Tailor-made Vacation · Ecuador
Ecuador Mountains and Railway Explorer
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At a glance
Few train rides anywhere in the world climb a volcano, cross the equator, and end on the Pacific in a single week, and Ecuador's Tren Crucero does exactly that in eight days.
Beginning in Quito, the first city named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, your journey on the Tren Crucero will take you through the Andes Mountains, through sites of Incan history, and to marketplaces with local merchants, handmade textiles, and Ecuadorian cuisine.
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From Quito, the train takes you south, tracing a route built more than a century ago to link the mountains with the coast. A short drive out to Mitad del Mundo lets you stand directly on the equator before the real spine of the trip begins.
The train climbs past Cotopaxi Volcano and through the Inca stonework at Hacienda San Agustín de Callo, then descends through Riobamba, where a handful of ice merchants still harvest ice from Chimborazo's glacier by hand.
The most dramatic stretch comes on the descent down the Devil's Nose, a series of switchbacks cut into the mountainside and ridden aboard a restored steam train before the landscape gives way to the rainforest and plantations around Bucay.
The rail journey ends in Duran, with the trip closing out in Guayaquil, Ecuador's largest city and a study in contrast, colonial squares and busy markets sitting easily alongside a modern waterfront skyline.
As luxury LGBTQ+ travel specialists, we arrange every leg of the train, every transfer, and every hotel along the way, so the only real work on this trip is selecting your perfect window seat.
Day by day
This is a sample plan, not a fixed departure. Days can be added, removed or reordered, and almost every client changes something. Prices are an entry-level guide; your quote will be exact.
Days 1-2: Quito
The first day consists of arriving in Quito and a private transfer to your hotel, chosen for its location within easy reach of the historic center, named the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978.
Your second day is spent in the historic center itself, among colonial architecture, cobbled streets, and centuries-old churches, followed by a visit to Mitad del Mundo, where a painted line marks the equator between the northern and southern hemispheres.
Day 3: Chimbacalle to Cotopaxi to Lasso
Board the Tren Crucero at Chimbacalle Station for the first leg of the rail journey, crossing into Cotopaxi National Park beneath the Cotopaxi Volcano.
A stop at Hacienda San Agustín de Callo reveals Inca stonework built directly into the estate’s later colonial architecture before the train continues on to Lasso for the night.
An evening in Lasso consists of an authentic Ecuadorian dinner and time spent recalling the day’s spectacular sights.
Day 4: Lasso to Latacunga to Riobamba
After breakfast, depart for the Latacunga station to board the Cruise Train and continue the journey south.
Along the way, meet one of the last remaining ice merchants who still harvest ice from the mountain’s glacier by hand, a tradition that has all but disappeared elsewhere in the Andes.
The train then travels to Ambato, where lunch will be served. If weather conditions permit, it might be possible to observe at a safe distance a volcanic eruption of the majestic Tungurahua.
Day 5: Riobamba to Bucay
Today consists of the most dramatic leg of the journey, aboard a historic steam train descending the ‘Devil’s Nose,’ a series of switchbacks cut directly into the mountainside.
The train drops 200 meters in just 3 kilometers, and a short break at a viewpoint enables you to appreciate the engineering it took to construct the ‘world’s most difficult’ rail system.
The journey continues along the Chanchán River to the Bucay station. Witness the transition from the Andean highlands to Ecuador’s coastal plains.
Day 6: Bucay to Duran
The final rail leg of the Tren Crucero concludes in Duran, closing out the train portion of the journey before the transfer to Guayaquil.
After breakfast, depart by train from the Bucay station and travel to San Rafael. The journey runs alongside a rainforest and banana, cacao, and sugar cane plantations.
The trip ends upon arrival at Durán station. Transport is provided to take you to Guayaquil’s main hotels.
Day 7: Guayaquil
A day in Guayaquil, Ecuador’s largest city, where a modern skyline sits alongside colonial-era squares and busy markets.
You’ll find quaint squares, parks, and lots of regeneration. The city also has a growing arts scene with lively bars.
The Malecón 2000 waterfront and the colorful Las Peñas neighborhood make an easy pairing for an afternoon on foot.
Your final night will be spent here, before departing in the morning via private transfer.
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Frequently asked questions
What does Out Of Office do?
Out Of Office is a luxury LGBTQ+ travel company specializing in tailor-made vacations and extraordinary journeys around the world. We create bespoke luxury vacations, LGBTQ+ honeymoons, safaris, cruises, beach escapes, private tours and group trips, with every itinerary designed around you. Our travel specialists combine global expertise, first-hand destination knowledge and trusted local partners to create seamless, highly personalized experiences.
Is Out Of Office a gay travel agency?
Out Of Office is an LGBTQ+ owned and run luxury travel specialist, with particular expertise in gay and LGBTQ+ travel. We understand the additional considerations that can come with traveling as an LGBTQ+ person or couple, from local laws and customs to finding genuinely welcoming hotels and experiences.
We welcome every traveler, including friends, families and allies. Many of our clients are not members of the LGBTQ+ community, but choose Out Of Office for our luxury travel expertise, personalized service and discretion.
Do you create tailor-made LGBTQ+ vacations?
Yes. Every tailor-made trip with Out Of Office is designed from scratch around your interests, travel style, budget and the way you want to experience a destination. We can arrange luxury hotels, private transfers, flights, guides, excursions, cruises and special experiences as part of one personalized itinerary. The journeys shown on our website are there to inspire you rather than restrict you; only clearly identified group departures operate as fixed itineraries.
How do you choose LGBTQ+ friendly hotels and destinations?
We combine first-hand destination knowledge with trusted local expertise to recommend luxury hotels, resorts and experiences where LGBTQ+ travelers can feel informed and welcome. We also consider the laws, customs and attitudes of each destination, because LGBTQ+ rights and experiences differ around the world. Our team regularly visit many of the properties we work with and where a destination requires greater awareness, we give you clear and considered advice so that you can make an informed decision about where and how you travel.
We plant trees for every booking
For every booking made with Out Of Office we commit to planting trees in your name to help reduce the impact of travel on future generations. You'll even get a link to see where your trees are planted in the world via our partner Ecologi.
We donate to Rainbow Railroad with every booking
Rainbow Railroad helps LGBTQ+ people escape state-sponsored violence and persecution. A donation goes with every trip we sell, funded by us and never added to your price.
Start Planning Your Trip
Tell us where you would love to go, when you are thinking of traveling and what kind of trip you have in mind. One of our LGBTQ+ travel specialists will create a tailor-made itinerary designed around your destination, style and preferences.
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