Tren Crucero

Tren Crucero is actually the most stunning vintage transportation that will take you in an exceptional trip through different times and spaces of the Ecuadorian history.

Its convoy is comprised of four coaches with different characteristics which reflect the history and culture of our country.

Upon your arrival the crew of professionals in tourism, will receive you with a warm welcome, will guide you to the carriage of your choice and will accompany you throughout the trip , offering the best attention and service.

The selected hotels to stay in each one of the stops have been rigorously chosen to provide you the comfort, care and relaxation that you require in the exquisite journey.

The landscapes, the whisper of the volcanoes and snow-capped mountains, the picturesque colors of the coast and the astonishing lines of the valleys, the equatorial sunshine, the kindness of its people, all this is a real lifetime experience.

Come along to enjoy this magical journey.

QUITO – GUAYAQUIL ITINERARY DESCRIPTION

DAY 1 TUESDAY (L/D) We depart from the Chimbacalle train station in Quito at 8:00 am on board the Tren Crucero. We start our trip travelling on board the train to our next stop that will be the station located in El Boliche Recreational Area where we disembark from the train and we will take the bus to go to the Cotopaxi National Park. There we will do a short hike in the slopes of the volcano to enjoy the landscapes, the flora and fauna. Then we continue our trip and we will visit hacienda San Agustín del Callo located in the area to have a delicious lunch. In the afternoon we go to the train station in Lasso to be part of a traditional festivity.

Today’s accommodation and dinner will be at La Cienega, a colonial hacienda full of history and charm.

DAY 2 WEDNESDAY (B/L/D) After breakfast we will go by bus to Latacunga train station to board the train and continue our journey to the south. On the way we will stop to visit a rose plantation, where we can learn about the growing, harvesting and post-harvest processes of the roses. Next, we continue on the train to the city of Ambato where we will enjoy lunch at the hotel Roka Plaza, located in a patrimonial house. After lunch we continue on board the train to the Urbina station which is located at 11,840 feet above sea level (3,609 msnm.), being the highest train station in the country, here we visit the Interpretation Center or the Ice Men and enjoy the beauty of the landscape at the slopes of Chimborazo, the highest volcano in Ecuador.

After this visit we will go by bus to hostería Abraspungo where we will have dinner and we will spend the night.

DAY 3 THURSDAY (B/L/D) Early in the morning we leave the hotel to go to the Riobamba train station, here we will take the train with the steam locomotive and will continue to Colta to visit the Balbanera church, which is known as the first church built in Ecuador. Then we continue our journey by train to Guamote, where we will visit the main attractions of the city and the indigenous market, which is one of the largest and most important in the country. After this visit we will have lunch at the train station.

In the afternoon we will go to the train station in Alausí and after a short stop we will continue our journey through the Devil's Nose, we will stop for a few minutes at the viewpoint to appreciate this important engineering work and to understand why it is called the most difficult train in the world. We continue by train to Bucay, on the way we will see the climatic transition between the Sierra and the Coast.

Accommodation and dinner will be at hotel D’Franco in the area.

DAY 4 FRIDAY (B/L) After breakfast, we will take a short walk in the forest near to the hotel, where we can appreciate some of the flora and fauna typical of the coast and we will also visit some of the plantations of the coastal region. Then we will go to the Shuar community, which despite migrate many years ago from the Amazon to the Coast, they keep their customs and traditions. After these visits, we will go to the ranch San Rafael for lunch; afterwards we will board the train to go to the Durán train station. On the way we will pass through typical coast plantations such as bananas, sugarcane, rice, and we will travel with the steam locomotive.

We end our four days journey with a transfer to your hotel in Guayaquil.

GUAYAQUIL - QUITO ITINERARY DESCRIPTION DAY 1 SUNDAY (L/D) We depart from the Eloy Alfaro train station in Durán at 8:00 am on board the Tren Crucero. During our journey we will pass through typical coast plantations such as bananas, sugarcane, rice, and we will travel with the steam locomotive. On our way to Bucay we will stop at the San Rafael ranch where we can do a hike or horseback riding before having lunch. After lunch we will go by bus to the Shuar community, which despite migrate many years ago from the Amazon to the Coast, they keep their customs and traditions.

Accommodation and dinner will be at hotel D’Franco in the area.

DAY 2 MONDAY (B/L/D) Early in the morning, after breakfast, we leave the hotel to go to the Bucay train station, here we will take the train and start our trip to the Ecuadorian highlands. On the way we will see the climatic transition between the Coast and the Sierra. Our first stop will be at the viewpoint of Sibambe to appreciate this important engineering work and to understand why it is called the most difficult train in the world. After this short stop we will start our trip up to Alausí by the zigzag railway through the Devil’s Nose.

Then we continue our journey by train to Guamote, where we will take lunch at the train station and then we will visit the main attractions of the city in order to understand the way of living of the indigenous people of the area. After this visit, we continue our journey to Colta; from here we will travel again with the steam locomotive. After visiting the Balbanera church, which is the first church built in Ecuador, we continue our trip to the Riobamba station and we will spend the night in hostería Abraspungo.

DAY 3 TUESDAY (B/L/D) After breakfast we will go by bus to Urbina, this is the highest point in our trip, this train station is located at 11,840 feet above sea level (3,609 msnm). Here we will visit the Interpretation Center of the Ice Men and will enjoy the beauty of the landscape at the slopes of the Chimborazo, the highest volcano in Ecuador. Next, we continue on board the train to the city of Ambato where we will have lunch at hotel Roka Plaza, located in one of the patrimonial houses of the city. After lunch we will leave to Latacunga, on the way we will stop to visit a rose plantation, where we can learn about the growing, harvesting and post-harvest processes of the roses. After this visit we continue our trip and when we get to Latacunga train station we will be part of a small festivity.

Today’s accommodation and dinner will be in La Cienega, a colonial hacienda full of history and charm.

DAY 4 WEDNESDAY (B/L/D) After lunch, we will go by bus to the Cotopaxi National Park. There we will do a short hike in the slopes of the volcano to enjoy the landscapes, the flora and fauna. Then we continue our trip and we will visit hacienda San AgustĂ­n del Callo to have a delicious lunch. In the afternoon we will go to the station located in El Boliche Recreational Area to take the train to go to the Chimbacalle station in Quito where we will end our trip.

During this journey you will have the chance to observe the life in the valleys near to Quito.We end our four days trip with a transfer to your hotel in Quito.

INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS: trencrucero@trenecuador.com www.trenecuador.com/crucero