Copper Canyon, Mexico, USA
Airing Date: Aug 26th, 2002
Departing Los Mochis and heading towards the Copper Canyon and Chihuahua, the train travels over a track 700 kilometres long with 86 tunnels, 39 bridges and 100 years of history. The journey takes 16 hours from end to end, but the train features comfy seats, air conditioning and heating.
Commuters are free to jump off the train as many times as they like - but beware, there is only one train in each direction each day, so if you do get off you will have to stay overnight and pick up a return journey the next day.
Two hours down the track the train reaches El Fuerte, a small town with a big wild west history full of tales about cowboys and Indians. Mexican jumping beans can also be picked up here.
Leaving El Fuerte the Chepe starts the haul to the top of the Copper Canyon. A four hour climb brings the train to the dusty mission village of Cerocahui. Here you can hire a horse and guide for the final slog to the top. You'll know you've made it to the right spot when you come to a hole in the ground so big that it could fit the Grand Canyon in four times over.
Next stop along the line is El Divisadero, a great place to bargain for crafts with the local Tarahumara Indians.
Around here is the closest the track comes to the Canyon, but if you want to get closer, you can hire a local guide to show you the Canyon and its caves. The Tarahumara, the most traditional Indian people in North America, still live in caves down in the Canyon.
An interesting attraction is the local version of football, called Rarjiparo. In Rarjiparo players use a wooden ball. The field spans a few hundred kilometres across the canyon and the game can run non-stop day and night for up to three days.
The train makes its final leg of the journey through the mountains to Creel, where travellers can hire a mountain bike to explore the forests, lakes and waterfalls.
When you've finished exploring, check into Creel's Sierra Lodge for accommodation with a touch of tradition - your own furnished cave room.
The facts
Air New Zealand flies to Los Angeles daily. Return airfares start from $1684 from Sydney and $2062 from Perth. Prices include taxes & charges, conditions apply. Return flights from LA to Mexico on Aeromexico start from $844, price includes taxes & charges.
Air New Zealand
13 24 76
Adventure World offer four night Copper Canyon packages which include train tickets, sightseeing, transfers, accommodation and some meals from $1034 per person.
Adventure World
Tel: 1300 363 055
Mexican jumping beans can be bought in El Fuerte for about $5 a bag.
A horse and guide in Cerocahui costs about $20.
Tacos in El Divisadero are about 50 cents each.
A local guide will take you through El Divisadero for around $10 an hour.
Discover the World Marketing: Aeromexico
Tel: 02 9959 3922
