Copper Canyon Adventure

by Plaza Travel Consultant, Jennifer Schwartz
November 14-21st, 2004

I have just returned from an exciting adventure in the Southwest of Mexico: Copper Canyon. From Los Angeles, it is a very short flight into Tucson, Arizona. From Tucson, we motor coached into Tombstone, Arizona, the western town made famous by Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday and the shoot-out at the O.K. Corral. Crossing the border we enter the Mexican State of Chihuahua and an overnight stay in Nueva Casas Grandes.

On to the very large city of Chihuahua, population 2 million, and filled with historical museums, churches and the largest Paquime Ruins that sit in the most important archeological zone of northern Mexico. On our way from Chihuahua to Creel we learned the history of two separate groups of people that are indigenous of the area. This area was settled in 1922 by the Canadian Mennonites. They are similar to what we know as the Quakers. They dress plainly, live a very quiet life and make their living by farming. You may have read recently in the LA times that the teenagers are rebelling in these groups - becoming addicted to drugs and alcohol because they want to break away from this old-fashioned lifestyle. Also, there is a very large congregation of Mormons who are also successful with farming the land and owning many businesses.

The Tarahumara Indians are the largest Indian tribe in Mexico. There are 50,000 of them who live in the Sierra Madre mountain in Creel. Crossing the Continental Divide we enter the tiny community of Creel at an elevation of 7,500 feet. I had the privilege of visiting a boarding school there and I was able to leave supplies for the children. The Tarahumara Indians are quiet, shy and surprisingly wear beautiful, brightly colored clothes. They weave the most beautiful baskets from native plants and create beautiful wooden artifacts and kitchen bowls by hand. They literary live off the land. We were invited into one of the cave dwellings there and it was, to say the least, a very humbling experience. One I will never forget.

A very interesting fact about this special tribe is their running ability. They can run for days - not just a marathon, that's easy!

There are very strong people - mostly the men run and they also live by feast or famine. They can store food in their systems and live for days that way in the winter. They live mostly on corn and whatever they can grow in that region. They run in sandals! Ones that they make by hand, of course, with tire treads on the bottom. The Olympic committee unsuccessfully could not endorse their strange lifestyle and unusual "Corn Liquor" drinking habits to enlist them into any meets. They consume their homemade liquor beyond what anyone of us could possible ingest. Whatever they make for the day, they finish. It actually evokes a spiritual, hallucinogenic effect to their systems. We would more likely die.

The women and children create their handiwork and sell it to the tourists like myself at the train station, restaurants, hotels and specialty shops. Out of 50,000 only 180 children can go to the boarding school and that education only goes to the 5th grade. Most of them stay home and learn their place in life. One Tarahumara Indian woman has made it to college. Can you imagine that being the only one of your kind at school and they know only Spanish and their native language.

Copper Canyon is four times the size of Arizona's Grand Canyon. Very different than the Grand Canyon, this ride includes plummeting waterfalls and colorful wildflowers and takes you through 70 tunnels and over countless trestles. Arriving at night was magical because you could see a million stars and count your blessings.

We disembarked in the colonial city of El Fuerte and ready for our next day's adventures. El Fuerte is a colonial town founded in 1564. Visiting city hall, the main cathedral and the local fruit and vegetable market is always a treat for the eyes and taste buds.

Traveling to our next destination on the Pan-American Highway, we past through Guaymas and checked into our hotel in San Carlos. A small fishing village where I defy anyone to find a more beautiful sunset on the beach with the best sea shell hunting!

Our last day was motor coaching thru the Sonoran Desert and Crossing the border at Nogales. Then flying home from Tucson.

This is a great trip for people who want adventure, culture and the great outdoors. The hotels are all 3-4 stars - the food was excellent and inexpensive. The service was welcoming and a little Spanish went a long way. One highlight of the trip was visiting an artist in his home who learned the pottery technique from his grandmother 50 years ago. If you need any more information or would like to see my pictures. I would be happy to share.

With love and light to everyone,
Jennifer Schwartz