Has gone from Tucson to Copper Canyon on their own by bus then train? (Phoenix: buy)

['nalo]

Good Morning!
Planning on going to the canyon (first time) this winter to spend some days (about 5) hiking and overnighting in lodges. The idea is to go by train and get off and on as we please. We don't really want to go on tour with a large group. BUT the inlaws might join us-they would not do the hiking but the lodging. Any recommendations out there? This was suggested to us- (we speak Spanish 102 but the inlaws are Italians) take the shuttle to Nogales then cab to train station to Los Mochis, overnight, next morning head out --
Any experiences or safety issues of anyone going on their own?
Thanks

[Djbabybokchoy]

I was actually curious about this, too. First, though, I'm confused. The only Copper Canyon I find is IN Tucson (not much of a canyon), but there is one in Texas - is that what you're referring to? Am I missing something? Do you mean The Grand Canyon?

If it's the latter... Call me a damned Yankee (go ahead), but you could take a train to anywhere from anywhere in New England. I wanted to take a train from Tucson or Phoenix to the Grand Canyon in January, but I can't seem to find one that goes there. Do they not exist? How is this possible? Who do I blame for this? I don't want to have to drive D:

[LadyRobyn]

No personal experience here...but a general search shows you would really have to do some work if you wanted to make that tour on your own!

I did find a few *tourista* style Train trips, but I doubt you would have the freedom you are looking for. Maybe some of the companies that provide the tours could also give you some ideas?

Mexico′s Copper Canyon from Tucson

Globus Tours : Mexicos Copper Canyon with Tucson 2009

Either way looks like a beautiful trip!

[Djbabybokchoy]

Originally Posted by LadyRobyn

Globus Tours : Mexicos Copper Canyon with Tucson 2009

Ooooooh.

[Ritchie_az]

"I wanted to take a train from Tucson or Phoenix to the Grand Canyon"

You'd have to take Amtrak (which departs Tucson around midnight) to Los Angeles, then take a different Amtrak train to Williams, then take The Grand Canyon Railway to the rim. There is nothing that goes direct...and the closest a passenger train gets to Phoenix is the town of Maricopa.

So it can be done, and I'm sure it would be a fun adventure, but it is not convenient.

['nalo]

Thanks Ritchie_az.
That really is a scenic route from Tucson to the Grand Canyon via LA.
but we are trying to head out down south to the Sierra Madre.
We are looking for adventure trying to navigate ourselves from Tucson to the train in Los Mochis to get to the Copper Canyon. We prefer not to go on tour with a group. We would like to hike and trek at our own pace and get on and off the train as we please. This train trip is suppose to be awesome-its getting to and from Mexico like the locals do is what I am trying to figure out. Anybody know where we can buy tickets? A local tour company in Tucson would be a start. Any suggestions?

Thanks again

[Djbabybokchoy]

Ritchie was answering my question, Nalo. Not yours. Lady Robin answered your question and she gave you two links to check out - did those help you?