On June 25, 2005 Metropolitan Touring started the operation of its highlight rail tours along the Ecuadorian Andes and down to the Coast, with new one-car vehicles on tracks, called the "Chiva Express".� The Chiva has long been a favorite means of transportation in Ecuador, a colorful bus with plenty of room on the roof for people, bananas and perhaps chickens.�
The fun of riding the� "Chiva"� has been combined with the historic Trans-Andean rail ride, down the famous "Devil's Nose" from Quito in the Andean Highlands all the way down to Guayaquil on the coast.� Three brand new "Chivas", were specially built with capacity for 34 guests, with comfortable seating, large windows, toilet facilities and bar.� Guests can enjoy a comfortable ride inside or the fun and exhilarating experience of 'riding the roof'.�
The one day trip of Metropolitan's rail tours departs from Quito, the capital of Ecuador, to the Cotopaxi National Park on a one-day adventure excursion along the Avenue of the Volcanoes with spectacular views of the Andes Mountains.��� Enjoy the ecosystems of the park's windswept moors and lunch at a cozy restaurant up high.� Departures are on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays (MT-150).�
The two-day Quito/Riobamba/Guayaquil "Chiva Express" program departs the Quito train station on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays on a southward journey along the Andes.� Guests can leave the comfort of the car to climb the outside ladder to sit on the roof for the exhilarating ride and panoramic views, protected by a guardrail, as the "Chiva Express” lollops and lurches along narrow-gauge tracks at a leisurely pace. Upon reaching Cotopaxi National Park, the voyage continues by motorcar for a visit of an Indian market. Lunch and ride to Riobamba, to spend the night.� The constantly changing scenery is awesome: snow-capped peaks, high treeless plateau, rushing streams, lush valleys, and steep slopes with patchworks of terraced fields and small Indian villages.�
On the second day, the rail trip takes guests on the "Chiva Express" from Riobamba to Alaus� and on� to the� famous 1,000-foot Devil's Nose (La Nariz del Diablo) switchback, an almost sheer cliff on which the railway track zigzags down a ledge cut into the mountainside overhanging a river gorge south of Alaus�.� The adventure continues on our third Chiva Express down the slopes of the Andes while guests experience the transition from Andean ecosystems to the lush tropical coastal vegetation: bananas, oranges, pineapples, ginger and wooden farm houses on stilts. The last leg of the "Chiva Express" ends in Bucay, and on by motorcar to Guayaquil.� Guests returning to Quito can take the flight Guayaquil/Quito that same evening.� The two-day Quito-Riobamba-Guayaquil program includes all meals and overnight in Riobamba.� Air ticket Guayaquil/Quito is extra. (MT-181).
The "Chiva Express" programs also connect with an overland trip from Alaus� to the beautiful city of Cuenca in the south of Ecuador on three- or four-day excursions including tours, hotels, all meals, tour guide, ground transportation and transfers. (MT-182 and MT.353).��
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