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Trip Advisor Reviews
Reviewed March 27, 2012* NEW*There are some negative reviews of Canyon Travel from previous owners. Discard them and focus on the people now running the business. On the business side you have Michael, Emma and Carly. I was fortunate enough to meet the girls as they happened to intersect with my mum and I on part of the trip. They are both lovely and showed a very strong intent to make sure we were happy and enjoying ourselves. I think they are doing a really good job. Our trip was smooth and without complications or unwelcome surprises.
Our 8 night trip started in Chihuahua (just a stop over) and took us south through Posada Barrancas (3 nights in this *amazing* place, ziplines, and epic scenery that I will never forget), then onto Bahuichivo where we were met by Mario for 2 nights at San Isidro. Hiking down Urique canyon with the legendary Victoriano Churro was just amazing. The scenery in this part of mexico is truely breathtaking and the hike is a real challenge if you choose to do the full, 17km, 6000 foot descent option. Mario’s hospitality was fantastic. You really did feel the “mi casa su casa” vibe from him. Food was great and the wood burning fires in the lodges were wonderful for the cold nights. (Another new experience to fall asleep with a blazing fire a few metres away from me!) Lastly, we had 2 nights in El Fuerte with Chal at Rio Vista. The Rio Vista needs some work, but the semi-finished construction in some places is more than made up for with some fantastic food (lobster on the last night was cooked to perfection) and the personal service from Chal who truely loves showing people the sights of his wonderful little town.
If you are a little adventurous and you want everything taken care of so you don’t have to worry about meals, transfers, or any bookings what-so-ever, then I think you will be more than satisfied on a Canyon Travel trip.
Reviewed February 23, 2012Canyon Travel has some poor reviews due to previous owners. We took a chance and signed up for the Western Canyon tour and had a wonderful time. It was a very individualized trip with native guides giving us the history and culture of the area as well as the names of the flora and fauna. The scenery is spetacular and the ride to Urique was breath-taking. We were very happy with our experience and would recommend it to our friends. The only downside was the main office didn’t get us our itinerary before the trip; but they are working to rectify that problem.
Reviewed December 6, 2011Our trip started at El Fuerte where we stayed at the Rio Vista Lodge. It is right by the river and we enjoyed a bird watching trip down the river. The food at the Rio Vista Lodge was excellent. Our journey continued on the train up to the canyon. We had great views of the mountains and admired tthe construction of the railway through this very difficult terrain. We left the train at Bahuichivo where Mario met us and took us to the Urique Canyon. Mario was a great guide and took us to meet Tarahumara people and helped us understand something of their lives. Back on the train to Posada Barrancas where we were met Noel and Gustavo, very knowledgeable guides. Noel took us on hikes down the canyon and we particularly enjoyed the gondola and the hike from the gondola. We would like to go back there and spend more time, maybe hiking down the cnayon and camping at the bottom.
“As you know I came to you with a very special museum group that needed to be handled with kid gloves and requested that we do some special things. Much to my delight you went beyond what I envisioned. The attention to detail was incredible especially with the remote location we were in. Not only do you have a first hand knowledge of the canyon area but also a very special and unique rapport with the native people.
You should be extremely proud of your staff, they would have to be one of the best I have worked with any where in the world. And Ivan, our guide, what a dream come true. Not only was he meticulous and knowledgeable, his sense of humor entertained us many a times.
So many thanks and I hope to have the pleasure of working with you many times in the future.”
Gilcrease Museum Group by
Terry Hartnett
Director of Groups and Incentives
World Travel Service
Tulsa, OK
Dear Canyon Travel,
I just wanted to put in writing what I told you by phone.
I have traveled a lot, and this was one of the most wonderful trips I’ve ever taken. The scenery, which I’d expected to be the focus of the trip, was breathtaking. But what really made it so special were two things: the detailed planning which went into the itinerary and travel arrangements — and the extraordinary people!
At each one of the three lodges, and on the private train car, the people were exceptional — attentive, welcoming, knowledgeable. It was truly amazing. At each place, since they only accommodate your small groups, and since the owner/manager was also our guide, it was like visiting someone’s home — someone who is an extremely gracious host. Chal at the Rio Vista, Mario at San Isidro Ranch (Porochi Inn), and Noel at the Uno Lodge, were each with us almost every waking moment we stayed with them. And the things they showed us! Chal took us to the Mayo village he comes from, Mario took us to his children’s school and his father’s house, Noel took us along the canyon to some incredible views, and to caves where Tarahumara people live when it’s too hot in the canyon. And of course that was only a small part of what they did.
In addition, we met three American ex-pats living in Mexico, and that was very interesting. The picnic/barbeque lunch by the river in Urique at Keith’s self-built house was fascinating — he’s a true hippie. And Bill Walker was not just full of information on living in Mexico, places to go, and of course the trains — he was also delighted to share it, in as much detail as we wanted. Best of all, I really appreciated Michael, who greeted us at midnight in El Fuerte, served us dinner, and told us we should think of the kitchen as ours, and just go in and get anything anytime. Both Michael and Chal treated us as their own personal guests and continued to make us feel so at home the whole time we were there!
I could go on for another page. The pacing of activities was wonderful. The food was wonderful. The fact that it was all prepared with purified water, so we could eat without worrying, was wonderful. Etc. Etc.
I really admire you for putting together trips like this. It was truly outstanding.
Sincerely,
Pollock Spiegel
Los Mochis to Chihauhua, March 24 – March 31, 2006
“I wish to congratulate you and your on site Mexico staff on a well run, comfortable, spectacular week long experience. Your staff, Chal at Rio Vista, Mario at Urique and particularly Gustavo and Lupe at Uno Lodge, all went out of their way to ensure a complete and fun visit to their respective regions and lodges. The accommodations and meals were beyond expectation and the bottomless free beer, wine and margaritas were appreciated by all.
Unquestionably this is one of the most beautiful regions of North America and your tour presents the vistas and wildlife plus the local Tarahumara lifestyles to the utmost. Canyon Travel’s organizational skills and staff made the difference between a good trip and a memorable experience.”
A. B. Copland
Faison Cruise & Travel
Montgomery, TX
My clients called me today to let me know how much they enjoyed the trip and how happy they were that I recommended the Copper Canyon to them. Besides being pleased with the trip itself, they could not be more pleased with the service Columbus Travel provided for them in what they term ” in the middle of nowhere.” The Ebner’s are experienced travelers and fully expected that somewhere along the line they would not be met at the train stations, the tours would not be available, they expected the usual traveler anxiety somewhere. But this did not occur, your representatives met them everywhere, the tours they chose to take were excellent, the tour guides went out of their way to accommodate them, they were very pleased with your services. I felt it only fair that I let you know how much they enjoyed the Copper Canyon experience, to quote:
“IT WAS THE BEST VACATION THEY HAVE EVER BEEN ON…”
MAGELLAN TRAVEL, INC
Julie Martin
Cincinnati, OH
We had a fabulous trip to the Copper Canyon!! We loved the lodges and each of the people who were running them. When we were at the 2nd lodge it was during the world series. We had 2 couples who were South Siders from Chicago and were MISSING the WORLD SERIES. Well they got wind of the fact that the guys were desperate to know what was going on and managed to run a very long extension cord from one of their homes to the firepit and there they sat on the night of the 14 inning game watching the World Series . Can you imagine how great that was. We also enjoyed the Yoga and the wonderful birthday party that one of the children had while we were there. Although it was not as spectacular as either of the other lodges the love that they showed to our group was amazing.
Judy Pusch, CTC, Owner/Travel Consultant
Four Corners Travel A Virtuoso Agency
1603 Orrington Avenue
Suite 2070
Evanston, Il 60201
November 11, 2005
