Riobamba Things to Do

From Riobamba, there is a train ride to the famous stretch of track called 'El Nariz del Diablo', or the Devil's Nose.

The train departs early in the morning, at 7am, and as Riobamba is at quite a high altitude (my friend told me Riobamba is also known as Friobamba - 'frio' is cold in Spanish), do dress warmly and climb onto the roof of the train. There are people up there by 6am!

The view was not spectacular spectacular but beautiful enough. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride, viewing the mountains and farms and countrysides. Many campesinos in their traditional costumes stopped work to wave at the passing train. Often, they had wide smiles on their faces. I thought it was very sweet. Of course, there were groups that appeared to be very shy, standing there with their yokels and staring at us dumbly. And gosh, the children… they were the best! Many very tiny, well-bundled up, children were waving and smiling happily at us. The tourists bought sweets from the tireless vendor on top of the train with us and tossed the sweets to the children. They were delighted and scrambled for them happily!

After Alausi, the scenery changed to stunning ravines and at El Nariz del Diablo, there is a series of switchbacks carved into the side of the mountain and allows the train to advance and reverse and in the process, descend or ascend nearly 1,000m. At that time of construction in 1902, this was the most incredible feat of railway engineering.

If you are in Riobamba, the only thing to do is the Nariz del Diablo train ride (sitting on the roof of course), and I think it was worth it.
Buy your ticket ($15) the day before from the main station (but beware, it shuts at 4pm- then you have to get up super early to buy the ticket at 6am the next day). It leaves Riobamba at 7am. It is cold at this time so take hat and gloves! It took about 6 hours to get to the famous steep switchbacks (so you did get a bit bored by the end) and that was only with two derailments (someone in our hostel went on it and it derailed twelve times and took twelve hours as a result). We got off at the end of the line (Alausi- it stops on the way, does the famous switchbacks then returns to Alausi where you can disembark) and got the bus back to Riobamba which was a lot quicker and more comfortable.
I would definitely advise getting one or two seat cushions ($1 rent) if you plan to sit on the roof. And try to sit on the right hand side for the best views.
Also, buy a bag of sweets or lollies to take, as all along the route children run to the train when they see it coming expecting sweets (see the pic). Its good fun chucking sweets at them and making their day!
We sat two carriages back from the front to avoid the fumes. Also, if the train isn't that busy, they remove the front carriage so everyone who had bagsied a seat there had to move to the back of the train.
Also

Three times a week (Wed., Fri. and Sun.), crowds of people horde the Riobamba train station at 6:00am to ride the Nariz del Diablo train ride, the "treacherous" stretch of the former Quito-Guayaquil rail line.

Yes, a tourist highlight, but it's a great ride and the scenery is unbeatable.

Seeing is believing with this easy though adventurous trip.

The Devil's Nose is a very steep section of the Ecuadorian rail system that has now become more of a tourist attraction than a mode of transportation.

The rail system in Ecuador has suffered its fair share of abuse from the constant flooding and landsliding that occurs in the harsh topography. However, this famous section still remains, and tourists can ride on top of the train to experience something of a engineering feat.

The ride is about $10 total, if you take it from riobamba and return. However, it is very easy to get off in Aluasi after you do the devil's nose part of the trip, look around, have lunch, and return on a bus you catch in the center of town (they leave regularly). The train takes a long time (5 hours or so to get to aluasi), while the bus takes less than 2 hours to return.

In my opinion, the nose isn't the best part of the trip - it is the landscape you go through before you get there that is spectacular!

Be careful that you don't sit too close to the engine, unless you like neauseating exhaust fumes that is...

SPEND THE DOLLAR ON THE SEAT CUSHION!!! You will thank me.

The railway from Riobamba to Alausi descends in a sensational zigzag course over the precipitous 'Nariz del diavolo'. The train leaves Riobamba early in the morning, and the best place for a good view is on the roof. But because it's quite cold stay inside the train for the first 3 hours and climb up to the roof only before you reach the devil's nose.

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The town of Riobamba is not loaded with must see sights by any means, but there are a few nice little parks and such.

You can't escape this snowy monster

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I was too late to enjoy the classic part of the town by daylight, but the monuments were well lit, and the night was very inviting.