Sierra Madre Occidental— Photo: Brian Gibbons

A fascinating adventure providing a broad cross section of the birds, sights, and culture of northwestern Mexico; lots of good birding and the famed Copper Canyon by train. Emphasizes birding and scenery, but also includes several cultural events.

Barranca del Cobre, Mexico's famed Copper Canyon, is compared by many to our Grand Canyon. The comparison doesn't do justice to the astounding variety of habitats offered by this canyon system carved out of the western edge of the Sierra Madre Occidental. This trip offers a wonderful combination of great birding, magnificent scenery, and cultural diversity. VENT's tour to the Copper Canyon is more than a birding tour. It's an adventure across northwestern Mexico.

We will bird several areas along the El Fuerte River seeking endemic, western Mexico specialty birds such as Rufous-bellied Chachalaca, Black-throated Magpie-Jay, Rufous-backed Robin, Purplish-backed Jay, and Happy Wren. After spending two nights in historic El Fuerte, we board the Chihuahua al Pacifico train for the ride up the Sierra Madre Occidental. The steep ascent will take us across the Rio Fuerte (still at work carving the deepest canyon on earth) to the forested uplands of Cerocahui. Near Cerocahui we'll look for the uncommon Mountain Trogon and endemic White-striped Woodcreeper on the forested rim of Urique Canyon. Awesome vistas and spectacular cliffs characterize this journey into the remote mountain homeland of the Tarahumara Indians.

Cusarare Falls, at nearly 8,000 feet, is one of the highlights of the trip. We'll leisurely hike to the falls and spend the day in the crisp mountain air. Here we hope to see the Eared Quetzal.

Accommodations basic to very good, but unique; good food; travel by bus and train (two days); cool to warm with rain not likely.