Mexico’s spectacular Copper Canyon is four times larger than the Grand Canyon. For spectacular views ride the ‘Train in the Sky’ an aereal tram that when at its highest, cabins are 1475 feet (450 meters) above the ground – 50 meters shy of being half a kilometer off the earth! Visit beautifully restored colonial mansions, cruise the Sea of Cortez and meet local Mayo and Tarahumara Indians on this timeless tour which will reveal ancient cultures merged with majestic, cactus-strewn mountain scenery.

Highlights: Hermosillo, San Carlos, Alamos, Copper Canyon Train, Posada Barrancas, Casas Grandes

Day 1 ARRIVE PHOENIX
Welcome to Phoenix! Take your complimentary transfer to the hotel. After checking in relax or perhaps take a swim at the hotel pool.
Hotel: Courtyard Marriott Phoenix Airport (F)

Day 2 PHOENIX - TUCSON - SAN CARLOS
Begin your adventure with a short stop in Tucson to pick up joining guests before crossing into Mexico. South of the border, the great Sonoran Desert opens up before you. Keep an eye out for giant saguaro cacti-this is the only place on earth they grow wild. After stopping for lunch in the small town of Santa Ana, travel on to Hermosillo to see the lovely colonial cathedral and the Government Palace, its walls bedecked with murals depicting the history of the Sonoran region. Arrive in San Carlos where the desert meets the glittering Sea of Cortez just in time for sunset. Relax in your waterfront resort before gathering for a Welcome Reception and dinner.
Meal(s): (Full Breakfast/Lunch/Welcome Reception)
Hotel: Marinaterra Hotel and Spa (MF)

Day 3 SAN CARLOS - SEA OF CORTEZ CRUISE - ALAMOS
Wander among massive cacti at a stunning desert garden and learn about these fascinating plants. Then board a private boat for a scenic cruise on the Sea of Cortez-keep a lookout for dolphins, seals, whales and such exotic sea birds as the blue-footed booby and the great blue heron. After lunch at a waterfront restaurant, embark on a guided tour of the first cultured pearl farm in the Americas and learn all about the Local Speciality of pearl oyster farming, pearl grading and quality selection. Next, travel south through rich farmlands to the foothills of the Sierra Madre and the quaint town of Alamos. A living museum, the city's cobblestone streets are lined with beautiful Spanish colonial buildings. This evening, immerse yourself in the local culture at dinner with a colourful spectacle of music and folk dancing by performers in traditional costumes.
Meal(s): (Full Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Hotel: Casa de los Tesoros (MF)

Day 4 ALAMOS - EL FUERTE
Stroll the streets of Alamos as your Local Guide brings this town's history to life. Visit some of the restored mansions built when Alamos' silver mines were among the richest in the world. You can also meet local Mayo Indians and learn about their language, culture and customs. After lunch, journey farther into the Sierra Madre to the town of El Fuerte. This evening, the gracious Torres family personally welcomes you to their beautifully restored 19th century mansion for a Be My Guest dinner and entertainment. You'll enjoy a performance of traditional Spanish and native dances followed by a sumptuous dinner of delicious local dishes, including Black Bass caught fresh from the El Fuerte River.
Meal(s): (Full Breakfast/Lunch/Be My Guest)
Hotel: Torres del Fuerte (MF)

Day 5 EL FUERTE - COPPER CANYON - POSADA BARRANCAS (2 NIGHTS)
Mexico's Copper Canyon-four times as large as the Grand Canyon of Arizona-looms large in the culture and imagination of this proud country. Board your private rail car and start your journey on the "Train in the Sky," travelling from sea level to 2,285 metres (7,500 feet) in less than 240 kilometres (150 miles), passing through tunnels and over soaring bridges. Engineers and labourers spent nearly 100 years laying tracks into this rugged terrain, and now the spectacular views make this one of the world's most exciting train journeys. Pass alongside the jagged Barranca Septentrion and Urique Canyons as you travel into the heart of Copper Canyon. Disembark in Posada Barrancas situated right on the rim of the Urique Canyon, your home for the next two nights.
Meal(s): (Full Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Hotel: Mansion Tarahumara (MF)

Day 6 COPPER CANYON SIGHTSEEING
Spend the entire day exploring this dramatic area, one of the greatest natural treasures of North America. Learn about the geological forces that created the seven individual canyons, collectively known as Copper Canyon. Meet the local Tarahumara Indians, a semi-nomadic tribe whose ancestors have lived in the canyon's caves for thousands of years, and learn about their natural remedies from a local medicine man. Later, board the new aerial tram and descend into the canyon to experience its grandeur in a way few have done before.
Meal(s): (Full Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Day 7 COPPER CANYON - CASAS GRANDES
Travel to the pleasant village of Creel via Oteros Canyon before descending into the stark Chihuahuan Desert and the city of Casas Grandes. This evening, visit a pottery studio where local artisans have adapted ancient traditions into a modern style and Local Speciality called Mata Ortiz. Watch master craftsmen design and fire pots and learn about the archaeological finds at Paquime that inspired their style. This evening, gather for a festive Farewell Dinner.
Meal(s): (Full Breakfast/Lunch/Farewell Dinner)
Hotel: Hotel Hacienda (MF)

Day 8 CASAS GRANDES - PAQUIME - PHOENIX
Today, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Paquime, a great trading centre in the 14th and 15th centuries before the Spanish conquest of Mexico. You can see ceremonial mounds; the House of the Cross, believed to be a temple and observatory; and the House of the Serpent, where animals were raised. Travel across the Chihuahuan Desert into the U.S. and stop in Tucson before arriving back in Phoenix late this afternoon.
Meal(s): (Full Breakfast/Lunch)
Hotel: Courtyard Marriott Phoenix Airport (F)

Day 9 DEPART PHOENIX
Take a complimentary transfer to Phoenix International Airport for your flight home (not included in holiday price).
Meal(s): (Full Breakfast)

What's Included:

Sightseeing Highlights:
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.
Alamos Walk through colonial Alamos; visit beautifully restored colonial mansions; meet the local Mayo Indians and learn about their language and culture; enjoy a colourful folkloric show.
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; descend into the canyon aboard the new aerial tram.
Casas Grandes Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Paquime.

Insider Experiences:
Be My Guest Dine with the Torres family at their beautiful mansion and enjoy a traditional dance performance in El Fuerte.
Hidden Treasure - Enjoy at least one surprise Hidden Treasure experience, unique to your itinerary, courtesy of your expert Travel Director.
Local Speciality - Learn about cultured pearl oyster farming in the Sea of Cortez.
Local Speciality - Watch artisans create Mata Ortiz pottery in Casas Grandes.
Local Guide For included sightseeing in Alamos.

Dining:
8 full breakfasts
7 lunches
6 evening meals:
Welcome Reception and dinner with wine with your Travel Director in San Carlos
Be My Guest dinner with wine in El Fuerte
Farewell Dinner with wine in Casas Grandes
3 three-course dinners

Travel Highlights:
First class hotel accomodation featuring twin rooms and private facilities.
All hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes included.
Travel by luxury air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and onboard restroom.
The services of one of our professional Travel Directors throughout your journey.
First Class train journey aboard the El Chepe train into the Copper Canyon.
8 nights First Class accommodation.
Airport transfers are provided on Day 1 and 9.
Complimentary keepsake photo and My Journey book.
Audio Headsets For all guided visits and included sightseeing.