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2023 Daily Tour Itinerary
2023 Daily Tour Itinerary
Day 1 • El Paso, Texas
Welcome to Mexico’s majestic Copper Canyon. Enjoy a thrilling round-trip train ride through the Copper Canyon, one of the top scenic rail journeys in the world. Caravan has chartered a private train car for both legs of your round-trip journey. Fly into El Paso International Airport (ELP) in El Paso, Texas. This city is the closest American gateway to the Copper Canyon, taking just 7 1⁄2 hours overland. Transfer from the airport using your hotel's courtesy shuttle. If you prefer driving to El Paso, you can park for free at the hotel for the length of your tour. Rooms are available for check in after 3:00 p.m. Dinner is on your own. Join Caravan for an 8:00 p.m. welcome briefing.
Day 2 • Creel
This morning, cross the Rio Grande and enter Mexico. Drive by the Samalayuca Sand Dunes. See vast rangelands and pecan groves. Lunch. Then, journey through Mennonite communities where hard work, patience, and ingenuity transformed arid soil into fertile farmland. Continue past apple orchards. Arrive in Creel, a mountain town in the Sierra Tarahumara region. At 7,700 feet, Creel is the highest overnight elevation on your tour. Your lodge has an onsite spa. Dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 • Copper Canyon Train Ride, Creel to El Fuerte
Today a grand adventure by train through the Copper Canyon. Your privately chartered train car is reserved for the exclusive seating use of Caravan. Shortly after you board in Creel, the train will circle back in a complete loop known as “El Lazo” (The Loop). Lunch on board the train. As your train descends down the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range, steep canyon walls give way to rolling hills and tropical farmlands. See palm, banana, papaya, and mango trees. Copper Canyon sunsets are a delight. Arrive in the colonial town of El Fuerte. Enjoy a relaxing two-night stay at your hotel. Dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 • El Fuerte, River Float Trip
Morning float trip on the El Fuerte River (river and weather conditions permitting). Look for parrots, kingfishers, cormorants, and Great Kiskadees. Next, a walking tour of El Fuerte, designated a “Pueblo Màgico” (Magic Town) by Mexico for its history and beauty. Visit the 18th century church and government palace. After lunch, enjoy a private Caravan show featuring the traditional Yaqui Deer Dance. The rest of your afternoon is at leisure. You'll have time to stroll the main plaza and shop for jewelry, pottery, and other handicrafts. Dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 • Copper Canyon Train Ride, El Fuerte to Barrancas
Experience, for a second time, the breathtaking magic of the Copper Canyon. Your privately chartered train car is reserved for Caravan's exclusive seating use. The return segment of your round-trip train ride gives you the opportunity to see canyon vistas from both sides. The train passes through 86 tunnels and 38 bridges. For generations, the Tarahumara Indians have called the Copper Canyon and the Sierra Madre’s 25,000 square miles their home. Lunch. As your train passes through the town of Temoris, you can see the three ascending levels of train tracks overhead. Disembark in Barrancas. Overnight at your spectacular hotel on the rim of the Copper Canyon. Your overnight elevation is approximately 7,300 feet. Dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 • Copper Canyon, Chihuahua
Morning at leisure. Enjoy stunning views from your room overlooking the Copper Canyon. Mingle with local Tarahumara artisan vendors. Lunch. Continue to your hotel in the modern and vibrant city of Chihuahua. Farewell dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 • Chihuahua, El Paso, Texas
Morning sightseeing drive of Chihuahua. See the Government Palace and the historic center. Pass by an aqueduct, built in 1751. Next, drive north through the Chihuahuan Desert. Box lunch en route. Cross over the Rio Grande and return to the United States. Continue to your hotel in El Paso, Texas. Dinner is on your own.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 8 • El Paso
Hotel courtesy shuttle transfer to El Paso International Airport (ELP) in El Paso, Texas. Breakfast starts at 6 a.m. Thanks for vacationing with Caravan. ¡Muchas Gracias!
Meals: Breakfast
About the Copper Canyon Train
The Copper Canyon consists of a series of canyons with a combined size seven times greater than America’s Grand Canyon. The Chihuahua-Pacifico Railway, a marvel of engineering, traverses the Copper Canyon while connecting Mexico’s central desert with the Pacific Ocean. With Caravan you travel both the south and north directions in a spacious air-conditioned chartered train car. The train is operated by Ferrocarril Mexicano. The same Copper Canyon rail route is used by passenger and freight trains alike. In the rare event of a train stoppage, Caravan will make alternative arrangements.
Roundtrip Daytime Train Rides
Both of your Copper Canyon train rides are scheduled in the daytime, providing the best lighting for views and photography. Occasionally, the train can be delayed for a couple of hours. A roundtrip train ride increases your chances of traveling through the canyon during the daylight.
Safety, Comfort, and Enjoyment
Caravan has privately chartered an entire train car for both legs of your roundtrip train ride. For your safety, all of the seats in your train car are exclusively reserved for Caravan. For your comfort, your train car has more seats than there are Caravan travelers. For your enjoyment, your assigned seats provide views of each side of the Copper Canyon, depending on the train’s direction during your roundtrip adventure.
2023 Hotels
2023 Hotels
Accommodations in the hotels and lodges are rooms with two beds and private bath or shower. A limited number of single rooms are available. Triple rooms are usually two beds.
Day 1 • El Paso, Texas
Wyndham El Paso Airport
The Wyndham El Paso Airport, a beautiful airport property with a southwest flair and many amenities including a beautiful outdoor swimming pool, is conveniently located just 200 yards from El Paso International Airport off I-10.
Day 2 • Creel
The Lodge at Creel Hotel and Spa
The Lodge at Creel Hotel and Spa is a beautiful hotel with log cabin construction and is located near the boardwalk. The hotel is surrounded by apple trees and pine trees, on the main street of the Magical Town of Creel. The Lodge at Creel Hotel and Spa offers a gym and spa, with a menu of aromatherapy massages, relaxation, hot peas, reflexology and magnets. We also have a sauna room and free gym equipment. The hotel is perfectly located to start your Copper Canyon Train ride.
Days 3, 4 • El Fuerte
Posada del Hidalgo
The Posada del Hidalgo is centrally located for exploring El Fuerte. This beautiful hotel is a former colonial mansion built by Señor Rafael Almada in 1890 for 100,000 gold pesos. Most of the original pine beams and furniture were brought by boat from San Francisco, California. The hotel features a swimming pool, restaurant, high ceilings with wood beams and two story balconies. Most of the rooms are air conditioned and all have private tile baths.
Day 5 • Copper Canyon
El Maravilloso
El Maravilloso is located at the canyon's edge, near the highest point of the canyon. El Maravilloso is the premier hotel on the canyon rim and each guest room has a spectacular view overlooking the canyon. From the hotel you may walk to see the Tarahumara Indians who live in the canyon caves below. You can also shop for native crafts from the Tarahumara artisan vendors who gather in front of the hotel.
Day 6 • Chihuahua
Ramada Encore by Wyndham
Located in the heart of Chihuahua's trendiest zone, the Citadela Lifestyle Center, minutes from downtown, bars and restaurants, and the historic center. All of the contemporary guest rooms include hairdryers, safe, free wi-fi and a coffeemaker. Enjoy the fitness center or outdoor pool.
Day 7 • El Paso, Texas
Wyndham El Paso Airport
The Wyndham El Paso Airport, a beautiful airport property with a southwest flair and many amenities including a beautiful outdoor swimming pool, is conveniently located just 200 yards from El Paso International Airport off I-10.
Airport Transfers
Airport Transfers
arrival Transfers
Caravan’s El Paso, Texas hotel, the Wyndham Airport (2027 Airway Blvd) provides a courtesy shuttle from the El Paso International Airport (ELP). Upon arrival, call the hotel directly at (915) 701-3202 for pickup. If you plan on driving to El Paso, you may park for free (automobiles only) at the hotel for the length of your tour.
departure Transfers
Caravan's hotel in El Paso, Texas, the Wyndham Airport, provides departure transfers to the El Paso Airport (ELP). Your Tour Director will help you arrange your transfer to the airport with the Wyndham shuttle desk.
Airfare is not included or sold by Caravan.
Passports & Visas
Passports & Visas
To enter Mexico, you will need a U.S. passport valid for 6 additional months after the date of your arrival into Mexico. Non U.S. citizens, please check passport and visa requirements. Note: If you are travelling with children under 18 years old without both parents or legal guardians, you should carry a notarized letter of authorization signed by the missing parent(s) or guardian(s). A notarized birth certificate showing only one parent, a parent’s death certificate, or a court order of child custody may also be permissible. Failure to have proper documentation could result in denial of boarding by the airline, due to international child protection laws.
Weather & Clothing
Weather & Clothing
Temperature °F (high/low) Rainfall (inches)
| El Paso | El Fuerte | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp | Rain | Temp | Rain | |
| Jan | 59/35 | 0.3 | 81/52 | 0.8 |
| Feb | 65/40 | 0.3 | 84/53 | 0.6 |
| Mar | 73/46 | 0.2 | 89/57 | 0.2 |
| Apr | 81/54 | 0.2 | 95/62 | 0.1 |
| May | 89/62 | 0.3 | 100/67 | 0.1 |
| Jun | 96/70 | 0.5 | 102/75 | 1.5 |
| Jul | 95/73 | 1.3 | 98/78 | 5.2 |
| Aug | 93/71 | 1.5 | 96/77 | 5.4 |
| Sep | 88/65 | 1.1 | 96/75 | 3.7 |
| Oct | 79/54 | 0.6 | 95/67 | 1.4 |
| Nov | 67/43 | 0.4 | 88/59 | 0.9 |
| Dec | 59/35 | 0.5 | 81/53 | 1.0 |
Temperature °F (high/low) Rainfall (inches)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Paso | ||||||||||||
| temp | 59/35 | 65/40 | 73/46 | 81/54 | 89/62 | 96/70 | 95/73 | 93/71 | 88/65 | 79/54 | 67/43 | 59/35 |
| rainfall | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.5 |
| El Fuerte | ||||||||||||
| temp | 81/52 | 84/53 | 89/57 | 95/62 | 100/67 | 102/75 | 98/78 | 96/77 | 96/75 | 95/67 | 88/59 | 81/53 |
| rainfall | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 5.2 | 5.4 | 3.7 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 1.0 |
Clothing Tips
This is a casual tour. Casual wear is suggested for sightseeing and daytime travelling. Dress code for evenings is casual. Suit jackets for men and dresses for women are not required. See Travel Tips for more details.
Travel Tips & FAQs
Travel Tips & FAQs
These are only the first 13 Travel Tips. Read all 40 Travel Tips Virtually everything! Hotels, most meals, all of the activities described in the itinerary, airport departure transfers, gratuities to hotel porters and restaurant staff. Caravan’s professional Tour Directors and local guides will be with you every step of the way, ensuring a worry free vacation. They are fluent in English, experienced and fun, ensuring a worry-free vacation. Included meals for each tour are listed at the end of each day. Meals are shown by B (breakfast), L (lunch) and D (dinner). Full, buffet, or deluxe continental breakfasts are included everywhere. Free bottled water is provided on the motorcoach. Alcoholic beverages are not included unless specified. Children age five (5) and older are welcome on tour when accompanied by an adult. Usually, children travel during the school vacation months of June, July and August, and also during spring and winter school breaks. Families are always welcome on any of our tours, but we do not have any programs specifically for or limited to families. Families can make specific requests for connecting, adjacent, triple or quad rooms, when available. Children must be at least 5 years old. Prices do not include air travel, country entry or departure fees, airport porters, visas, phone calls, valet, laundry, all items of a personal nature, extra food and beverages not on the regular menu, and tips to the Caravan Tour Director, driver, and local guides. General fees and taxes are additional and listed separately beneath each tour’s price. Usually, you find a mix of different age adult travelers on a Caravan Tour. Children age five (5) and older are welcome, and children usually join tours offered during Christmas holidays, summer vacation and spring break vacation. Caravan accepts payment (in U.S. funds only) via MasterCard, Visa, or Discover. The farther in advance that you book, the more likely it is that your preferred tour will be open. Late bookings are welcome if the space is still available. Caravan has been offering fully guided tours worldwide under the same family ownership and management since 1952. Caravan understands and truly cares about your great expectations. Group sizes will vary depending on the reserved rooms at the hotels and the capacity of the boats and motorcoaches used. Usually, group sizes range from 30 to 44 passengers. A well-paced and unhurried itinerary is our goal, after all, you are on vacation! Touring days begin and end at reasonable hours and include frequent stops. While the occasional early morning departure is necessary, we do our best to ensure a leisurely vacation. Caravan Travel Protection offers peace of mind if you cancel for any reason whatsoever prior to the departure of the tour. The travel protection plan also includes air, baggage, evacuation, medical, and quarantine coverage. The cost is $129. Caravan provides unlimited bottled water on the motorcoach. Clients are welcome to take bottled water with them to their rooms or with meals (no need to take more than you need in the moment, your Tour Director & Driver will ensure an adequate supply for the whole tour). Purified water may be offered in some locations, however Caravan cannot guarantee the safety or rigorousness of the purification process. Please limit yourself to bottled water. Caravan recommends using bottled water to brush your teeth, avoiding ice in your drinks, and avoiding street food vendors. Caravan has chosen the restaurants and menus carefully in Mexico. Most meals will not include an appetizer of soup or salad because of food safety concerns.My Tour Price Includes
Are meals included?
Children on Tour
Family Trips
My Tour Price Does Not Include
Age of Travelers on a Caravan Tour
Forms of Payment
Many Tours Sell Out Each Year
Fully Guided Tours Since 1952
Size of Tour Group
A Well-Paced Itinerary
Caravan’s $129 Travel Protection
Drinking water in Mexico
Customer Reviews
Customer Reviews
These are only the first 7 Customer Reviews. Read all 145 Customer Reviews "I thank you for a well-thought tour!" "The hotels were fabulous, service was great, and personnel was courteous and helpful. The meals, there were absolutely no complaints. The restaurants were clean and unique. Very nice!" "We enjoyed our trip very much and we are looking forward to our next trip." "We are looking forward to going on other Caravan tours later next year." "Each of the hotels were clean, comfortable, we enjoyed them all. The meals were all excellent and the service was superb. We enjoyed the spectacular scenery, especially the canyons (Copper Canyon). We enjoyed all phases of this trip very much. Caravan does an excellent job!" "Your tour director made the trip worthwhile; in fact, all the tour directors whom we have had on our three trips with Caravan are exceptional. I have been on your tours three times and all were excellent. Love to see more tours outside the U.S. Thank you for wonderful trips!" "I enjoyed the float and seeing the birds, the views from the trains were excellent. Based on our experience on this trip, will want to go with Caravan again."
Read All 145 ReviewsClick Here to Read All 145 Customer Reviews
Why Travel with Caravan?
Why Travel with Caravan?
Excellence Since 1952
You can trust our years of experience with tours of superb quality and excellent value. Caravan has enjoyed the same family management and ownership since 1952.
Caravan Care
For your safety, Caravan cancelled most 2020 and all 2021 tour departures and refunded 100% of all payments received. See Caravan’s Covid-19 Terms of Travel.
Caravan's Proud History
In 1965, Roger Mudd hosted a two-hour CBS TV special on Caravan Tours. This TV production took about one month to make and was so successful it inspired the 1968 romantic comedy movie “If it’s Tuesday this must be Belgium.” In the early 50’s the Mayor of Dublin presented Caravan with the Key to Dublin for bringing the first American tour to the city after WWII. Since then, Caravan has been recognized as a pioneer in travel. You can trust in our stability, experience and dedication to quality.
Great Hotels
Stay at park lodges, scenic resorts, and excellent hotels in great locations. See hotel descriptions on each tour page.
Meals
Most meals included within Latin America. For USA and Canada tours, included meals are listed on each itinerary page. Bottled water is provided on motorcoaches in Latin America.
Complete Sightseeing
Enjoy complete sightseeing with more visits, extra features, and local guides.
Fully Guided by Tour Directors
All tours conducted from start to finish by professional tour directors, who are fluent in English, experienced, and fun.
All-inclusive
Caravan includes all activities listed in the tour itinerary page. Caravan does not sell any optional activities which can add hundreds of dollars to your tour price. Your free time is scheduled in great settings where there is no need to buy additional expensive activities.
Shopping Freedom
Caravan will not bring you to overpriced shops in exchange for payments. Caravan gives you ample opportunity and time for great shopping, and the freedom to choose where and when to shop.
Great Value, Book Early
Caravan’s strong buying power gives you great vacations at prices much lower than you can find anywhere. In a typical year, most of our tours sell out quickly. Book early for the date you prefer and the best air fare.
How does Caravan Tours sell these tours for such a low cost?
Caravan delivers volume to our suppliers, who in turn reward us with their very best prices. We in turn pass these savings on to you, and you reward us by buying our tours. As volume continues to rise, we then receive even better prices from our suppliers, and we pass even greater savings on to you. This year our tours are better than ever.
Trade Association Memberships
Caravan is a member of ASTA (American Society of Travel Advisors), NTA (National Tour Association), ABA (American Bus Association), CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association), and ACMA (American Catalog Association).
