Our tours to Copper Canyon Mexico will allow you to enjoy and learn from the Tarahumara and Mennonite cultures.
We have complete packages for you and your family to Copper Canyon, so you can get to know these fascinating communities, full of mysticism, struggle, and overcoming.
The fascinating thing about visiting the Copper Canyon is not only its canyons, but also the cultures that inhabit them.
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Copper Canyon Travel Guide
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The “Chepe” train (or Chihuahua-Pacific train), has crossed these places for more than 50 years, from tunnels to forests and mountains, forged by nature.
Among its curves live ancient populations from different parts of the world, such as the Tarahumara and Mennonite, who migrated to Chihuahua at different times.
In la Sierra Madre, you’ll find The Tarahumaras during the Route of El Chepe, in the surroundings of Creel (a magical town that is also one of the “Chepe” train stops), but also all around the canyon, so you can visit them and learn from their cultures effortlessly.
On the other hand, to visit the Mennonites, you have to follow the route called ”Manzanero Mañanero” (set up in 2017), where you can travel by train to the Terrero station and continue by car to Cuauhtémoc, to learn about the fascinating Mennonite culture.
Undoubtedly, you will fall in love with the Tarahumaras and Mennonites, by knowing a little about their origins, arrival in Mexico, customs and lifestyle, as representatives of love and the protection of their tradition!
The Tarahumara culture
Also called “Rarámuri”, which means “those with winged feet”, due to a particular characteristic of its people: they are born runners, able to run a great amount of kilometers without stopping.
The most surprising thing is that they do not have training or prior preparation, and they do not wear sports shoes either, they just use their traditional sandals!
Agriculture, hunting, and gathering are what they live for, besides of having important corn crops.
It is believed that the Tarahumaras arrived from Asia thirty thousand years ago.
The story tells that, due to the evangelization and conquest in the seventeenth century, this town took refuge from the Spaniards in the Copper Canyon.
Their society is made up of ”mestizos” or ”chabochis”, and pure Indians, divided into small families who reside in houses built from tree trunks and caves, adapted to be inhabited.
Men and women wear clothes created by themselves, especially colorful shirts and prints.
Women wear several skirts, one on top of the other. Men wear white shorts and the rarámuri huarache as shoes: a lightweight sole with straps adjusted up to the ankle.
Apart from that, the festivities are very precious for them, and that’s why they keep their customs alive. They usually celebrate during the agricultural cycle and other important events.
If you visit the Copper Canyon, you will not want to miss these festivities.
Mennonites and their traditions
”Menonitas” people migrated in 1922 from Europe, thanks to the government of Álvaro Obregón.
Around 3,000 Mennonites arrived at San Antonio de Los Arenales in Chihuahua, with the mission of starting a new life, practicing Orthodox religious customs.
The Mennonite culture founded by Menno Simons in the sixteenth century
Mennonites work in agriculture and livestock.
It is worth mentioning that their cheeses are one of the best products they offer to the market.
Even though they are not using technology such as the Internet or radio, they allow some liberal Mennonites to have the access.
They keep the German dialect and mix it with Spanish, which is taught in regular schools. While men take care of the work in the field, the women attend to the home duties, and the children attend the school, (either Mennonite or regular).
A magical tour
We recommend a minimum of 6 days to have the complete experience including: the lodging, meals, and of course, our guide to join you in every adventure.
Come to the Copper Canyon, so you can meet the communities that have been frozen in time, offering fascinating traditions.
