(EMAILWIRE.COM, July 09, 2009 ) BULVERDE, Tex.— When field scientists, students, and other groups from major Universities travel to the Sierra Madre in NW Mexico, they choose Canyon Travel as their tour operator. Through research, referrals, or prior experience, they determined Canyon Travel the most experienced and credible operator in the region. Founder and owner, Emilio Kifuri is well-respected in scientific circles in the U.S. and Mexico as a champion of eco and sustainable tourism. University based groups are also impressed with Canyon Travel’s competitive pricing including excellent rates for groups of six or more travelers.
Spanning 25,000 square miles, the magnitude of Copper Canyon is difficult to fathom. The six canyons known collectively as Copper Canyon are heralded by naturalists, anthropologists, and biologists as a rich eco-system unlike anywhere else on earth. Still mostly untouched by humans, an incredibly diverse range, including several uncommon species of animal, plant, bird, and butterflies are observed here.
Many of the canyonÂ’s native Taramuhara Indians still live as their ancestorsÂ’ centuries ago. They make their homes in hidden caves, subsisting as artisans or farmers. Understandably, the ancient people and rare plant and wildlife are of interest to many world travelers. Yet, the pressures of mass tourism often change a landscape, jeopardizing the people and very features making it a desirable destination.
Kifuri has made it his mission to prevent this from happening in the canyons, protecting the culture of the native Tarahumara peoples and preserving the special habitat of their homeland. He is the only operator to form an alliance with the indigenous people, empowering them to be self-sufficient. When Canyon Travel built amazing eco-lodges, far from mass tourism sites, Kifuri enlisted the assistance and resources of locals who now manage the solar-powered lodges. Only guests of canyon Travel stay at these comfortable, well-managed inns offering the most spectacular views in the canyons.
Over the past 40 years, Kifuri has been the driving force behind preserving 60,000 acres of pine forests, saving them from the ravages of logging. His devotion is rewarded by the natives allowing only Kifuri and his guides unprecedented access to rarely seen places in the canyon as well as un-staged meetings with natives; rarely experienced encounters with the shy Tarahumaran.
In addition to hiking adventures, Canyon Travel offers customized tours based on the traveler’s special interests. Trips can be arranged to focus on birding, botany, history or archaeology. Canyon Travel guides have solid educational backgrounds with extensive field knowledge and interpretive abilities. Spring and fall trips may include passage on “El Chepe,” the Chihuahua Pacifico Railway carrying travelers through the deepest canyon system in North America! Those fortunate enough to be guests of Canyon Travel get the most thrilling and exclusive ride-from aboard the tour operator's private rail car - the only car with an open deck!
Canyon Travel tours are priced regularly from $899, per person based on double occupancy, and range in length from seven to 12-days. Now through September 19, some itineraries are discounted up to $400 per person. Once confirmed trips operate with as few as 2 participants and are limited to no more than 14 travelers. With a local field office, a fleet of SUVÂ’s and vans, a private, open-air rail car and river boats, no other travel company in Mexico or the U. S., has this kind of infrastructure to operate in-depth Copper Canyon trips for individuals and small groups.
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