Trans Andean Railroad Adventure
On June 25th, precisely 97 years after the first entrance of the train to Quito, Metropolitan Touring, the largest travel agency in Ecuador, inaugurated "Chiva Express", a colorful ride along the original railroad, descending from the Andes to the Coast through a spectacular journey.

The variety of climates and the fantastic natural and cultural scenery along the way are overwhelming. Moreover, the "Chivas” themselves are a colorful part of the landscape. A 'Chiva' is a typical, old-fashioned Latin American bus, with open sides and room on the roof for bags of grain, fruit and even animals. Chiva Express is a unique combination of a Chiva with a train, decorated with naïve paintings by a local indigenous artist from the town of Tigua (Cotopaxi) depicting the landscape, festivities and legends of the sites found along the journey.

CHIVA Express takes you from the patchworks of the Andean crops, remote indigenous huts and the imposing "Avenue of the Volcanoes" to the lush tropical coastal vegetation and wooden farmhouses on stilts. The best way to experience this exhilarating ride is to climb to the especially designed seats on the top of the Chiva’s roof! They are comfortable, safe, and ensure the best view!
Train travel in Ecuador began in the early 1900’s, when the Quito-Guayaquil line was inaugurated. It reduced a nine-day trek along a path that was impassable during the rainy season, to a two-day journey. Soon, it was acclaimed as one of the "great railway journeys of the world". A great deal of this railway was destroyed during the El Niño floods of 1982-83, but some sections have since been repaired. Metropolitan Touring offers special tours that complete the antique railroad route combining the Chiva rides through the rails with bus rides through the parallel highways.

"As you head through Ecuador atop the Chiva Express, you will journey through the ever-changing scenery and exotic terrain of Ecuador. From the ice capped volcano of the Cotopaxi to the tropics of the Guayas region, the Chiva Express is a must see experience through the heart of this beautiful country. Metropolitan Touring offers its guests the highest standards in accommodation, cuisine and personal service. Every detail is designed to put its guests at ease and to offer a relaxed, educational expedition for all ages. Whether you have a weekend or a month, the Chiva Express is truly the best way to experience mainland Ecuador "(Kassia Walker , NYC).

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