Day 1 – TUESDAY: Depart Quito – Travel to Cotopaxi and Latacunga

Cities covered : Quito , Cotopaxi , Latacunga

We depart from the Chimbacalle train station in Quito at 8:00 am on board a traditional excursion train and head towards Cotopaxi, ending in el Boliche. Here, our journey continues by coach as we explore the magnificent Cotopaxi National Park, featuring typical Andean volcanic landscapes and a walking tour of the Limpiopungo glacial lagoon.

Our journey continues to San Agustin de Callo Hacienda for lunch featuring Ecuadorian nouvelle cuisine. This building is a fine example of traditional Inca architecture, as it once stood as an Inca Palace, built before the Colonial period. After exploring the hacienda, we will experience a presentation by local community in the Lasso train station, our next stop.

Overnight and dinner is provided by either La Cienega, Hato Verde or the Rumipamba de las Rosas traditional haciendas of the region.

Day 2 – WEDNESDAY: Travel to Riobamaba Through the Valley of the Volcanoes

Cities covered : Latacunga , Urbina , Ambato , Riobamba

After breakfast, we depart by bus to train station to board Tren Crucero. We continue our journey and visit an Ecuadorian rose plantation where we will learn about the world famous Ecuadorian roses and see this they are grown before being sent all over the globe.

We then continue on board TrenCrucero to Ambato and have lunch at the delightful Roka Plaza Hotel, an ancient colonial house. If weather conditions permits, we will have – from a safe distance – a view of Tungurahua volcano, which is still active and which occasionally offers nature´s most impressive event, a volcanic eruption.

After lunch we travel in our luxury train to Urbina which is located at 11,840 feet (3,609) meters, above sea level, making Urbina the highest train station in Ecuador. Here we meet the “Last Ice Merchant”, who will share with us his daily journey to the slopes of Chimborazo Volcano to collect centuries old ice. If weather allows, we will also be able to enjoy a breathtaking view of Chimborazo volcano.

After this visit we will continue by train to the Riobamba Train Station and afterwards, to our hotel (either the Abraspungo or Andaluza hotels)for dinner and a good night’s sleep.

Day 3 – THURSDAY: Take the train Down the Devil’s Nose to Duran

Cities covered : Riobamba , Colta , Guamote , Alausí , Huigra , Bucay

Tren Crucero, now pulled by a steam locomotive travels across stunning Andean landscapes to Colta where we have a short stop to visit Balbanera church, the first landmark Christianity made upon its arrival to these lands. Here we switch the locomotive to a Diesel Engine in preparation for the Devil’s nose ride.

We travel to Guamote and explore its famous indigenous market. This is one of the last authentic markets in the Ecuadorian Andes and a traditional lunch will be served at the station by the local community.

In the afternoon,we depart by train to Alausi train station traveling across fascinating natural geological formations. We then start our descent by train down to the famous Devil´s Nose where the train has to perform zigzag maneuvers in order to descent 200 meters of altitude whilst travelling across 3 kilometers of rail. We then make a short stop at a viewpoint to observe and photograph this magnificent engineering achievement that is known as the most difficult railway project in the world.

We continue by train to Huigra, a small village located between the Andes and the coast lands where the weather is usually very different than what we experience in the highlands. We spend the night in a local hacienda.

Day 4 – FRIDAY: Enjoy Local Experiences Along the Way to Duran / Guayaquil

Cities covered : Huigra , Bucay , Yaguachi , Guayaquil

After breakfast, our coach will take us to the HuigraTrain Station and we then travel along the dramatic Chanchan riverbed down to Bucay Station. On the way, we witness the transition from the Andes to the Ecuadorian coastal plain with its rich soil and lush vegetation. Once in Bucay, we go by coach to El Limonar, to visit the Shuar community. The Shuars migrated here some 70 years ago travelling from the Amazon basin to the coast and they will share with us their ancestral customs and traditions.

After lunch, we have a visit to a commercial cacao plantation to learn how cacao is produced, processed and how famous Ecuadorian chocolates are made. We continue our journey to the Yaguachi train station and the magnificently restored steam locomotive that will pull us up to the Duran train station in Guayaqil. This final and fascination section of the journey passes through Ecuador’s coastal plain with its rich soil, lush vegetation and plantations heavy with bananas, sugarcane, mango, pineapple and rice.

Duran is our last stop and after fond farewells, passengers are transferred by coach to the main hotels in Guayaquil (including the Hilton Colón, Oro Verde, Hampton Inn, Wyndham, Grand Hotel Guayaquil and the Sonesta) to stay the night before a morning departure to the exciting Galapagos Islands!

Day 5 – SATURDAY: Travel to the Galapagos Islands with Excursions to Manzanillo Ranch & Charles Darwin Station

Cities covered : Santa Cruz Island

We will start off the morning with a trip to the airport, where we will fly to the Galapagos Islands! Upon arrival in Baltra we will take a shuttle through Santa Cruz Island, traveling to the highlands of the Islands classified by their lush green vegetation. We will stop in the highlands to visit Manzanillo Ranch, where we will be able to observe the famous giant tortoises in their natural habitat! After this experience we will head to Puerto Ayora for lunch and will continue on to the Charles Darwin Station, where we will visit the magnificent tortoise breeding center and learn about the conservation efforts underway at the station and throughout the Galapagos Islands. We will then return to the hotel for accommodation and dinner.

Day 6 – SUNDAY: Navigable Tour to Bartolome Island

Cities covered : Santa Cruz Island

After breakfast, we will travel to Baltra to start our first navigable tour, otherwise known as a yacht cruise tour, to Bartolome Island. The main attraction of this island is the incredibly unique landscape with lunar-like craters, impressive lava formations, and the famous Pinnacle Rock. Lunch will be enjoyed aboard the yacht. Before leaving Bartolome, we will have the opportunity to snorkel in one of the stunning coral beaches where we might even be able to see Galapagos penguins, sea turtles, sea lions, and beautiful multi-colored fish. We will return to the hotel in the afternoon, where you will enjoy free time and dinner at the hotel.

Day 7 – MONDAY: Navigable Tour to North Seymour Island

Cities covered : Santa Cruz Island

Today we will enjoy another navigable tour to North Seymour, a 1.9 km² island located north of Baltra. The main species found on this island are the land iguanas, the magnificent frigate bird with their distinct scarlet pouch, the famous blue-footed boobies with their one-of-a-kind courtship dance, and sea lions enjoying the surf. Today lunch will be enjoyed aboard the yacht. We will return to the hotel in the afternoon, where you will enjoy free time, dinner will be at the hotel.

Day 8 – TUESDAY: Visit to El Trapiche and the Bella Vista Lava Tunnels Before Return Flight

Cities covered : Santa Cruz Island

After breakfast, we will drive approximately 45 minutes up to the highlands of Santa Cruz. The vegetation transforms and gets greener and greener as we go higher! Once we get to “El Trapiche”, the Spanish word for sugar mill, we will have the opportunity to experience the day-in-the-life of a local family and witness the production of their delicious sugar cane. The property is owned by a Galapageños family, and our father and son hosts will invite guests to turn the press, which is a basic tool used in their daily manufacturing. As the sugar cane plant goes through the press, a light-colored juice spills into a pot and it is then boiled. The juice will later transform into the brown sugar cubes that we are accustomed to seeing! We will then have the opportunity to taste a delicious local cocktail with our gracious hosts. The last part of our excursion will be a brief explanation about the production of the incipient Galapagos Coffee, a new variety that grows right on the islands. Before driving back to the lowlands of Santa Cruz we will make a stop at the Bella Vista Lava Tunnels, where you can admire the incredible geological formations of the magma activity once on the island, walk through the tunnels and enjoy a brief explanation of its history and formation. Afterwards, we will travel to the airport for a flight back to mainland Ecuador.

 PHOTO GALLERY

Incredible Galapagos	Meet the Famous Blue Footed Boobie
Make Friends with the Baby Seals	Filled with Unique Experiences
Ride in Comfort	Luxurious Train Interior
Shuar Community Experience	Meet the Last Ice Merchant
Tren Crucero	Ever Changing Landscapes