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Ecuador
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Guayas
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Guayaquil
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Tours & Activities
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4-Day aboard 'Tren Crucero' from the Pacific to the Andes (Guayaquil - Quito)
4 days
About this activity
Itinerary
Day 1: Saturday: Durán – Yaguachi – Naranjito – Bucay
Stop At: Cascadas Piedra Blanca, Bucay 092650 Ecuador
*Stretch Durán to Yaguachi operated with steam engine.
We depart from Durán in the coast early in the morning, our heritage convoy pulled by a vintage steam engine. We switch engines in Yaguachi and continue across rice, sugar cane, banana and pineapple plantations to Naranjito.
Lunch is served in a traditional hacienda, where we will learn about the best cocoa bean in the world and taste home-made chocolate.
After a show of Montubio culture we continue our trip towards Bucay. If the day is clear, we will get tour first glimpse of the Andes in the distance.
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 2: Sunday: Bucay – Huigra – The Devil’s Nose – Alausí – Colta – Riobamba
Stop At: Train Station, Avenida 10 de Agosto y Carabobo, Ave Atahualpa, Riobamba, Ecuador
As we travel along the canyon of river Chanchán the vegetation and temperature change abruptly. The cloud forest clears out and the sparse vegetation of the highlands takes its place, while the stone walls of the Andes loom in the horizon.
The train makes a stop at Pistishi lookout, where we can get a good glimpse of the impressive feat of engineering ahead of us, before start the daunting climb of mythical Devil’s nose.
After a 450 meter climb in barely 12 kilometers of dizzying zig zag the train finally reaches the quaint village of Alausi, in the Andes.
We continue our journey to Riobamba, crossing colorful quinoa fields. In Colta we visit the indigenous community of Palacio Real, where we learn about llama breeding. We arrive in Riobamba pulled by a powerful steam engine, with time to visit the Train Station Artisans’ Square before heading to our hotel.
Duration: 0
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 3: Monday: Riobamba – Urbina – Boliche – Quito
Pass By: Mount Chimborazo, Ecuador
We depart for Urbina, the highest point in our itinerary at 3600m.a.s.l. There, in the eastern flanks of Chimborazo volcano awaits the last ice merchant, to tell the tale of his ancestral trade. Then we ride north along the Avenue of Volcanoes, the fertile valley sheltered between the two arms of the Andes mountain range. In clear days you can spot up to twenty volcanoes from the comfort of your seat. In the skirts of Cotopaxi volcano we will explore a singular Andean forest trail before continuing our ride towards Quito.
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 4: Tuesday: Quito – Otavalo – Ibarra – Quito
Stop At: Otavalo Market, Plaza de los Ponchos, Otavalo 100450 Ecuador
Our journey continues to the Northern Andes. In Otavalo, home to a millenary market, we board the train, pulled by a lovingly restored steam engine.
Duration: 0
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
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Day 1: Saturday: Durán – Yaguachi – Naranjito – Bucay
Stop At: Cascadas Piedra Blanca, Bucay 092650 Ecuador
*Stretch Durán to Yaguachi operated with steam engine.
We depart from Durán in the coast early in the morning, our heritage convoy pulled by a vintage steam engine. We switch engines in Yaguachi and continue across rice, sugar cane, banana and pineapple plantations to Naranjito.
Lunch is served in a traditional hacienda, where we will learn about the best cocoa bean in the world and taste home-made chocolate.
After a show of Montubio culture we continue our trip towards Bucay. If the day is clear, we will get tour first glimpse of the Andes in the distance.
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 2: Sunday: Bucay – Huigra – The Devil’s Nose – Alausí – Colta – Riobamba
Stop At: Train Station, Avenida 10 de Agosto y Carabobo, Ave Atahualpa, Riobamba, Ecuador
As we travel along the canyon of river Chanchán the vegetation and temperature change abruptly. The cloud forest clears out and the sparse vegetation of the highlands takes its place, while the stone walls of the Andes loom in the horizon.
The train makes a stop at Pistishi lookout, where we can get a good glimpse of the impressive feat of engineering ahead of us, before start the daunting climb of mythical Devil’s nose.
After a 450 meter climb in barely 12 kilometers of dizzying zig zag the train finally reaches the quaint village of Alausi, in the Andes.
We continue our journey to Riobamba, crossing colorful quinoa fields. In Colta we visit the indigenous community of Palacio Real, where we learn about llama breeding. We arrive in Riobamba pulled by a powerful steam engine, with time to visit the Train Station Artisans’ Square before heading to our hotel.
Duration: 0
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 3: Monday: Riobamba – Urbina – Boliche – Quito
Pass By: Mount Chimborazo, Ecuador
We depart for Urbina, the highest point in our itinerary at 3600m.a.s.l. There, in the eastern flanks of Chimborazo volcano awaits the last ice merchant, to tell the tale of his ancestral trade. Then we ride north along the Avenue of Volcanoes, the fertile valley sheltered between the two arms of the Andes mountain range. In clear days you can spot up to twenty volcanoes from the comfort of your seat. In the skirts of Cotopaxi volcano we will explore a singular Andean forest trail before continuing our ride towards Quito.
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Day 4: Tuesday: Quito – Otavalo – Ibarra – Quito
Stop At: Otavalo Market, Plaza de los Ponchos, Otavalo 100450 Ecuador
Our journey continues to the Northern Andes. In Otavalo, home to a millenary market, we board the train, pulled by a lovingly restored steam engine.
Duration: 0
No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.
Included
- 1x Lunch
- Transportation aboard Tren Crucero
- All meals during the trip
- Snacks and soft drinks on board,
- Guide in Spanish and English*
- Excursions according to the itinerary,
- Transportation by bus/van during the program for excursions and
- Accommodation based on double occupancy. In the Guayaquil to Quito route, once the train has arrived at Eloy Alfaro Train Station (Quito), you will be transferred for overnight*
- Day 4: Dinner is not included. Breakfast included for the next day.
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Snacks
- Bottled water
- Coffee and/or Tea
- Entry/Admission - Cascadas Piedra Blanca
- Entry/Admission - Train Station
- Entry/Admission - Otavalo Market
Not included
- Alcoholic beverages (Tren Crucero offers wine, beer and whiskey)
- Meals and excursions not included in the program
- Air tickets
- Personal expenses
- Gratuities or transfers to hotels different from the ones listed here.
- Passengers are recommended to purchase travel insurance.
- Single supplement $247.50 extra.
Additional
- Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Lodging options: Hosteria D´ Franco in Bucay, Hacienda Abraspungo in Riobamba and Swissotel in Quito.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
- Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
Features
Tourism
95%
Cultural
45%
Aquatic
30%
Adrenaline
15%
