Trail of the Ancestors
Andean wisdom and the Colta lagoon. Riobamba ↔ Colta (Chimborazo).
2
Stations
≈ 35 km
Route length
Half day
Duration
Service suspended
Service status
Trail of the Ancestors · Riobamba ↔ Colta
The Trail of the Ancestors is one of the tourist routes of the Trans-Andean Railway of Ecuador, on the Riobamba ↔ Colta (Chimborazo) stretch. Andean wisdom and the Colta lagoon. This route is part of the heritage of the Trans-Andean Railway and its service is currently suspended; the information is historical.
It covers roughly ≈ 35 km between Riobamba and Colta, with a duration of Half day. What makes it special:
- Visit the Balbanera church, the oldest in Ecuador (1534)
- A boat ride on the Colta lagoon (Kulta Kucha)
- The “Trail of Andean Wisdom” among Kichwa communities
- Chimborazo páramos and Puruhá culture
The 2 stations
Times between stations
| From | To | Approx. run | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riobamba | → | Colta | 40 min |
Approximate running times. Riobamba ↔ Colta: 40 min of running time (the tourist trip included stops and excursions).
Schedule and fare
Did you know…?
- Visit the Balbanera church, the oldest in Ecuador (1534)
- A boat ride on the Colta lagoon (Kulta Kucha)
- The “Trail of Andean Wisdom” among Kichwa communities
- Chimborazo páramos and Puruhá culture
Links and connections
The Trail of the Ancestors runs along the Riobamba ↔ Colta (Chimborazo) stretch, in the heart of the Trans-Andean Railway. Its stations are linked by road to Ecuador’s main cities, which makes it easy to reach the train’s starting point.
Interchange stations. This route shares stations with other railway routes: Riobamba connects to Tren Crucero, Ice Train (Tren del Hielo); Colta connects to Tren Crucero.
Plan your journey — use our route planner to see which route connects two stations, the travel time and the distance.
Bookmark this Trans-Andean Railway guide
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