TOUR DESCRIPTION: The Train from Ibarra--San Lorenzo in 3 Days

Day 1:
Early in the Morning we travel from Quito to Ibarra in our private car 4x4 with Guide, we arrive at noon, after lunchin a City Tour we visit the principal Highlights in the City: Historical center, Main Churches & Museums, Overnight in the Hotel you want in Ibarra on own.

Day 2: Early in the morning we take the train to San Lorenzo, the tour is 193 km and is completed in 7 to 10 hours. (depending on the breakdowns in the route). If the climate is good, it is advisable to make the trip on the roof of the autoferro to enjoy the sites and provide an easier way to buy food and fruits from the street vendors, overnigt in a Tipical Hotel in San Lorenzo on own .

Day 3: Free time to enjoy the wonderful beach near the Hotel and visit the Town, late in the night return by Bus to Quito.
All Meals & Lodging on own.

BRIEF GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Ibarra, "the White City", is the capital of the province of Imbabura (329.755 inhabitants) This beautiful city conserves an colonial type architecture of painted target houses and tiled roofs, eventhough the city was totally destroyed by an earthquake in 1868.

Existing in Ibarra are several churches that should be visited. For Example, The Painful, Santo Domingo, and The Mercy; also exist several parks with interesting monuments.

You will want to take advantage of the great ice cream de paila here in Ibarra. The ice cream is formed by an elaborated beating of fruit juices in a great bronze paila placed on ice and straw.

The holidays in Ibarra take place during September and they are very popular in the region.

San Antonio of Ibarra is a small population located outside Ibarra on the PanAmerican highway. It is famous for the wood crafts of the local craftsmen. These crafts are sold in a multitude of crafts shops. The figures vary in size, quality, and price.

Eighteen kilometers North of Ibarra is the lake of Yaguarcocha, which means "blood lake" in Quichua. The lake receives its name for a bloody battle between the Caranquis Indians and the invading Incas. The lake is surrounded by swampy borders. In these borders grows abundant the totora, also serving as a good place to fish.

Accompanying the lake, exists an international circuit of driving tests and competitions.

The Train of Ibarra--San Lorenzo

The train begins in Ibarra and ends in San Lorenzo, on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. The train departs early in the morning so prepare in advance. The train is in reality an autoferro, that is to say a bus mounted on a train chassis. The trip is spectacular since Ibarra is 2.210 meters above sea level and San Lorenzo is at sea level. The decrease is very rapid in the first half of the trip. You will cross the Chota valley and continue on the course of the river Watches abounding with bridges and the tunnels. Farther in the jungle is extremely dense and the train advances through a tunnel amidst the vegetation. The jungles here are some of the richest in the world.

The tour is 193 km and is completed in 7 to 10 hours. (depending on the breakdowns in the route). If the climate is good, it is advisable to make the trip on the roof of the autoferro to enjoy the sites and provide an easier way to buy food and fruits from the street vendors.

Just 22 km north of Otavalo and 115 km north of Quito is the attractive colonial town of Ibarra. it is the provincial capital of Imbabura. The elevation at the train station is 2210 meters, making Ibarra several hundred meters lower than most highland cities, which results in a pleasant climate. One main reason travelers come here is to take the train from Ibarra to San Lorenzo on the coast. Others choose to stay here as a base for explorations of the Otavalo area. This place gets very little attraction because people aren't aware of its beauty. There's more than enough to do here in Ibarra, but I enjoy the town because of the memorable pictures I am able to take of these old fashioned folks. Horse-drawn carts clatter along cobbled streets flanked by colonial buildings, dark-suited old gentlemen sit in the shady parks discussing the day's events and most good folks are in bed by 1 0 pm. It's a relaxing sort of place. Many of Ibarra's houses are in the colonial style. Red-tiled and whitewashed, they have given Ibarra the nickname of Ia ciudad blanca (the white city).

FOLCLORIC FESTIVALS

* Fiesta de la Caña de Azúcar- Atuntaqui - march 2
* Fiesta del retorno - Ibarra - april 28
* Fiesta de la Cruz - Otavalo y Caranqui - may 2 & 3
* Fiesta de San Luis - Otavalo - may 4
* Semana Santa - Cotacachi, Urcuquí - Date not determinated
* Fiesta de San Juan - toda la provicnia - june 24
* Fiesta de San Pedro - Cotacachi - june 29
* Batalla (Battle) de Ibarra - Ibarra - july 17
* Fiesta de la Virgen del Tránsito - Chota - august 15
* Fiesta de San Luis Obispo - Otavalo - august 15
* Fiesta de Corazas - San Rafael - august 19
* Fiesta del Yamor - Otavalo - september 2, 15
* Fiesta de la Jora - Cotacachi - september 10, 18
* Fundación española de Ibarra - Ibarra - september 28
* Fiesta de pendoneros - San Rafael - october 15