Andes Connection - Tren Crucero (Train of Wonders)

Day 1 - Day of arrival

On arrival, transfer to your hotel the Patio Andaluz in Quito.

The Patio Andaluz hotel is located in the heart of the historic centre of Quito and within a short walk of many churches, museums and national monuments.  The amenities include a bar and the exclusive El Rincón de Cantuña Restaurant which specialises in national, Spanish and international cuisine. There are 32 tastefully decorated en-suite rooms positioned around 2 covered central courtyards. They feature cable TV, Wi-Fi, air-conditioning and a writing desk.

Overnight at the Patio Andaluz, Quito (Bed & Breakfast)

Patio Andaluz, Quito

Day 2 - Private guided half day city tour of Quito including the Equatorial Line monument and lunch

Quito is the capital city of Ecuador and is located in the north of the country, just 45 km south of the equator. Situated at an altitude of 2850m this is the second highest city in Latin America. The city occupies a large narrow stretch of land overlooked by Pichincha Volcano to the west and the green sweeping Valle de los Chillos to the east. A picturesque location which enjoys a spring like climate most of the year. The beautiful colonial old city was the first city to be declared an UNESCO World Heritage site in 1978. Our tour will take you on a stroll through the steep, narrow streets and cobbled plazas visiting some of the ornate churches, monasteries, mansions and coloured balconied houses. The middle of the world monument marks the Equatorial Line which includes an exhibition centre.

Overnight at the Patio Andaluz, Quito (Bed & Breakfast)

Quito

Day 3 - Quito – Cotopaxi National Park – Lasso – Latacunga (Lunch & Dinner)

Your first meeting for the Tren Crucero 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 the train, you 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. 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 can find different varieties of plants and birds adapted to this altitude environment. Natural photography will be part of this afternoon before arriving at a historical hacienda. 

Overnight at the Hacienda La Cienega

Cotopaxi National Park

Day 4 - Latacunga – Urbina – Riobamba (Breakfast , Lunch & Dinner)

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 by a scenic cliff. During the journey you will be approached by colourful devils from Pillaro village, part of a long Andean tradition known as the “Diablada Pillareña”, declared national heritage. You will celebrate with this folkloric demonstration from the comfort of our train. You will arrive at 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 merchant of the Chimborazo who will share the secrets of his old and almost extinct tradition. Enjoy some community experience, when you arrive to Jatari and the Community of La Moya where you will learn about the Quichua – Puruha culture and their ancestral work systems, you will be able to participate in some of these activities led by the inhabitants of the area. Share the table with them and be able to interact with this amazing culture. After this great day, the train is waiting for you to take the group 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 the sun sets. 

Overnight at the Hacienda Abraspungo

Tren Crucero (Train of Wonders)

Day 5 - Riobamba – Devil's Nose – Alausí (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)

Early in the morning you will head to the historic Riobamba station, where a huge steam locomotive known as “The Black Monster” will be waiting to take you through colourful quinoa fields, picturesque villages and unique landscapes. Upon your arrival to Colta, you will carry out a manoeuvre that will switch the steam locomotive for a diesel-electric machine, meanwhile you can visit the first church in Ecuador known as the Balvanera or you can film the train with the steam locomotive before you leave it behind from the outside of the manoeuvre area. Once in Guamote, you will visit an authentic Andean market, where people from several 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 the barter works among the merchants that meet here, coming from many other indigenous communities of the country. A short trip by bus will take you to Alausí, where the patrimonial set awaits the group; that one will transport you to the mythical Nariz del Diablo (the Devil's Nose). An impressive system of switch-backs on a steep mountain that allows the locomotive to descend into the Sibambe valley; during its construction, it was considered one of the most important engineering milestones in the country. Your patrimonial set will return to Alausí, the small town of the Five Heritages, you will rest this night in this tiny city nestled in between sharp mountains and diverse plantations. Walking at night through its streets will give you a feeling of returning several decades in time. 

Overnight at El Molino

Devil's Nose

Day 6 - Alausi – Naranjito – Yaguachi – Duran (Breakfast & Lunch)

You will take a bus with the first sun rays and that one will take you on a scenic trip from the imposing Andes to the quiet esplanades of the Pacific coast. During this trip you can witness the dramatic climatic and geographical changes that mark the transition between coast and mountains. You will arrive at a very traditional and tasteful hacienda in the Coast of Ecuador; you will take a tour inside one of the plantations and learn about the sowing and harvesting of Ecuadorian cacao, which is considered the best cocoa bean in the world. Your lunch will be served at the hacienda and you will enjoy the gastronomy of local cuisine. 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 awaits you to lead the train to its final destination on this trip, a journey full of wonderful landscapes and cultural experiences. Arrival to Duran before sunset.  On arrival into Duran you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Guayaquil.

Overnight at Hotel del Parque

Alausi

Day 7 - Day of departure

Transfer to Guayaquil airport for your early evening flight to the UK (via Amsterdam). Should you wish to extend your trip, why not add an extension to the Amazon or the Galapagos Islands.  

This morning you will have a half day guided city tour of Guayaquil & its historical park. Sited on the left bank of the Rio Guayas, Guayaquil is Ecuador’s largest city and main sea port. One of the city’s main attractions is the Malécon Simon Bolivar (a promenade) with shops and restaurants overlooking the river. This links the centre of the city with the old quarter ‘Cerro Santa Ana’ which is located on a small, but steep hill, overlooking the Rio Guayas and where the old wooden houses have been sympathetically restored and brightly painted.  Other places of interest include the gothic style Cathedral, ‘Iguana Park’ located in front of the cathedral and full of iguana’s and the Parque Historico. This popular attraction is broken down into 3 zones - the Urban Architecture Zone which is a recreation of a street with some significant historic colonial buildings that have been relocated, the Wildlife Zone which focuses on the region's natural biodiversity and the Traditions Zone showcases rural lifestyles during the cocoa boom of the last century.

Guayaquil, Ecuador