Fares and tickets
How much it cost to travel on Ecuador’s railway: the fares by route, from the Tren Crucero hotel train to the Devil’s Nose, and how tickets were bought.
$18
Devil’s Nose (residents)
$1,270+
Tren Crucero (4 days)
8
Tourist routes
USD
Paid in dollars
How the fares worked
Unlike a metro, Tren Ecuador is a tourist train: there is no transport card or single ticket, but a ticket per route. The price depended on the experience, from the one-day routes to the luxurious four-day Tren Crucero.
The routes usually had differentiated fares for Ecuador residents and for foreign tourists, with discounts for children, senior citizens and people with disabilities. Ecuador uses the US dollar. The prices below are indicative and historical: the only confirmed current fare is the one for the Devil’s Nose.
Fares by route
Indicative prices by route. The Devil’s Nose is the only one currently running.
| Route | Indicative fare | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Tren Crucero | Historical: ~$1,270–$1,750 per person (4D/3N, all-inclusive) | Historical |
| Devil's Nose (Nariz del Diablo) | Residents $18 (reduced $9) · foreign visitors $30 (reduced $15) | Running |
| Train of the Volcanoes | Historical: ~$33–$45 per person (full day) | Historical |
| Freedom Train (Tren de la Libertad) | Historical: ~$20–$33 per person (round trip) | Partial |
| Ice Train (Tren del Hielo) | Historical: ~$20–$35 per person | Historical |
| Trail of the Ancestors | Historical: ~$15–$25 per person | Historical |
| Train of Sweetness (Tren de la Dulzura) | Historical: ~$20–$35 per person | Historical |
| Inca Baths (Baños del Inca) | Historical: ~$5–$15 per person | Historical |
Indicative fares in US dollars (USD) · historical data except the Devil's Nose · always confirm before travelling
Is there a transport card?
No. The Trans-Andean Railway is not an urban transport system, so there is no metro-style card or season pass. Each trip is a tourist ticket for the route you choose.
The Tren Crucero was an all-inclusive package (transport, guides, meals and nights at a hacienda). The one-day routes included the train ride and, often, a cultural welcome or a guided tour at the destination.
Tren Ecuador · Trans-Andean Railway.
- Devil's Nose$18 / $30
- One-day routes≈ $15 – $45
- Tren Crucero (4 days)≈ $1,270 – $1,750
- CurrencyDollar (USD)
- OperatorFEEP
Where tickets were bought
At the destination
For the Devil's Nose and the Ibarra–Andrade Marín segment, tickets are bought locally, at the station, managed by the municipalities of Alausí and Ibarra/Antonio Ante.
Online and ticket office
In its active years, Tren Ecuador sold tickets through its trenecuador.com portal, its call centre and the station ticket offices; the Tren Crucero, in addition, through tour operators.
Bookmark this Trans-Andean Railway guide
We update trenecuador.org as soon as there is news: route reopenings, schedules and fares for the segments still running, and updates on Ecuador's railway heritage. Save it and come back before planning your train trip.