Ecuador Train Cruise - Tren Crucero
Tren Crucero is currently the most stunning vintage adventure in all of South America. This train ride will take you on an exceptional trip across different ages and periods of Ecuadorian history. Its convoy features four different coaches, each one with its own style that reflects the Ecuadorian history and culture. It is easy to combine this with a Galapagos trip or any other mainland itinerary.
Upon your arrival, a professional crew will be expecting you with the warmest welcome. The same crew will accompany the passengers throughout the whole journey, offering an unmatched and personalized service. Selected hotels on every location have been carefully chosen to provide the comfort, care and relaxation that complete this exquisite journey.
Landscapes formed by volcanoes and snow-capped mountains, the picturesque colors of the coast, the astonishing views of the valleys, the kindness of the Ecuadorian people and the brightness of the equatorial sunshine are some of the features of this “once in a lifetime experience” experience. A trip you will never forget!
Landscapes formed by volcanoes and snow-capped mountains, the picturesque colors of the coast, the astonishing views of the valleys, the kindness of the Ecuadorian people and the brightness of the equatorial sunshine are some of the features of this “once in a lifetime experience” experience. A trip you will never forget!
Quito – Guayaquil - 5 days/4 nights)
DEPARTURE DATES 2019 - 11 jun | 2 jul | 20 aug | 17 sep | 1 / 29 oct | 12 nov | 10 dec Starting Point: Swissotel (Quito) at 6:30am Day 1 – Quito –Cotopaxi National Park – Lasso – Latacunga (L,D) Our first meeting will be at the Chimbacalle station, south of Quito, a historic station that will open its doors to us with the country's railway history from 1908. On our train, we 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. We will arrive at the second highest station of the Ecuadorian railway system and disembark to begin our journey through a Rose farm, there, we will learn why Ecuador gathers all the right characteristics to produce some of the best roses in the world. After lunch we will go up to the Cotopaxi National Park. Within the park we can enjoy a moderate altitude walk at 12,631 feet around the Limpiopungo lagoon, where we 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. Accommodation. Day 2 – Latacunga – Urbina – Riobamba (B,L,D) The departure by train in the morning will be from Latacunga Station. We will cross the inter-Andean valley and then the Yambo lagoon will open before our eyes by a scenic cliff. During the journey we will be approached by colorful devils from Pillaro village, part of a long Andean tradition known as the “Diablada Pillareña”, declared national heritage. We will celebrate with this folkloric demonstration from the comfort of our train. We will arrive to Urbina station, the highest point of our visit, located at 3609 meters above sea level (11 000 feet). There we 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 we arrive to Jatari and the Community of La Moya where we will learn about the Quichua - Puruha culture and their ancestral work systems, we 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 us to take the group to Riobamba, a unique historical town for the country and for the railroad development in the past, where we 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. Accommodation. Day 3 - Thursday - Riobamba – Devil ́s Nose – Alausí (B,L,D) Early in the morning we will head to the historic Riobamba station, where a huge steam locomotive known as "The Black Monster" will be waiting to take us through colorful quinoa fields, picturesque villages and unique landscapes. Upon our arrival to Colta, we will carry out a maneuver that will switch the steam locomotive for a diesel-electric machine, meanwhile we can visit the first church in Ecuador known as the Balvanera or you can film the train with the steam locomotive before we leave it behind from the outside of the maneuver area. Once in Guamote, we 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, we will be able to observe how the barter works among the merchants that meet there coming from many other indigenous communities of the country. A short trip by bus will take us to Alausí, where the patrimonial set awaits the group; that one will transport us to the mythical Nariz del Diablo (the Devi ́ls Nose). An impressive system of switch-backs on a steep mountain that allow the locomotive to descend into the Sibambe valley; during its construction, was considered one of the most important engineering milestones in the country. Our patrimonial set will return to Alausí, the small town of the Five Heritages, we will rest this night in this tiny city nestled in between sharp mountains and diverse plantations. Walking at night through its streets will give us a feeling of returning several decades in time. Accommodation. Day 4 – Friday Alausi – Naranjito – Yaguachi – Duran (B,L) We will take our bus with the first sun rays and that one will take us on a scenic trip from the imposing Andes to the quiet esplanades of the Pacific coast. During this trip we can witness the dramatic climatic and geographical changes that mark the transition between coast and mountains. We will arrive at a very traditional and tasteful hacienda in the Coast of Ecuador; we 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. Our lunch will be served at the hacienda and we will enjoy the gastronomy of local cuisine. Our next destination will be Naranjito where we will board the train to Yaguachi, the first station built for the Ecuadorian railway system. There, a Baldwin steam locomotive awaits us 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. Accommodation. Day 5 - breakfast, end of tour RATES PER PERSON: (2019) LUXURY HOTELS: Double room: $1735.00, Single room: $2082.00, Children: $1560,00* GOLD HOTELS: Double room: $2322.00, Single room: $2722.00
Hotels to be used***:
Luxury/Gold Day 1:Lasso/Ciénega Day 2: Riobamba: Abraspungo/Abraspungo Suite Day 3: Alausí: El Molino Day 4: Guayaquil: Oro Verde/Hotel del Parque ***Hotels are subject to change and will be confirmed upon reservation. Tren Ecuador reserves the right to provide hotels of the same category. WHAT IS INCLUDED? The program includes transportation aboard Tren Crucero, all meals during the trip, snacks and soft drinks on board, bilingual guide (Spanish and English)1 , excursions according to the itinerary, transportation by bus/van during the program for excursions and accommodation based on double occupancy. Upon arrival to Duran train station on day 4, there will be a transfer to your hotel in Guayaquil for overnight. WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED? Taxes, alcoholic beverages (Tren Crucero offers wine, beer and whiskey), meals and excursions not mentioned as included in the program, air tickets, personal expenses, gratuities or transfers to hotels not included in this itinerary (extra charges for any transfer not included in this program). Passengers are recommended to purchase travel insurance. IMPORTANT NOTICE: All itineraries are subject to change due to unforeseen measures or technical, operational circumstances. Payment terms: When reserving, the passenger should confirm his/her intention to travel in the Tren Crucero by paying a 40% of the price included taxes and fees. The remaining 60% should be paid in full no later than 40 days before the date of departure.
Cancelation fees: 45 days or more – no charge 44 to 35 days – 100% of the reservation deposit 29 days or less – 100% of the final price |
Guayaquil - Quito -5 days/4 nights)
DEPARTURE DATES 2019 - 15 jun | 6 jul | 7 / 21 sep | 5 oct | 2 / 16 nov | 14 dec Starting Point: Eloy Alfaro Station (Duran) at 7:30am Day 1 – Saturday Durán – Yaguachi – Naranjito – Alausí (L,D) Our first meeting will be at Duran station where a carefully restored steam locomotive will be waiting to transport us on a journey through time. With its roars and whistles, it will make us revive past times when these fabulous machines began to travel along the coastal tracks for the first time, changing completely the history of the country. The first stop will be at the Yaguachi station, the first one built in this railway system, where we will say goodbye to our steam locomotive to make a way for a diesel-electric, we will be able to observe the exchange of these impressive machines from outside the maneuver area. We continue through extensive plantations of sugarcane, banana, coffee, pineapple and a countless number of tropical products to Naranjito area. Our bus will take us along a road that climbs to the Andes, a very scenic bus trip in which we will ascend more than 2000 meters in altitude in just 4 hours. During this trip we can witness the abrupt changes of climate, vegetation and geography resulting from the presence of the Andean mountain range. This fact gives Ecuador an incomparable beauty and biodiversity. Our first day ends in the comfort of our hotel in this small town nestled in the sharp mountains. Walking on the evening through its streets will give us a feeling of returning several decades in time. Accommodation. Day 2 – Sunday Alausí – Devil ́s Nose – Riobamba (B,L,D) The second day begins with the impressive trip aboard a different train which dates from the twentieth century, this one will be ready to descend through the fearsome pass of La Nariz del Diablo (the Devi ́ls Nose); an intricate switch-back that allows the train to descend 511 meters in just 12 kilometers of railway. The Sibambe station awaits us down below, full of people and different activities in the surroundings, a small community depending merely on the touristic activity from the train. Back in Alausí, we will have a time for pictures and visit the local market, the quiet city lost in the time of the previous night, becomes the scenery of one of the most colorful markets in the area, serving more than a dozen communities of the surroundings. Lunch will be served on board after a short bus ride. Our main set run towards Colta where the "Black Monster" is ready to pull the train, an impressive Baldwin steam locomotive that has been carefully overhauled. There we can visit the first church in the country known as the Balvanera or another option for train-lovers, will be filming the run of the set with the steam locomotive ahead. The fields of quinoa, potatoes, onions, corn and other products of these fertile soils, will be decorating the landscape while waiting for the great Chimborazo to show up before we reach the capital city of the province, Riobamba. Riobamba an enchanting city where we can take a short walk. Its cobbled streets and squares tell the history of the country at every step. Accommodation. Day 3 – Monday Riobamba – La Moya – Urbina – Latacunga (B,L,D) In the morning, the inhabitants of the community of La Moya will show us the life in the Andes, we will be able to interact with them and see one of the best examples of community organization for work, such as the ancestors taught the different generations. The tour continues towards the Urbina station. Located just over 3,600 meters above sea level, we will get to know the “paramo” ecosystems of the skirts of Chimborazo. Baltazar Ushca, the last ice merchant of Chimborazo, will tell us his story and explain the reasons behind his dedication, despite the opposition and arrival of machines to the country. The train will go through the valley near Cotopaxi but on the way, a group of devils will take the train by surprise when the Diablada de Pillaro (devils from Pillaro) is celebrated on board, a parade full of colors, music and joy that reminds us of the spirit of the Andean communities and their understanding of the world, this parade was declared national heritage. The final stop of the day will be the Latacunga station from where we can get to the different hotels in the area. Accommodation. Day 4 – Tuesday Latacunga – Cotopaxi National Park – Quito (B,L) We will travel to the Cotopaxi National Park. Within the park we are able to join a moderate walk around the Limpiopungo lagoon where it is possible to find different sorts of plants and birds adapted to the altitude. Natural photography will be part of this morning and then we will board our train. The set will continue near the slopes of Cotopaxi towards our next stop, a typical Andean hacienda where we will be part of the daily activities of it and its dwellers. Upon our arrival we will be welcomed by these Andean cowboys, the “Chagras”, who will show their skills as riders and teach us a little of their culture and traditions. Our last day of expedition ends at the Eloy Alfaro station with a short walk inside the property, where our guides will make us discover the secrets of this patrimony. The capital of Ecuador, the beautiful city of Quito, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, will welcome us at night. Accommodation. Day 5 - breakfast, end of tour. Hotels to be used***: Luxury/Gold Day 1: Alausí: El Molino Day 2: Riobamba: Andaluza / Andaluza Suite Day 3: Lasso: Ciénega Day 4: Quito: Swissotel/Plaza Grande ***Hotels are subject to change and will be confirmed upon reservation. Tren Ecuador reserves the right to provide hotels of the same category. Important Notes:
Travel Insurance: We recommend passengers to purchase travel insurance before leaving their country. Medical Service: The passengers can request a first aid kit service aboard the train and if necessary a doctor will be contacted in the nearest available place. TRAVEL TIPS CLOTHING: Wear layers, a jacket for cold weather and a light coat for the rain (coast). Comfortable walking shoes, hat, sunscreen with high SPF, repellant, sunglasses. Don’t forget your camera! ALTITUDE: It ranges from 80 to 3,610 meters above sea level. The temperature ranges from 14 ° to 35 °C. |