Pottery tour of Casas Grandes, Mexico from prehistoric to present

A Comparative Study of two Ceramic Traditions: Panalachi and Mata Ortiz

Copper Canyon Pottery Tour Suggestions

Traditionally, the Tarahumara women of Panalachi in the Copper Canyon have made their family's pottery storage containers, while the men docorate them. We will watch a family form, decorate and fire their clay objects.

Further North, on the plains of Chihuahua, is the pottery village industry that has been unfolding over the past 35 years in Mata Ortiz. The pioneering work of Juan Quezada has transformed the village to an internationally famous pottery center. Many families are producing wares of the highest caliber with locally occuring clays and minerals. Their greatest influence lies just North at the ancient ruin and World Heritage Site of Paquime, which we will visit as well. The studio of Juan Quezada will be another destination. A local guide will show us studios of people working at various stages of pottery production, from forming to decorating to firing.

Copper Canyon Highlights include:

• Visit the World Heritage Site of Paquimé, near Casas Grandes in Northwestern Chihuahua.
• Overnights in the historic frontier settlement of Creel, in the Copper Canyon region.
• Three days of immersion into the lives of potters in the world famous pottery village, Mata Ortiz with a local guide. Visits to numerous studios.
• Visit to traditional Tarahumara pottery village of Panalachi.

Full Trip Price:

• 6 - 7 clients $2300/person
• 8 - 9 clients $2100/person
• 10 clients $1988/person
• Single Supplement = $320/person, if single room is requested

Full Trip Price Includes:
CPR, First Aid Certified, bi-lingual in country guide throughout; all accommodation starting with Day 1 Chihuahua and ending on Day 10 in Chihuahua; airport transfers on the designated arrival and departure days; all transfers throughout starting from hotel on Day 2 and ending in the Chihuahua hotel on Day 9; all meals as indicated in the detailed itinerary below (B,L,D)

Full Trip Price Excludes:
International and internal flights, airport taxes, immigration card ($20 U.S.), airport transfers not on the designated arrival/departure days, meals on Day 1 and on Day 9, accommodation preceding Day 1 in Chihuahua and following Day 9 in Chihuahua, gratuities to trip leader and local guides in Copper Canyon.

Your guide,
Santiago James Barnaby, is an American from Bozeman, Montana who for 30 years has been exploring and living seasonally for 6 months a year in the Copper Canyon.
Jim has a BFA, MA and MFA in ceramics. Seasonally he has guided tours in the Copper Canyon region for the past 28 years. He is knowledgeable about the Tarahumara people and their traditions.

Day 1 Fly to Chihuahua. Night at the Holiday Inn. (D)

Day 2
We drive West into the Copper Canyon region of the Sierra Madre Mtns . to the town of Creel. Night at Pueblo Viejo. (B, L, D)

Day 3 Creel to Panalachi. After We drive two hours to visit a Tarahumara family in Panalachi, a traditional pottery village where the women will form, decorate and fire their pottery. We will also have a Mexican style barbecue with them. We return to Creel fo a night at Hotel Pueblo Viejo. (B,L,D) 

Day 4 Creel to Casas Grandes. Drive North to Casas Grandes and along the way visit the ancient cave dwelling of Cuarenta Casas. This is a beautifully situated satellite village of the Paquime culture. Night at Hotel Pinon in Casas Grandes, (B,L,D)

Day 5 Paquimé Ruins. Visit the World Heritage Site of Paquime (Casas Grandes). A museum is also located there. In the afternoon we visit Colonia Juarez, a 115 year old Morman agricultural village, and Hacienda San Diego, a ranch with fine old stone architecture. Night at Hotel Pinon in Casas Grandes. (B,L,D) (http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=560)

Day 6 Mata Ortiz. We drive to Mata Ortiz, where, 35 years ago, Juan Quezada began his pioneering work in making pottery from a wide variety of locally occuring clays and minerals. In his gallery are many beautiful examples of pottery produced  by many families. Their greatest influence came from the World Heritage Site of Paquime. We will have a local guide for three days who will take us to the studios of local potters.   We will see potters at work forming, decorating and firing their pottery.  Night at Posada de Las Ollas. (B,L,D)

Day 7 Mata Ortiz. Continued studio visits.  Night at La Posada de Las Ollas. (B,L,D)

Day 8 Mata Ortiz. Continued studio visits.  Night at La Posada de Las Ollas. (B,L,D)

Day 9 From Mata Ortiz to Chihuahua City. Return to Chihuahua City in time to visit the Pancho Villa Museum of the Revolution. Night at Holiday Inn. (B,L,D)

Day 10 There is an early morning transfer to the Chihuahua airport. Fly home.

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