Introduction

Copper Canyon

Rancho del Oso

Cerocahui, Chihuahua, Mexico

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Ranked Number 1 for actual, unsolicitated guest comments made to Trip Advisor, the Hotel Paraiso del Oso offer's something rare, an authentic, comfortable experience in the Copper Canyon. Guests delight in our food which features international, Mexican, and border dishes along with a few specialties from our ancestors. Rooms are attractive, comfortable, cool in the summer and warm in winter. On this website you will find tourist information on our Hotel and, or adventure tourism you will also find information on our Rancho del Oso.

The Hotel sponsors our Resources section with a multitude of information gathered over two decades of working in the Copper Canyon area. Many people have contributed to this collection which covers both human and natural history and is the largest collection available anywhere. We suggest anyone interested in the Copper Canyon check out this section.

The website promotes the sponsors and gatherers of this information, the Hotel Paraiso del Oso and the Rancho del Oso. We are a family-run hotel and ranch in the Copper Canyon region of the state of Chihuahua in Mexico. The Paraiso del Oso Hotel offers first-class rustic accommodations with all meals, vehicle tours, and an emphasis on ecotourism. We are at 5400' elevation so mild temperatures prevail. The hotel's mascot, "Yogi Bear", can be seen in the rock spires behind the hotel.

We are approximately 30 minutes (12 km) from the Bahuichivo train station on the road to Cerocahui. The Chihuahua-Pacifico ("Chepe") train is the best way to arrive; you may board the train in Los Mochis and El Fuerte to the west or Divisadero, Creel, Cd. Cuauhtemoc, or Cd. Chihuahua to the East. See our "Getting Here" page for details and also a road log for those who would like to drive. Investigate our resource section for backcountry road logs. For those riding the train, we suggest you print our our rail log to bring with you on your trip. For a different perspective on our location, go to earth.google.com. Download and install the free viewer. Then go to our satellite page for some links to place-names.

The Rancho del Oso offers trail-rides, horse-packing excursions for people of all abilities, trekking, along with camping, backpacking, and bird-watching opportunities. We also offer less strenuous horseback rides for those so inclined. Vehicle tours range from a short, two-hour excursion into nearby Cerocahui to a full-day descent to the old gold-mining town of Urique, over a mile below the Canyon rim. The Urique Canyon is deeper than the Grand Canyon of Arizona here! For those interested in horses, the ranch offers riding opportunities starting with a short orientation ride up through back-country adventures lasting up to twelve days. Horseback trips include the historic town of Batopilas which was founded on rich silver deposits over a century ago. Any trip into the canyons is a trip into history.

Several photo albums illustrates many of these trips, general activities, and life in the Canyon, double-click any photo on the site to see an enlargement. Our volunteer program offers life-changing experiences for volunteers and researchers seeking a place to work and contribute and share.

The Oso is the only truly environmentally-oriented operation in Copper Canyon. Water and other resources are scarce and the ranch strives to make a minimal impact on its environment. Your hosts, the Mexican-American couple Doug Rhodes and his wife Ana Maria live full-time at the ranch. When you spend time here, they take you behind the scenes, introduce you to the region and its people, and enrich your understanding of this unique destination. For them, ecotourism and adventure tourism are ways of life that reflect in their business.

Whether you come to stay with us or not, we hope your visit rewards you with a greater understanding of this unique part of Mexico. Bear with our growing pains as our site develops over the coming years. You can contact us directly or use one of our agencies for travel and booking arrangements. And after you have spent some time on the site, please write us and tell us about your experience. Enjoy!