5 Day Train of Wonders

Itinerary

Day 1: QUITO – COTOPAXI NATIONAL PARK – LASSO – LATACUNGA

Stop At: Estación Estadio Chimbacalle, Av. Napo E2-124, Quito 170121, Ecuador
Our first meeting will be at the Chimbacalle station, south of Quito, a historic station that will open its doors to you with the country’s railway history from 1908. On your journey, your will cross the impressive “Avenue of the Volcanoes”; the term that Alexander von Humboldt gave to this part of the Andean ridge, where there are more than 20 volcanoes, few of them still active. You will arrive at the second highest station of the Ecuadorian railway system and disembark to begin your journey through a farm of Roses, there, you will learn why Ecuador gathers all the right characteristics to produce some of the best roses in the world.
Duration: 5 hours

Stop At: Cotopaxi National Park, Ecuador
After lunch you will go up to the Cotopaxi National Park. Within the park you can enjoy a moderate altitude walk at 12,631 feet around the Limpiopungo lagoon, where you will find different varieties of plants and birds adapted to this altitude environment. Natural photography will be part of this afternoon before arriving at the historical hacienda.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Accommodation in Lasso Hacienda La Ciénega or Hacienda San Agustín del Callo.


Day 2: LATACUNGA – URBINA – RIOBAMBA

Stop At: Estacion De Tren Lasso, Latacunga Canton, Ecuador
The departure by train in the morning will be from Latacunga Station. You will cross the inter-Andean valley and then the Yambo lagoon will open before your eyes through a scenic cliff. During the journey you will be approached by colorful devils from Pillaro village, part of a long Andean tradition known as the “Diablada Pillareña”, declared as National Cultural Heritage. You will celebrate with this folkloric demonstration in the comfort of your train expedition.
Duration: 5 hours

Stop At: Mount Chimborazo, Ecuador
You will arrive to Urbina station, the highest point of your visit, located at 3609 meters above sea level (11 000 feet). There you will be received by Baltazar Ushca, the Last Ice Harvester of the Chimborazo who will share the secrets of his old and almost extinct tradition. You will enjoy the experience with the locals when you arrive to Jatari Indigenous Kichwa Communty as well in La Moya. Here, you will learn about the Kichwa – Puruha Culture and their ancestral work systems. Also, you will participate in these activities led by the inhabitants of the area. You will share the table with them and learn on first person from their culture. After this great day, the train will be waiting for you to travel to Riobamba, a unique historical town for the country and for the railroad development in the past, where you can enjoy its beauties: the Handcraft Plaza and a short walk through the city will be part of the end of the day before sunset.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Accommodation in Riobamba Hacienda Abraspungo.


Day 3: RIOBAMBA – THE DEVIL’S NOSE – ALAUSI

Stop At: Market Guamote, Riobamba Ecuador
Early in the morning you will head towards Riobamba Train Station, where a huge steam locomotive known as “The Black Monster” will be waiting to take you through colorful quinoa fields, picturesque villages and unique landscapes. Upon your arrival to Colta, the train operative team will carry out a maneuver that will switch the steam locomotive for a diesel-electric machine, meanwhile you will visit the first church in Ecuador known as the Balvanera or you can film the train with the steam locomotive outside the maneuver area before you leave it behind. Once in Guamote, you will visit an authentic Andean market, where people from several indigenous communities come together to trade a myriad of products. This market has maintained its traditional essence and with luck, you will be able to observe how barter works among merchants who meet in the marketplace coming from diverse indigenous communities of the country.
Duration: 5 hours

Stop At: La Nariz del Diablo, Ecuador
From here, a short trip by bus will take you to Alausi, where the patrimonial train set waits for you to continue your journey to the mythical Nariz del Diablo (Devil’s Nose). This is the most difficult train in the World due to an impressive swicht-back system on a very steeped mountain that allow the locomotive to descend into Sibambe valley. Its construction was considered one of the most important engineering milestones in the country and in South America. After your journey, you will return to Alausi, the small town of the Five Heritages, here will recover in between sharp mountains and diverse plantations. Walking at night through its streets will give you a feeling of returning several decades in time.
Duration: 5 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Accommodation in Alausi at El Molino Hotel or Hosteria La Quinta.


Day 4: ALAUSI – NARANJITO – YAGUACHI – DURAN

Stop At: Hacienda La Danesa, Km 67, Autopista Naranjito Bucay, Bucay 090150, Ecuador
After breakfast, you will depart by bus towards a scenic journey from the imposing Andes to the quiet esplanades of the Pacific coast. During this journey you will witness the dramatic climatic and geographical changes that mark the transition between coast and mountains. You will arrive to a traditional Hacienda in the Coast of Ecuador; you will meet cacao plantations and learn about the sowing and harvesting of Ecuadorian cacao before it turns into delicious chocolate, which is considered the best cocoa bean in the world. You will enjoy the local cuisine at lunch served in the Hacienda. Your next destination will be Naranjito where you will board the train to Yaguachi, the first station built for the Ecuadorian railway system. There, a Baldwin steam locomotive waits for you to lead the train to Duran, the last stop of a journey full of wonderful landscapes and cultural experiences. You will arrive to Duran and then continue with your transfer towards Guayaquil.
Duration: 10 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Accommodation in Hotel Oro Verde or Hotel del Parque in Guayaquil.


Day 5: GUAYAQUIL

Stop At: Guayaquil 090105, Ecuador
The day the Train of Wonders comes to an end. After the breakfast you will have the opportunity to explore Guayaquil and continue your journey through Ecuador.

Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.