Ecuador🇪🇨 | landmarksNariz del DiabloRailway switchbacks, Alausí station, Sibambe turnaround, Chanchán gorge | things to do and best time to go

Alausí itself is the place to sleep, because the Nariz del Diablo train departs from its station in the center of town. The small grid of streets around the station and the Parque Central holds the cheapest beds, basic family-run guesthouses, and a few simple hostels where you can meet other travelers over breakfast. Everything is within a ten-minute walk, so you can leave your bag, grab a bakery breakfast, and reach the platform without a taxi. The town is quiet and feels safe after dark, though nights are cold and a blanket or hot shower matters more than a pool. Expect a small social scene … read more 👉

Alausí itself is the place to sleep, because the Nariz del Diablo train departs from its station in the center of town. The small grid of streets around the station and the Parque Central holds the cheapest beds, basic family-run guesthouses, and a few simple hostels where you can meet other travelers over breakfast. Everything is within a ten-minute walk, so you can leave your bag, grab a bakery breakfast, and reach the platform without a taxi. The town is quiet and feels safe after dark, though nights are cold and a blanket or hot shower matters more than a pool. Expect a small social scene rather than a party one, mostly a few cafés and the evening plaza crowd. Riobamba, about 2 hours north by bus, is the larger alternative, with more hostels, restaurants, and other backpackers heading toward Cuenca or Baños. Choose it if you want nightlife or to combine Chimborazo with the train, and take an early bus down to Alausí the next morning.