Sierra Madre
Express
Copper Canyon Tour
SIERRA MADRE EXPRESS COPPER CANYON TOUR Mexico’s
spectacular Copper Canyon by private land-cruise train! Book six
months in advance and save $300 per person from prices shown!
 Tour
from $2895.00
2008 Dates
August 28-September 4, 2008
September 4-11, 2008
November 6-13, 2008
December 27, 2008-January 3, 2009
Rail Travel Center® is privileged to serve as a US
representative for the remarkable
SIERRA MADRE EXPRESS
land-cruise private train through Mexico's Copper Canyon. The SIERRA
MADRE EXPRESS is uniquely equipped with lovingly restored cars from
the great post-war U.S. limiteds. The train offers a private relaxed
journey to a remote region in a degree of luxury otherwise not
attainable in such isolated country. Unquestionably, this is an
adventure tour; but the elegant observation-lounge, dome-diner and
sleepers of the SIERRA MADRE EXPRESS bring as much comfort to this
journey as is practical.
Each run of the SME features the "Arizona", the
former observation-lounge car of the Northern Pacific's NORTH COAST
LIMITED. The consist also includes a dome dining car originally used
on the Union Pacific's DOMELINER trains, while the all-bedroom
sleepers are newly created from former Union Pacific cars. These
feature twin lowers, which are otherwise unavailable on North American
railway sleeping cars without purchasing a suite.
The following narrative of the day-to-day progress
of the tour applies to all regularly scheduled departures except the
New Year's trip, which spends one night in the colonial city of El
Fuerte but does not go to Cerocahui.
 Day
One Reception and hotel night in Tucson. Arrive independently into
Tucson. Accommodations and airport/hotel transfers are included to the
Doubletree Hotel. Enjoy a Get Acquainted Cocktail Party and buffet
dinner at which final itinerary details are distributed.
Day Two (B,L,D) Board Sierra Madre Express and
travel south; overnight on the train. Drive south to Mexico,
stopping to visit the
San Xavier
Mission and to shop at
Tubac,
Arizona’s oldest European settlement. Lunch is at Rio Rico Resort. At
Nogales, cross into Mexico and board the SIERRA MADRE EXPRESS. Run
south on the former Southern Pacific of Mexico through the
Sonora Desert.
Dinner in the diner with lodging in Pullman sleepers.
Day Three (B,L,D) Travel into the spectacular
Copper Canyon by rail, overnight for two nights at Divisadero.
Breakfast in the diner, with lunch available later in the diner or at
your seat. Turn east to begin the assault of the Sierra Madre on the
incredible Copper Canyon railway. This railroad took over 70 years to
complete. Climb to over 8000 feet from sea level, passing from
semi-tropical vegetation to pine-clad uplands. The railroad ascends by
an amazing series of loops and reverse turns through 87 tunnels,
across 35 bridges, and along dizzying shelf-lines with views of great
chasms. Three levels of track can be seen from one station.
 Early
afternoon provides the first deep view of the main canyon at
Divisadero. Enjoy a relaxing two-night stay at the
Posada Mirador, which has comfortable rooms, good food, and
24-hour electricity. This evening there is a reception with
entertainment by the
Tarahumara Indians, followed by dinner.
New Year’s Itinerary Only varies as follows:
Following breakfast aboard the train, we transfer to Topolobampo Bay
for a cruise of the bay. Dolphins follow alongside our boat. Lunch is
at the Yacht Club. In the afternoon, we transfer to El Fuerte for the
night. The evening is highlighted by a performance by an outstanding
group of folklorico dancers. The evening is spent at
Posada
del Hidalgo, a charming late 19th century mansion.
Day Four (B,L,D) By rail to “The Balcony”,
continue to Creel to visit the Tarahumara Indians. From Divisadero
climb to "The Balcony", completing a figure eight loop. From the
8,000-foot elevation see a matchless panorama of pine-clad plateaus
carved by great slash gorges. Stop over in Creel to visit the
Tarahumara Indians. Rugged local buses go up steep and rutted roads to
visit a quiet Indian village. See a simple mission church and strange
rock- formations and meet a family in their cliff-side home. Lovely
handicrafts can be purchased from the Indians.
After lunch, retrace the railroad over "The Balcony"
and transfer back to the Posada Mirador. The view evokes the Grand
Canyon, but the combination of Indian dwellings and vast forests gives
it a very "Copper Canyon" feeling as well. The Copper Canyon is not
"just like the Grand Canyon--only further south".
New Year’s Itinerary Only varies as follows: The
tour travels today to Divisidero and follows the same program as Day 3
of the regular tour.
 Day
Five (B,L,D) Free time, reboard SIERRA MADRE EXPRESS down to
Bahuichivo. Overnight in Cerocahui. There is free time this
morning. In the afternoon the SIERRA MADRE EXPRESS descends through
the narrow side-canyons to Bahuichivo. Board the bus for the 17th
century mission village of
Cerocahui,
staying at the beautiful Mission Hotel. While electricity is only on
in the evening, rooms have kerosene lamps and fireplaces. The ancient
Jesuit Church and the Girls Mission School adjoin the hotel.
New Year’s Itinerary Only varies as follows: The
tour travels today to Creel and follows the same program as Day four
of the regular tour.
Day Six (B,L,D) Visit spectacular Gallegos
Overlook, reboard SIERRA MADRE EXPRESS this afternoon and
overnight on the train.Optional included sightseeing programs are
available from the Mission Hotel. Enjoy a bumpy, but stupendous, drive
to the Gallegos Overlook, the supreme viewpoint of the Copper Canyon.
On this drive, we cross over the rim at a point 6,000 feet above the
river. Over a mile below, the river winds in a tropical green haze and
vast mesas are dwarfed.
In the afternoon, reboard the SIERRA MADRE EXPRESS
with dinner in the diner during the spiral loops into the
semi-tropical lowlands. Overnight in Pullman sleepers.
New Year’s Itinerary Only varies as follows: The
morning is free for photography, walking or sleeping in. Following
lunch at the hotel, we reboard the train for our final journey home.
Farewell dinner and overnight aboard the EXPRESS.
Day Seven (B,L) Continue north by rail, cross
border back into U.S. and overnight in Tucson. Speed north,
passing a vast desert landscape. Breakfast and lunch in the diner,
with farewell cocktails in the lounge cars before arrival at Nogales.
Clear Customs and drive to Tucson, overnighting again at the
Doubletree. Dinner is not included, as it is difficult to predict
exact Tucson arrival times.
Day Eight (B) Tour ends. Early breakfast and
airport transfers complete the SIERRA MADRE EXPRESS experience.
 The
SIERRA MADRE EXPRESS takes you in comfort approaching luxury into a
region where independent travel is rugged. Having said that, we must
admit this trip is not for everyone. The included bus rides are dusty
and bumpy. The hotels are pretty and well run and the food delicious,
but heat is often by fireplaces and lighting sometimes is by kerosene
lamp as well.
You will be at high elevations for three and
one-half days, reaching 8,000 feet in elevation; and temperatures can
vary widely. American and Mexican style food is available throughout.
The tour includes potable water at all stops and all transfers and
luggage handling, but this is not a true luxury tour due to the
isolation and ruggedness of the Copper Canyon and the poverty of
Mexico. You should be able to walk a bit to enjoy this trip.
The SIERRA MADRE EXPRESS is made-up from lovingly
restored former US equipment from the 1940's and early 1950's. The
diner and observation-lounge sleepers are carried on all runs, plus
additional sleeping and lounge cars as bookings require. These
restored cars are 40-50 years old. Please understand that on-board
showers were not offered in that era. Crews are hand-selected from the
best staff of the National Railways of Mexico. American tour staff
also are along on every run. The SIERRA MADRE EXPRESS is owned and
operated by an American company.
TOUR PRICES are per person and include all meals
(except one dinner in Tucson), all sightseeing, all transportation
round-trip between the train and Tucson, all lodging, all drinks on
board the train, escort services and commentary by SIERRA MADRE
EXPRESS staff, luggage handling and all transfers. Only extra drinks
at hotel overnights (cocktail parties are included at most hotels),
horseback rides and souvenirs are extra. Tipping is not required on
the SIERRA MADRE EXPRESS. All hotel space is comparable regardless of
sleeper space used on the train. Sleepers are used for two of the
seven nights.
2008 Prices
$2995.00 single occupancy in a single roomette in
the Chile Verde car. (These rooms have a sink in the room and shared
toilet on the car).
$5495.00 single occupancy in a double bedroom on the
train (SIERRA MADRE EXPRESS bedrooms have private toilet and sink).
$3695.00 per person, double, in bedrooms with an
upper and lower berth on the train (SIERRA MADRE EXPRESS bedrooms have
private toilet and sink).
$3895.00 per person, double, in bedrooms with twin
lower berths on the train (SIERRA MADRE EXPRESS bedrooms have private
toilet and sink).
New Year’s (December 27) departures carry an
additional $100 per person surcharge to the normal rates.
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