Private Devil's Nose Hike and Ingapirca Ruins Tour
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Cuenca, Ecuador
- 9 to 11 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Connecting the Andes Mountains to the coast, the Devil’s Nose Train was considered one of the world’s greatest feats of engineering when it was built in 1899. On this private tour, enjoy the convenience of private transportation to Alausi, the starting point for the train. Take in the scenic Andean landscape en route to the coast, then continue along the Pan-American Highway to Ingapirca, Ecuador’s largest pre-Columbian archaeological site.
- Explore the ruins with a private guide; ask all your questions
- Views of the Andes Mountains from a historic train
- Hassle-free hotel pickup and drop-off in Cuenca
- Skip the line at the train station with all-inclusive option
What's Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Lunch (if option selected)
- All taxes, fees and handling charges
- Transport by private vehicle or van
- Driver/guide
- Private tour
- Lunch
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Itinerary
1
The Devil's Nose Train Ride
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
2
Ingapirca Ruins
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free options are available, please advise at time of booking if required
- Stroller accessible
- A minimum of 2 adults per booking is required
- Infant meals not included
- Comfortable walking shoes are recommended
- Near public transportation
- For 1 to 5 passengers, a bilingual guide will also be the driver. For more than 5 passengers, a driver and a bilingual guide will be provided.
- Infants must sit on laps
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
5.0
based on 20 reviews
Robert_R, Dec 2021
Great time hope to do again when the sun is out more even with the cloud cover it seamed it open up at the right times then close back up when we were done very magical
Roger_G, Feb 2020
Diego is most professional and knowledgeable. He was punctual and considerate. Definitely a memorable day
Stephanie_F, Jul 2019
Our guide Clever picked us up on time in a clean vehicle. He was very polite and organized and above all a safe driver. From the minute he picked us up everything was in his hands. We were taken right to the train departure car and picked us up from it and he preordered our lunch meals so we didn’t waste time waiting. He was very knowledgeable about Ingapirca. Some great attractions were made better by his organization and attention to detail.
JAROSLAW_A, May 2019
We had a private tour with my wife in April. The trip was very successful. Our guide Javier gave us a lot of information about the country and places. Thanks to him, the trip had great educational values. The journey by train from Alausi is quite short and it is very commercial. The ruins of Ingapirca are very interesting, but if you were in Peru and you expect a similar class of monument, you may be disappointed. They are not so impressive and well-preserved. The views that you have on the way are wonderful. We can certainly recommend the guide Javier.
Way S, Aug 2017
Although this tour involves a good bit of driving, we found it to be really worthwhile. The drive to Alausí, where the train begins and ends, allowed us to go through amazing country and small pueblos. It gave us a sense of the beauty of Ecuador, as well as the difficulties in farming the mountainsides. The views as we climbed higher in the Andes were incredible -- Often we were looking down a valley enveloped in clouds. Javier was again our guide and was able to answer questions and give information beyond a simple guide book. The arrangements tickets, substantial bag lunch, water were made by CBT we just had to get on the train to Sibambe, a Cañari town that is the terminus of the train trip. The train's original goal was to create a link between the capital, Quito, and the coast, as a means of transporting food from the sierras. While that goal of food transportation was ultimately not achieved, the creating of that rail link is an incredible engineering feat. The stretch between Alausí and Sibambe, towards the Devil's Nose, lives up to its reputation as one of the most difficult stretches to build, as it climbs the face of Condor Mountain, with sheer drops by the edge of the tracks. The landslide closing the visitor's center higher up -- at Sibambe -- may representative of the inherent dangers in building such a railroad in such steep terrain. Right now part of the old center is hanging over the tracks! Riders on the train are welcomed at the station by Cañaris dancing. The Sibambe interpretation center provides historical background, as well as information about the various activities of the Cañaris who lived and continue to live in the area. The train trip was followed by a visit to Ingapirca, the site of Inca and Cañari ruins. Definitely worth a visit, even in the rain! The park provides guided tours, with the guides providing historical information about the site. When heading back to Cuenca, it was interesting to learn from Javier where many of the original stones of the ruins went!
From $175.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Private Devil's Nose Hike and Ingapirca Ruins Tour
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