2-Day Historical Train Route from the Pacific Coast to Highlands

Day 1 - Saturday

Departure from the Durán Train Station at 8:00 am. Arrival at the Naranjito Train Station at 10:00 am. A group of local entrepreneurs recount why Ecuador’s cacao is regarded as the finest in the world, explaining the bean’s origin, sowing, harvest and transformation into chocolate.

After exploring a landscape dominated by sugar cane fields, banana plantations, cocoa, coffee, and rice paddies, we arrive at Bucay at 12:00 pm, the gateway to the Andes. Lunch at Bucay train station.

At 13:30 pm the train begins an epic trip: its ascent towards the Andes, the longest mountain range on earth. We witness the transition in climates and ecosystems between the coast and the sierra, Over the course of less than an hour, the mountains begin to dominate the landscape. The Andes exert a huge impact over all forms of life here. Plants, animals and even people change dramatically depending on the ecological niche where they’ve developed. This is why Ecuador is considered one of the most diverse nations on the planet.

Arrival at the Devil´s Nose viewpoint (15:55 pm) where we enjoy a magnificent view from the bottom of the mountain, the most significant obstacle the railroad engineers faced at the end of 19th century. The Devil’s Nose offers one of the most beautiful and spectacular Trans-Andean journeys in the world. Arrival at Alausí Train Station at 16:55 pm.

Day 2 - Sunday

Departure from Alausí back towards Sibambe at 07:00. The train arrives at Sibambe after a 12-kilometer journey down perpendicular walls, in the deep and dramatic valley which forms the Chanchán River. Upon arrival at a zig zag ‘switchback’, the train reverses for 500 meters towards the bottom of the canyon, and then carries on forwards. At Sibambe station, local Andean communities welcome us dancing in their colourful dress. On the nearby hillside, visit the Condor Puñuna Museum that tells the story of the ancient Puruhá kingdom from which this community descends. Impressive view of the Chanchán canyon from the viewpoint.

Arrival at Huigra train station at 09:20. This was a strategic point on the early railroad system, equipped with management offices, printing presses, telegraph systems and distpatchers. We climb a nearby hill to comtemplate an impressive view towards the coast: here, the humidity of the Pacific Ocean forms clouds that are then pushed up against the mountains as they ascend to almost 1,220 m. Huigra was a melting pot of cultures: from Jamaican construction workers, engineers from the United States, Chinese workers and Ecuadorians. It was and is also a meeting point for produce from the coast and from the Andes. Disembark at Bucay Train Stration for lunch at 12:15.

Arrival at the Durán Train Station after traveling through a landscape dominated by sugar cane fields, banana plantations, cocoa, coffee and rice paddies at 17:20 pm.