Copper Canyon Train Trip, Mexico, 11/19 - 11/25/16

We finally got to take the trip we had been talking about for 10 years: Visiting Copper Canyon in Mexico, a remote, inaccessible and breathtakingly beautiful region, home of the Tarahumara Indians. The easiest way to visit is to ride the El Chepe train through Copper Canyon, from Chihuahua to El Mochis. Copper Canyon is an umbrella name for six canyons, four of them larger than the Grand Canyon in Arizona! We joined a group of 15 travelers and rode the train for six days, hopping on and off daily or every other day.  Here is the second stop, Creel, the major town on our route and also the one with the highest elevation, ~8000 feet. 

 Local van at train station picking up travelers.

Departure morning in Creel: waiting for the train to arrive from Chihuahua.  Notice the number of people on the track.  There were no rail guards or train crossings anywhere.  Every one just walked freely across the tracks even with the train in sight!

Tarahumara women selling baskets to travelers on the train.
Notice the infant she is carrying on her back.