The third day is dedicated to the cultural and natural experience of exploring the charms of Cuenca, with its cobblestone streets and flowering plazas.

DAY 1
The adventure starts in Quito with a bus ride to the station of Tambillo, where the "Chiva Express", a colorful one coach train, like a bus on tracks, is ready to depart. A highlight of the trip is to 'ride the roof' with a panoramic view of the stunning Andean region of Ecuador. You will leisurely enjoy the ever-changing scenery as the "Chiva Express" advances along the ancient tracks. Stop for a snack at a dairy hacienda with cows, horses and llamas. Then the Chiva advances up and down the slopes of Cotopaxi volcano and the fertile Valley of Latacunga for a visit to a rose plantation and a taste of the products of the land (potatoes and broccoli picked that same morning). Continue by bus to Riobamba, and at the foot of imposing Chimborazo volcano, visit a Tagua workshop and warm up with a canelazo by the fireplace. Dinner and overnight at Riobamba.

DAY 2 After an early breakfast, transfer to the train station to board the "Chiva Express" for an astonishing ride, twisting and turning over the Andes, along bridging ravines and river gorges. Stop at Guamote, an Indian town, for a short visit to an Educational Center for Adults’ Development and Sustainability. Continue aboard the Chiva to Alausí, where a snack is served, and prepare to go down the Devil’s Nose switch backs, one of the most impressive feats of rail engineering in the world, and back to Alausí. Continue south along the Andes by motorcar to Cuenca, visiting the Inca Ruins of Ingapirca to arrive at dusk. Box lunch en-route. Accommodations and all meals at the hotel in Cuenca.

DAY 3
Today guests will enjoy a full day to discover, at a leisurely pace, the beauty and charm for which Cuenca has been recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Site. Its red tiled roofs, cobblestone streets, flowery plazas and museums make it very special. Lunch is served at a cozy restaurant. Late afternoon transfer to the airport to take the flight to Quito. Air ticket Cuenca / Quito is not included.

NOTE: Accommodation in Cuenca at hotels Oro Verde, Santa Lucía or Carvalho. Accommodations at Mansión Alcázar have extra cost.

Dress in layers (T-shirt, blouse, sweater, coat) and rain protection. Sun protection (SPF 40) even if the day is cloudy. Hat or cap. Good walking shoes.
Altitude: 2,550 meters (7,750 feet) to 3,000 meters (10,000 feet)
Average Temperature: Day 10° to 25° C / 50° to 77° F. Night 6° to 10° C / 43° to 50° F.

Attractions:

In 1895, Eloy Alfaro, then President of Ecuador made contact with the North American technicians Archer Harman and Edward Morely, representatives of an American company interested in the building of the "most difficult railway in the world" as it was called at that time, "The Guayaquil & Quito Railway Company" which would link the main port of Ecuador, Guayaquil on the Pacific Coast to the capital city of Quito, high up in the Andes. An agreement was reached, and the  construction started in 1899.

The tracks finally reached a huge obstacle -an almost perpendicular wall of rock- called the "Devil's Nose".  Many lives were shed in the building of what until now is considered a masterpiece of railway engineering: a zigzag carved out of the rock, which allows the train, by advancing and backing up, to reach the necessary height to the town of Alausí.  The train finally reached Alausí by September 1902 and Riobamba by July 1905.

CANELAZO    

Time of Preparing: 30 minutes
Number of Portions: :6
Level of difficulty: Easy
Cathegory: Hot Drink 
From:  Ecuador

Ingredients:
1 cup of "aguardiente" - sugarcane liquour also known as "fire water"
3 cups of water
½ cup sugar (preferably brown sugar)
6 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Preparation:
Combine water, sugar and cinnamon sticks in a saucepan and bring to a boil.  Pour the aguardiente and maintain in the fire but do not let it boil.  Once it is very hot, remove from fire and add the lemon juice.  Serve very hot in short thick glasses.

TAGUA NUT or "VEGETABLE IVORY"    

Tagua is the nut of a palm tree whose scientific name is phytephas accuatorialis, found in the tropical rain forests of the coast and the Amazon lowlands of Ecuador.  The color and consistency of the tagua is very similar to ivory.

Before plastic and other synthetic materials came into the world market, it was widely used for making buttons, chess figures, handles for canes, etc.  Then it was almost forgotten until the eighties, when it came again into use for hand made buttons, jewelry, toys and souvenirs.  The working of the Tagua nuts not only contributes to the economy of the artisans but also to the preservation of this native palm, part of the tropical rain forest that are quickly disappearing.  The main craft shops working on tagua nuts are located in the city of Riobamba.