TM
Read the TravelLady Magazine Article, (Issue 72)
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canyontravel formerly columbus 1-800-843-1060 |
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Press Releases & Articles |
7/8/2009
CONTACT: Emilio Kifuri
TEL: 800-843-1060
E-MAIL:
WEB: www.canyontravel.com
Click Here for Media Kit
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 canyon's native Taramuhara Indians still live as their ancestors' 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 Railwaycarrying 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 SUVs 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.
TM
Read the TravelLady Magazine Article, (Issue 72)
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A Copper Canyon native Tarahumara community joins with Canyon Travel to woo growing eco-tourism marketCopper Canyon's Tarahumara Indians of San Alonso, who own more than 60,000 acres in the Western Sierra Madre wilderness of Chihuahua, Mexico, are working with Canyon Travel to develop a model for eco-tourism, with community-owned facilities and private enterprise. The partnership provides the only outlet in Copper Canyon for private eco-lodges and naturalist-trained native guides who offer remote, intimate adventures. |
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Working with natives, Canyon Travel also operates eco-lodges near Urique Canyon and overlooking the El Fuerte and Batopilas rivers. For information, see www.canyontravel.com
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The alliance began with approval from Baja Tarahumara Governor Nicolas Moreno, who recognized de-forestation threats and the need for profitable eco-tourism to protect Mexico's natural wonders. "Mexico is one of the world's most bio-diverse countries," says Canyon Travel President Emilio Kifuri. "Given Mexico's variety of fauna and flora, there is economic potential through eco-tourism that could exceed the logging and mining industries, and the mass-tourism beach resort business." |
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Previously inaccessible areas held by the community of Tarahumara are now the location of upgraded lodges, "Uno y Dos," owned by these Tarahumara people and operated by Canyon Travel. Originally built in 1999 with Chihuahua State funding, the structures were meant to develop community involvement in tourism and be a sustainable alternative to logging. Due to lack of tourism expertise and operating capital, the efforts had limited success and needed help. Enter eco-tourism operator Canyon Travel, for whom working with local communities was not new. "Canyon Travel's experience in eco-tourism includes our work with the indigenous Porochi community near Urique Canyon, where together we built the small upscale Cerocahui Wilderness Lodge," said Kifuri, "The cooperative project is profitable for both the company and the local Porochi community, who own the rugged pristine land on which that lodge is located. The innovative agreement offers employment, as well as income from the land lease, and provides them with the option to become partners in lodge ownership." Following renovations made to the Uno y Dos lodges, Kifuri forecasts similar success with the San Alonso collective venture. In the eco-tourism partnership, Canyon Travel works with Copper Canyon's native residents, teaching them English and training them as naturalist guides to provide in-depth experiences for travelers. Naturalist-trained resident guides can describe and lead guests through various habitats, and know where to find rare and endemic birds. They carry spotting scopes on tripods, binoculars and field reference books to share with guests. Canyon Travel is the only Copper Canyon operator with private eco-lodges, naturalist-trained native guides, active itineraries, riverboats, mountain bikes and vans. Canyon Travel also offers less-active adventures like tranquil river cruises and canyon descents in late-model vans, plus connections to local cultures. Honored to be part of Mexico's eco-tourism market, Canyon Travel also helps the native residents of Copper Canyon through its community service initiatives. Examples include support for a local children's hospital and area schools; help with medical missions to transport doctors; and assistance with conservation projects. In one case, Canyon Travel was instrumental in airing an environmental alert on more than 50 TV stations, which helped stop the World Bank's project to clear cut forests in the region. Besides Uno y Dos and the Cerocahui lodges, Canyon Travel operates eco-lodges overlooking the El Fuerte and Batopilas rivers. Canyon Travel has offices in Creel and El Fuerte, and an affiliate in Texas, and offers 24-hour Mexico to US toll-free access. For information, call Canyon Travel at 800-843-1060, or visit www.canyontravel.com ### |
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CANYON TRAVEL
Bulverde, TX 78163-2872
(830) 885-2010 - Fax |
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Speak with a "Copper Canyon Specialist" 1-830 885 2000 Monday through Friday 9 AM till 6 PM CST |
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Copyright 2009 - All rights Reserved |
