In his classic ballad “El Paso,” Marty Robbins paints a picture of desperados, cowboys and beautiful “Mexican maidens” with flashing black eyes. However, today El Paso is not a haven for wild cowboys in search of Rosa’s Cantina.  Instead, it’s a jumping off point where you can rent a motorhome and join up with an RV caravan that heads south through the “bad lands” Marty Robbins once sang about. 

One such RV caravan company that does an especially fine job is Fantasy RV Tours.  Fantasy RV Tours puts together a package that can include a motorhome if you don’t own one.  A wagon master leads the caravan and a tail gunner (a mechanic who specializes in RVs) is always the last to depart the RV campground in the morning and the last to arrive at the next destination.  His mission is to make sure everyone arrives safely.  Twice we’ve gone with Fantasy RV Tours to Mexico and we can say without equivocation, “They do an excellent job.”

Months before the caravan ever begins, Fantasy RV Tours has made all the arrangements, including reservations at the very best RV campgrounds in El Paso and in Mexico.  They have arranged for the many guided tours that are included in the package and they have made reservations at excellent restaurants where fine dining experiences are also included.  For the Copper Canyon RV Caravan, Fantasy RV Tours makes the necessary arrangements with the railroad to have your motorhome loaded aboard a flat bed railroad car where for five days and nights you are pulled through Mexico’s Copper Canyon.  It is from the comfort of your motorhome that you view the passing barrancas (canyons) and Colonial Mexican villages as you roll along at 20 mph.  Excellent!

CHIHUAHUA: Across the Zaragosa International Bridge in El Paso and about 220 miles directly south is the City of Chihuahua, the capital of Mexico’s largest State (also the same name).  Here you visit Pancho Villa’s home and museum (Villa’s name is synonymous with 20th Century Mexican history), stroll through art galleries and cathedrals and feast upon pescado (fish), tortillas, carnitas (roast pork) and pan dulces (sweet breads and deserts).  And as for the cervezas (beer), there are none better than those brewed here in the heartland of Mexico.

MENNONITES:  An overnight stop is made at one of the largest Mennonite Community in the world (60,000) where you visit a cheese factory, eat excellent German food and marvel at the fact that you are deep in the heart of Mexico and not in the well groomed farm lands of Iowa.  And yes, German is the primary language of the Mennonites, with Spanish being the second language.  But it’s the next morning when you load your motorhome onboard a railroad car for this once-in-a-lifetime ride through Copper Canyon that the most exciting leg of this amazing adventure begins.  

COPPER CANYON:  Six times larger and deeper than our own Grand Canyon, Copper Canyon is home to the Tarahumara Indians.  Known for their athletic running ability (they hold foot races that go for a hundred miles), they greet the caravan in colorful native dress to sell beautifully handcrafted items.

Each night the train pulls off onto a siding where you sleep in your motorhome, but only after being taken by van or bus to the finest local Mexican restaurants and mercados (Mexican market places) where you can stroll, dine and shop until you’re ready for bed.  Following stops at Creel, Divisedero, El Fuete and other Mexican towns, you reach the City of Los Mochis on the Sea of Cortez where you off load your motorhome and begin your journey north.

ALAMOS: After spending three days and two nights at an RV campground in the mountain town of Alamos, you will not want to leave.  It’s quaint, charming, the people are friendly, the drama of the landscape is breathtaking and as per usual the sights, the shopping and the food are excellent.  Case in point is the Casa La Aduana , a five-star restaurant that is housed in what was once an old Spanish mission.  The chef is from Philadelphia and the fare he offers is “to die for.”

GUAYMAS & SAN CARLOS: Upon arriving at these two fishing/resort villages that sit adjacent to the Sea of Cortez, the first thing to note is the fresh fish, shrimp and lobster that are routinely served in the local restaurants and sold in the open air fish markets.  Here you can book a deep sea fishing trip and pay a visit to the Guymas pearl farm which should not – repeat, should not - be missed for the pearl pendants, earrings, necklaces available for purchase are nothing less than elegant.  At the luxury El Mirador RV Park resort that is your home while in San Carlos, the final night includes a hosted farewell dinner.  What this means is that its time to head back across the border and bring to an end one of the best adventures you will ever have.  Happy Traveling!