Guayaquil to Quito Train Journey

Arrive at the airport in Guayaquil, and meet your guide who will take you to your hotel. Settle your belongings once you've checked in and then take a half-day city tour of Guayaquil. Visit the 19th-century neighborhood of Las Peñas, the boardwalk of Malecón 2000, La Rotonda monument and the archaeological museum of the Central Bank.

After breakfast, depart from Durán on board a vintage steam locomotive. Switch engines in Yaguachi and continue your journey past sugar cane, banana and pineapple plantations.

For lunch, make your way to the coast, where you will visit a traditional hacienda (ranch). While here, learn about the best cocoa bean in the world and indulge in homemade chocolate. Yum! Later, watch a captivating show on Montubio culture and continue your trip towards Bucay. If the weather is pleasant, you might get a glimpse of the Andes in the distance!

Travel along the canyon of river Chanchán and enjoy the remarkable scenery as the train leaves the coast and enters the Andes Mountain range. Cross vertiginous heights and winding switchbacks along the Devil's Nose route, which is one of Ecuador's most impressive railroad routes. After climbing a mere 450 meters, the train will reach Alausi, a charming village nestled in the Andes.

Later, cross through colorful quinoa fields and visit the Palacio Real (an indigenous community) in the town of Colta. While here, you can learn about the llamas of the land. Then, continue your journey until you reach Riobamba. Make one quick visit to the Tran Station Artisan's Square before heading to your hotel. Relax for the rest of the evening.

Today, depart for Urbina. While traveling towards Quito, make a stop at Chimborazo volcano, where the last ice merchant awaits you. Learn about his ancestral trade and the beautiful culture of the indigenous communities of Chimborazo. Then, make your way north, passing through the Avenue of Volcanoes. If it's a clear day, you can spot up to 20 volcanoes from the comfort of your seat. Later, explore the skirts of Cotopaxi volcano and an Andean forest trail before continuing your journey to Quito.

After breakfast, continue to the Northern Andes. Visit Otavalo, a town resting in the Andean highlands. Explore the Otavalo Market, in the central Plaza de Ponchos, where you can find traditional textiles and handicrafts. Later, visit Ibarra, a city in northern Ecuador. Stroll along the streets lined with colonial architecture, shop amidst the bustling commercial atmosphere and relax in one of the many beautiful plazas.

In the afternoon, head to a traditional hacienda for a delicious lunch. Then make your way back for your last night in Quito.

This morning, after breakfast in your hotel, meet your guide for a tour of Quito's colonial district, as well as an excursion to the Middle of the World complex. See bustling streets and squares of the largest historical old town in the Americas, a multi-ethnic, artistic and cultural heritage destination. Visit the "Middle of the World" monument, situated at 0º0'0" latitude. At the end of the tour, your guide will take you back to your hotel. In the evening, you're free to roam about Quito on your own.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. Then, your driver will transfer you to the Quito International Airport for your flight home or to your next destination in South America.