A couple of bus rides gets us to the starting point of our Copper Canyon adventure – El Fuerte. It’s a laid back little town where we happily spend a couple of days before the El Chepe train is due to leave. On the departure day, we are as usual, not at our best early in the morning. A few grunts is all we can manage in terms of communication with the occasional smile at the thought of the canyon views we are expecting.

Dropped off by a taxi in the middle of nowhere at the tiny train station with no staff, no food because we didn’t organise a packed lunch and no internet, it feels like we are heading for the back of beyond with no clue what we are doing. Pumped.

It’s a fantastic day on the economy El Chepe train winding through Copper Canyon. The train passengers consist mostly of locals who are keen to stop and talk to us while we hang out in the fresh air between carriages marvelling at the gorgeous peaks and valleys. One of those days that makes our souls happy.