We did the four days/3 nights trip from Guayaguil to Quito.The tour was well organised, with many stops. A bus is driving the same route and brings you to places were the train not can come. The busses brings you and luggage to the hotels.The trip is uniique and very comfortable. 2 nights in historic haciendas one night in a hostel in a remote area. This hotel was not so good. Food is included and we had one lunch on board of the train, this was very good. The train brings you alone the vulcano route to a high of 3800 m.The devils noise was a highlight.
We did the 4 day/3 night Tren Crucero from Quito to Guayaquil, and it was an amazing experience. The train is very comfortable and the staff is fantastic. The guides and engineers absolutely love this train and sharing their knowledge and everything their country has to offer. Thanks to Isabel, Yoyi, and Anabel we are completely in love with Ecuador! All the haciendas we stayed at were superb, with the exception of the 3rd night, which was still good; however, due to the hostel-style rooms (you still get your own room of course), it caused people to hang out in the communal rooms more, which produced one of the most memorable evenings of the trip for many. Don't get me wrong, this place was clean and the property was gorgeous, just the rooms were a bit Spartan compared to how they spoiled us the other nights. I still loved it!!! The food stops were great and memorable the whole trip, and you basically have all you can eat local snacks and fruit the entire train ride between stops. Some of my most memorable moments were the lunch stop at Hacienda La Danesa, the rose plantation, and the first evening's hacienda stay (thank you Yoyi!!!) However, the most rewarding experiences from this spectacular tour for me were the beautiful, waving children the entire trip and the life-long friends I know we have made on this journey, both guests and staff. Thank you for making it such an unforgettable experience, and I will see some of you soon!!! I highly, highly, highly recommend this adventure!!!
we had this planned last minute but loved every minute of it. beautiful landscapes and the stops in some little village was great, dance included :)
The most routes are very cheap 10$.You will have a nice view. But you should book in advance !!!!!!
My husband had read about this trip and we were very much looking forward to this tour. We boarded the train @ 7:30am in Quito for a 4day, 3 nite trip to Guayaguil on our way to The Galápagos Islands. The Tren Crucero journey is a unique trip. You get to see a lot of inland Ecuador including snow capped volcanoes, little villages and markets and on the last day, the incredible Devils Nose, an engineering feat, where the train zigzags down the side of a steep mountain dropping some 200 meters with a series of switch back maneuvers. The train portion was very nice.....great crews, lots of snacks (and one day lunch on board) and even great cappuccinos! Plus different cars to hang around and view sites.At nite, before sunset, we arrived at our designated stations and were shuttled to our accommodations. The hacienda.the first nite ( near Lasso station) was a very lovely place....Halo Verde, where rooms were very luxurious and comfortable....dinner was exquisite (we added a bottle of wine that was available for purchase). At our table were the haciendas owners who we enjoyed a topical conversation about history and politics in Ecuador......a very special evening.Our 2nd night's accommodation was near Riobamba station at a more hotelish property called Andaluza......an above average multi roomed place, with dinner in hotel dining room.....it was fine, nothing special.Our final night's stay was the Huigra station in a small village where our accommodation was less than average....and dinner not worth noting.I'm sure in this small area, accommodations are scarce.On the fourth day, we stopped at a cacao plantation and then had lunch @ La Danesa, a very lovely property w/a nice lunch. They have only been added as a stop recently, but was one of the more memorable places we visited....again because the people were so gracious. Our travel companions were a fun group of 15, international and interesting.....the other 30 plus passengers were "gifted students" who are given this trip in a government subsidized program. They were generally well behaved and we were separated in transportation situations and @ our 1st nite accommodations. However the other nites we were all housed and fed @ same places. I think we felt more like chaperones than luxury train patrons. Transportation to a hotel was provided @ end of train in Guayaquil. You arrive @ 5 PM, you might consider a cab, as our transfer took 2 hours on the bus, as we were the last couples dropped off.This is certainly a unique trip and if u plan to do it, check on number of students traveling w/u....perhaps if u speak Spanish, traveling with them would be a learning experience, but since we didn't, it felt like we were, at many times, invited on a school field trip instead of a luxury train trip.
Trains in Ecuador are being restored as tourist attractions. There are a variety of excursions and they have good itineraries including lunch at a farm.
This was the most amazing trip! From Quito, high up in the Andes, down to the Equatorial coastal city of Guayaquil. Steam and Diesel engines. Wonderful carriages and charming helpful crew. The journey is slow so one can appreciate the constantly changing landscape. The descent down La Nariz del Diablo is one of the most incredible railway engineering feats in the world. This is Ecuador's wonderful secret. This trip is not to be missed!!!!
Ecuador is an amazing country!! You would think that being on Equator it would be very hot. Big mistake. 80% of the population lives in the mountains - 9,000 feet and above where temperatures all days - 70 to 80 F, evenings and nights - 40 to 55 F. Do not forget warm clothing!! Until I bought an Alpaca Sweater I was very uncomfortable. Some hotels offer water bottles and send the attendant to start up the fire place. Once you get off the mountains - Amazon region - it is hot, but it was only 2 days!! Quito- capital is modern city with a lot of attractions and things to see - Equator line and museum/park around it, churches, restaurants, colorful markets, central square that is very live and crowded in the evening. Gate 1 company provided excellent guides, hotels, food and entertainment. We hiked, kayaked, went on the canoes, visited tribes in Amazon, went on the raft on one of the Amazon tributaries, visited coffee and coca plantation, visited one of the roses plantation where they produce and ship over 100,000 roses of more than 300 varieties to USA, Europe and Russia. Gate 1 guide took us to local artists and craftsman even Ice cream making shop with free ice cream! You can purchase beautiful things out of wool and Alpaca for a very reasonable price. Everything is negotiable and you can use American $$ - this is Ecuador's official currency. Gate 1 message "More of the world for less" is true and thank you Gate 1 for the trip plus we made many great friends.
The trip takes an entire day, but it's a day well spent. Our tour guide, Andrés, was fantastic. The trip offers something for everyone, from folkloric dancing to spectacular views and a short hike. The ticket office went out of their way to accommodate our group, with little notice. You should book this trip in advance to ensure you get the day/time you want.
My family and I took this trains several times in different routes. My kids couldn't enjoy it more, Ecuador has great landscapes and this is an excellent way to take a look at them. The Nariz del Diablo is one of the bests. In each train you have a well educated tour guide, who generally speaks English and of course Spanish. The offer you an snack in the middle of the trip. I truly recommend this tours.