what they do...and these lizard pots are a specialty of theirs.

The finished product...amazing!

Here is the deal:

The first class train still leaves at 6a from both Chihuahua City and Los Mochis. Now the second train is hooked onto that first train, so they both leave at 6a. The second train still goes Chihuahua to Mochis on Thursday, Saturday and Monday. The it goes from Mochis to Chihuahua on Friday, Sunday, and Tuesday.

Cost for the second train is half that of first and it is about the same- just no bar or restaurant.

Most Copper Canyon tours still use the first train.

Chepe leaving Chihuahua at 6a on a fall day recently.

Here is the info from the CHEPE site:

Last update: September 29, 2011

Important Notes:
In the Divisadero station passengers have 15 minutes to get off the train and admire the canyon. For your safety, another station is not allowed down to its final destination.
On this train reservations are not dish locations.
Check with local time in Chihuahua City. Must report to the station 30 minutes before departure time.
Prices and schedules subject to change without notice. These fees already include 16% VAT. Ladas FREE: Nacional 01 800 122-4373 • International: 1 888 484-1623 RESERVATIONS AND TICKETS: 01 (614) 439-7212 Option 1 • chepe@ferromex.com.mx MANAGEMENT TOURISM: 01 (614) 439-7210 • FAX: 01 (614) 439-7208

1. Copper Canyon is so huge.

It is hard to get your mind around how vast this place is...several canyons deeper and bigger than our Grand Canyon.

2. The Rarámuri or Tarahumara- the indigenous people.

My little friend "Once" from Carichic- one of the some 70,000 Raramuri in the Sierra Nevadas- truly a "people apart".

3. The train through Copper Canyon- CHEPE.

This amazing railway stretches across the rugged Copper Canyon and includes 37 bridges and 86 tunnels.

4. The little towns – the heart of rural Chihuahua.

The main dreg of the tiny village of Cuiteco- one that few tourists ever visit or even notice.

5. History and lore abound in Copper Canyon.

The old church in Cerocahui- the mission dates to the late 1500s.

6. Adventure travel options abound in Copper Canyon.

Copper Canyon has ziplines, rock climbing, horse riding, hiking...and some of the best remote swimming holes on the planet.

7. The food in Chihuahua is unique- very different from other parts of Mexico.

One of the great dishes of the Sierras- Agua Chile- more shrimp than you can finish!

8. The Mata Ortiz pottery…a true treasure of the Sierra Madres!

Juan Quezada with Dave Hensleigh in his studio at Mata Ortiz.

9. Oh the view from those ridges in Copper Canyon!

The views go on forever in this amazing place.

10. Our team of local Mexican guides there can give you the best in a Copper Canyon tour.

Alfredo Murillo...the fave of many of our Copper Canyon guests.

So join us soon in this majestic place!

Call Dave today at 217.369.9897 or email davehensleigh@gmail.com to get on board.

The El Paso Community as well is sure to roll out the red carpet for a great event.

If you are coming, why not consider a trip to Copper Canyon just after the 2011 Sun Bowl? On January 1st, 2012, we will head south into this amazing place for a five day excursion including the amazing Copper Canyon train (37 bridges and 86 tunnels).

What is Copper Canyon?

• Copper Canyon is majestic…deeper and more vast than the Grand Canyon and certainly one of Mexico’s best kept secrets- called the greatest place the world has never seen.

• Copper Canyon is rugged…a land filled with the romance and mystery of the Tarahumara Indians (the barefoot runners of “Born to Run” fame), Mennonites, Spanish colonial culture, and a rich dose of “Old Mexico” hospitality.

• Copper Canyon has a train…it is traversed by the grand railway “CHEPE”, cited as one of the world’s most spectacular trains- including 37 bridges and 86 tunnels.

• Copper Canyon is enchanting…called “Barrancas de Cobre” in Spanish; it’s just five hours from El Paso, Texas. Yet it is a whole new world of gracious people, delicious Northern Mexican cuisine, and incredible architecture.

• Copper Canyon is fun…now home to adventure options including a huge gondola, zip lines that soar above the abyss, horseback riding, biking and hiking that take you along the rim and deep into the canyons and more.

Authentic Copper Canyon trips are a genuine week long excursion by train into this amazing place. We always keep the groups small, the itinerary flex, and the level of discovery and rich experience high. The hotels and food are authentic and of exceptional quality. Accommodations vary, but always include private rooms, hot water, linens, etc.

ACC collaborates with skilled and experienced Mexican vendors to provide a deeply enriching experience. Your scenic excursion will be packed with art, architecture, history, people, the cuisine of northern Mexico, tremendous photo spots, and a great dose of the romance of the train rolling through the heart of Copper Canyon. We also now offer “The Blue Corn Express”, the first ever culinary trip to the Sierra Madres, as well as a Sea of Cortez by yacht option.

What makes this trip unique?

• Dave and his expert team of Mexican guides know Copper Canyon and the Sierra Madres inside out, and you will have an in-depth experience.

• Your itinerary will be planned, but the groups are small and we often flex to maximize your trip experience.

• We emphasize local people and out of the way places in order for you to fully take in the rich and gracious culture of this wonderful destination.

Call us today to get on board with this Sun Bowl trip to the Copper Canyon.

Enjoy the train in Copper Canyon right after the Sun Bowl.

One thing you can know. There is a great way to cap off your Sun Bowl experience. Not far from El Paso is the incredible Copper Canyon (like it is bigger than Grand Canyon) and you can experience it and still be back home after New Year’s week.

Here is the itinerary for the Sun Bowl Copper Canyon trip for 2012:

Sun Bowl Copper Canyon Trip

January 1-5, 2011

This five day small group trip into the majestic Copper Canyon will be a true learning experience. How better to cap off your Sun Bowl experience than with a fascinating journey into one of Mexico’s most spectacular areas? Join the Copper Canyon experts from Authentic Copper Canyon on the train through the Sierra Madres!

Here is a brief itinerary:

Jan 1- You are picked up at your hotel in El Paso and we are off toward the big apple- Chihuahua City. Dinner together and perhaps an evening view of the gigantic cathedral in the central plaza. We check into the historic boutique hotel, the San Felipe el Real. Stroll the historic district and the vast market.

The journey- We get and introduction to Norteño food as we travel south through the high elevation of the Chihuahua Desert. Burritos and other delicious street foods will be ours to choose from in the little towns north of Chihuahua.

Chihuahua City- This bustling hub for commerce has its roots as a mining and ranching center. Several fascinating museums (including the Pancho Villa home) gather around the towering 1700s cathedral. The food here is a bit eclectic and reflects the melting pot that Chihuahua has become.

Jan 2-  Board the train in the morning headed west for Areponapuchi (Posada Barrancas station). We arrive at this tiny town and a lovely local lodge- above the canyon- Mansion Tarahumara. Dinner, relax as well as perhaps watch the sunset over the vast reaches of Copper Canyon. “Arepo”as we call it, is officially “nowhere Mexico”. The area around Arepo gives us a good long look at Copper Canyon, and we have plenty of time to look around.
Areponapuchi- Just call it Arepo and don’t expect the big city. This tiny place sits near the rim of some of the best views of Copper Canyon. The new gondola and ziplines are a scenic thrill, and you can walk or ride horses in and around the great canyon. Also a good place to pick up local souvenirs.

Jan 3 – All day to enjoy ziplines, gondola, hiking, etc….and relax! This is one of the most beautiful spots in Copper Canyon.

Jan 4 – Sunrise at the edge of Copper anyone? Breakfast and a walk down through a Tarahumara cave dwelling. Some last views of the canyon, then we catch our van to head for Casas Grandes As the evening cools a walk through the ancient Indian ruins at Paquime. Our home this evening is the lovely hacienda, Casa de Nopal.

Casas Grandes- Right on the edge of Casas are the Paquime Indian archaeological ruins- a UNESCO World Heritage site- and nearby is the tiny village of Mata Ortiz. The pottery from this area is very special and known around the world for its intricacy and character.

Food in the Casas area- This is the high desert area and truly ranch country. We will eat at an historic hacienda and savor the local restaurants.

Jan 5 – Plenty of time to finish our experience here. Later in the day we are off to El Paso. We drop into Janos on the way and get a warm welcome and tour with Celso and Emma at Don Cuco sotol. Sotol is THE drink of Chihuahua and is somewhat like tequila- but better…bring some home!

Sotol- This stop at Don Cuco will give you a full introduction (including a few sips) to this fine spirit from the enchanting Chihuahua area.

• Price for this trip is $999 USD per person. Single room, add $150.

• This includes all guides, transport, food, and hotels in Mexico except your visa, 2 meals, gondola and zipline, and alcohol. I will supply an overview of expected personal expenses.

• Payable to TopTrips, 514 South Edwin, Champaign, Il 61821 and due by December 20, 2011.

• Call Dave at 217.369.9897 or email davehensleigh@gmail.com with questions.

One of our recent groups taking a break at Gallego above Urique

People are often asking me about the best season to travel on the train in Copper Canyon. That is a hard one because every season has its draw. Fall is nice because it is usually green and the weather is moderate. Late Summer is nice because it usually rains and is very fresh. Spring is dry and usually is not too dusty.

But one season I really like is the holiday season, Christmas in Copper Canyon is hard to beat. The weather is usually cool, though the days at lower elevations can be very warm and nice. There is sometimes snow- a real treat.

The big draw for Navidad in the Sierras though is that the welcoming little towns seem to really carry the Christmas spirit. A trip during this season makes for a great memory.

Our Christmas trip to Copper Canyon will give you a full and personal immersion into the Copper Canyon culture at one of the most memorable times of the year.

And don’t forget- we also have a Sun Bowl Trip leaving El Paso on January 1, 2012!

There is no better way to bring in the New Year than on the train in Copper Canyon.

Kick off date is Dec 5, 2011 and the highlights are:

-Noritari Lodge high above San Juanito

-Batopilas at the bottom- incredible!

-Creel

-Areponapuchi

-Temoris

-Casas Grandes

Here is the complete itinerary:

Copper Canyon Trip for December, 2011

Dec 5- Arrive in El Paso. The airport is a good place to get pesos. Use the Travelex near the spot where you turn right to go to the baggage area. Meet our van and we head for Santa Teresa NM (20 minutes) to cross into Mexico. We are off toward the big apple- Chihuahua City. Dinner together and perhaps an evening view of the gigantic cathedral in the central plaza. We check into the historic boutique hotel, the San Felipe el Real. Stroll the historic district and the vast market.

The journey- We get and introduction to Norteño food as we travel south through the high elevation of the Chihuahua Desert. Burritos and other delicious street foods will be ours to choose from in the little towns north of Chihuahua.

Chihuahua City- This bustling hub for commerce has its roots as a mining and ranching center. Several fascinating museums (including the Pancho Villa home) gather around the towering 1700s cathedral. The food here is a bit eclectic and reflects the melting pot that Chihuahua has become.

Dec 6- time for breakfast and look around town- then off to San Juanito by van through Mennonite country. (Early train is an option). Winding our way into the Sierra Madre, we drop into several little villages and then arrive at the relaxing wooded Noritari near San Juanito- a unique cabin style solar hotel with a gourmet cook. A great night to enjoy dinner, chat with the chef, and take a stroll along the stream through the mountains.

Noritari- This unique 80 hectare site is dotted with cabins with fireplaces, private baths, solar lighting- the nearby stream flows and the pines whisper. Enjoy.

Dec 7 – We are up early and this is our big day to van to Batopilas. This trip will take most of the day and will include some of the world’s greatest canyon views. Evening in the quiet and remote mining town.

Batopilas has so much to see and experience…it is a step back 300 years to the silver mining boom in Chihuahua- fascinating history and culture.

Dec 8- All day in Bato- lots to explore- we have many options and Gustavo will be our expert to get us there.

Dec 9- Plenty of time to finish up our experience in Batopilas then return to Creel- evening to relax.

Creel is a bustling little village with lots of restaurants and shops. There is also a great little museum and shop which gives loads of info on Tarahumara culture

Dec 10- Train late morning to Temoris through the heart of Copper Canyon…have your camera ready! Evening in this little mining town.

Temoris- An old mining town which has seen a recent renewal of mining activity. The town sits 3000 ft above the train and is near some of the most spectacular parts of the railway. The “pines grow near the limes” in this unusual Sierra climate….great air! Aside from the few miners, very few gringos visit this place.

Dec 11- Optional hike down to train and on to El Fuerte- evening at Rio Vista. Evening to stroll the square and relax.

El Fuerte- A small town with a quaint (and delicious!) market and lots of colonial architecture. History, Indian culture, bird watching, and a palm lined plaza make this place a favorite.

Dec 12- Petroglyphs, river trip. Perhaps evening meal with Evangelina at hacienda.

Evangelina- This lovely lady with her brother and extended family live in one of the historic mansions off the square in El Fuerte. We often dine with them and get a full taste of some genuine Copper Canyon hospitality.

Dec 13 – Board the train in the morning headed northeast for Areponapuchi (Posada Barrancas station). We arrive at this tiny town and a local lodge- above the canyon- Mansion Tarahumara. Dinner, relax as well as perhaps watch the sunset over the vast reaches of Copper Canyon. “Arepo”as we call it, is officially “nowhere Mexico”. The area around Arepo gives us a good long look at Copper Canyon, and we have plenty of time to look around.

Areponapuchi- Just call it Arepo and don’t expect the big city. This tiny place sits near the rim of some of the best views of Copper Canyon. The new gondola and ziplines are a scenic thrill, and you can walk or ride horses in and around the great canyon. Also a good place to pick up local souvenirs.

Dec 14 – All day to enjoy ziplines, gondola, hiking, etc….and relax!

Dec 15 – Sunrise at the edge of Copper anyone? Breakfast and a walk down through a Tarahumara cave dwelling. Some last views of the canyon, then we catch our van to head for Casas Grandes As the evening cools a walk through the ancient Indian ruins at Paquime. Our home this evening is the lovely hacienda, Casa de Nopal.

Casas Grandes- Right on the edge of Casas are the Paquime Indian archaeological ruins- a UNESCO World Heritage site- and nearby is the tiny village of Mata Ortiz. The pottery from this area is very special and known around the world for its intricacy and character.

Food in the Casas area- This is the high desert area and truly ranch country. We will eat at an historic hacienda and savor the local restaurants.

Dec 16 – Plenty of time to explore Paquime ruins, Mata Ortiz pottery, etc. Dinner at hacienda.

Perhaps go up to Rancho Uno- Nature Conservancy reserve for evening.

…..and yes it is safe to travel in Mexico!

Dec 17- Up and off to El Paso to catch flights…or relax (if our flights are Dec 18) and drop into Janos on the way and get a warm welcome and tour with Celso and Emma at Don Cuco sotol. Sotol is THE drink of Chihuahua and is somewhat like tequila- but better…bring some home!

Sotol- This stop at Don Cuco will give you a full introduction (including a few sips) to this fine spirit from the enchanting Chihuahua area.

Price for this trip with 5 min is $1980 USD per person. Single room, add $300.

This includes all guides, transport, food, and hotels in Mexico except your visa, 4 meals, gondola and zipline, and alcohol. I will supply an overview of expected personal expenses.

I will anchor this trip with the deposit of 5 guests. Deposit is $500 per person.

Payable to TopTrips, 514 South Edwin, Champaign, Il 61821.