Alausi is the beginning and ending destination of one of Ecuador’s scenic railway lines: Nariz del Diablo (the Devil’s Nose). The small village is pleasant and has some old railway buildings.
The railway line is one of two in the world that zig-zags down the mountainside. It was built by Costa Ricans and Panamanians and Jamaicans- all prisoners. During this time over 2,500 people died during its construction due to yellow fever, malaria and explosives accidents.
The track is very short- 12km with an elevation drop of 150m. The locomotive pulls and pushes the wagons up/ down and across the zig zags.
The train also stops in the village of Simbame where locals perform dances for the passengers. There is also a small museum where the traditions of the local villagers are explained. The dances are energetic and fun. The costumes are, as usual, very colourful and embroided with beautiful motifs.
The return trip only lasts 30 minutes.
3 replies on “Alausi”
Na pewno ciekawsza ta podroz od naszej slynnej podrozy na banana train. Bardzo malowniczo tam.
Dokladnie o tym samym pomyslalem. Nie bardzo rozmumiem po co oni to budowali? Teraz to atrakcja turystyczna.
The railway was built to connect the mountain villages with the coast -and large port town of Guayaquil