Page Importance:
*Update March 2009: Due to flooding and landslides the train between Riobamba and Alausí has temporarily ceased operations. A bus departs at 6 a.m. from the Riobamba train station to take visitors the 2.5 hours to El Nariz del Diablo on Wed., Fri. and Sun. Later buses leave from the Riobamba train station.
Due to safety concerns passengers are no longer allowed to ride on the roof of the trains.
El Nariz del Diablo, The Devil’s Nose, is the highlight of a rail trip that meanders through the rich tapestry of cultivated fields and páramo in the southern half of Ecuador's 400-kilometer long Central Valley. The valley was aptly christened "The Avenue of the Volcanoes" in 1802 by the German explorer Alexander Von Humboldt.
The journey begins in the small city of Riobamba. Like many cities in the Ecuadorian Andes, Riobamba sits in the shadow of a giant volcano, Chimborazo, which at 6,310 meters enjoys the distinction of being Ecuador's highest peak. The train travels south from Chimborazo through a number of small villages and large expanses of open country before arriving at the small town of Alausi.
The people of Alausi have taken advantage of the growing fame of their stretch of rails by maintaining a series of rail cars. Although the cars have train wheels and black-and-yellow striped cow catchers, the bodies are of decommissioned school buses. Since travelers are no longer allowed to sit on top of the rail cars, competition for window seats is fierce. The rail cars also stop at several different points to allow visitors to disembark and take pictures.
The main attraction of the Devil's Nose ride is the series of switchbacks that engineers carved into the mountain as a way to allow trains to climb a gradient of 1-in-18 from 1800 to 2600 meters, by going forwards then backwards up the tracks. As the rail cars go forward and backward over the three or four zigzags, they will occasionally stop to allow another car to pass.
A hundred years after it was constructed, the steep grade of the Devil’s Nose stretch of track precludes its use as a freight or efficient passenger line, but is a way for present-day explorers to catch a glimpse of the rugged and breathtaking Ecuadorian countryside.
Alausi is currently reconstructing an old train station building at the foot of the mountain that will eventually serve as a museum and gift shop. The reconstruction is expected to be completed by mid-2009.
Location:
Estación de Riobamba, Av. 10 de Agosto and Carabobo
Riobamba, Ecuador
Adventure Tour
Travel Tips: The train only runs on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
It is recommended to be at the station at 6 a.m. although the train doesn't leave until 7 a.m.
The return train from Alausí to Riobamba is scheduled to leave Alausí at 12.30 p.m. but invariably departs later.
Price Description: Cost is $11.20. You can buy tickets on the train, but it is suggested to buy them a day earlier, a task for which you may need your passport.
Contact Information:
Phone: 593-3-296-1909
| Luna Runtun - The Adventure SPA, Baños Ecuador Surrounded by spectacular views and two National Parks, you'll bathe in the luxury of our SPA and immerse yourself in our many activities. http://www.lunaruntun.com |
| Cialcotel, Colonial Ecuador Hotels Live a unique experience staying at San Mateo Inn, on the foothills of Cotopaxi, Quinta Loren in Ambato, & Rumipamba de las Rosas Lodge in Salcedo. www.cialcotel.com |
| 4 & 5** Custom & Scheduled Tours by www.SouthAmerica.travel Create your own travel itinerary with our custom Travel Planner, or choose from one of our 100s of carefully designed itineraries. Special escorted departures. SouthAmerica.travel |
Ecuador Activities by type | Nearby activitiesHotels | Popular Riobamba Destinations | Other Riobamba pages
|
Advertise | Anúnciese | Jobs | Alliances | Alianzas | Terms of Use | Contact Us | About Us | Blog |