Riobamba Travel Forum

i am planning on going on the nariz del diablo trip with my sister on the 24th of december, but i am not sure if it would make more sense for us to come down the 23rd and sleep in riobamba and then take the entire train trip to the nariz and back or if we should just take a bus directly to alausí.

that being said, a few questions:
1) how long is the entire trip from riobamba and back?
2) how long is the trip from riobamba to alausí on the train?
3) how long is the part that leaves from alausí and then comes back to it?
4) how long is a bus ride from alausí to quito, or vice versa?
5) how would one buy tickets in advance?

thanks!

Did the trip today and was less than impressed! Not sure if you really want to come all the way from Quito just for this?

We left the station at 6:40 (ahead of schedule) and after took the bus back to Riobamba. Arrived here at about 2:30 in the afternoon. So if you are wondering about connections to Quito you can make one for that same afternoon. The Swedish girl we met was doing it - the unfortunate thing was that she was forced to return the hour and a half by bus back to Riobamba then catch a different Quito bound bus. I would seriously consider missing this tour though?

My two cents - the ride was not all that scenic, the railway is NOT that impressive (two switchbacks), we didn't even get to ride on the 'real' train - they shuffled us onto two schoolbus looking refurbs retrofitted for train tracks. Granted the sum total of $11 plus $1 for a cushion made it an alright time killer but it isn't the grand tour the guide books and some online folks make it sound. Switching the train out was the biggest downer for me - definitely unimpressed with the whole trip!

Scott

P.S. If you go sit on the right-hand side of the roof or you will face cliffs, trees and grass for 80 percent of the route. Made some folks a bit unhappy ;)

Yep, did the whole trip - and nope wasn't overly impressed. Again, it is two switchbacks. Have seen much more dramatic engineering feats in life and frankly didn't have a real train to see it from either which killed all the fun. Guess I missed the point - along with 25 other people?

Scott