Devil's Nose Hike and Ingapirca Ruins: Private tour with guide

A 1899 railway built to cross the Andes still defines the landscape you hike through.

This private tour combines a hike around Devil's Nose Mountain (site of the famous 1899 railroad that linked Guayaquil and Quito) with a visit to Ingapirca Ruins, Ecuador's major Inca archaeological site. A bilingual guide leads the day, which runs nine to eleven hours and includes hotel pickup and drop-off. Lunch is available as an add-on. The tour suits groups of two or more adults who want both the engineering history and the pre-Columbian ruins without arranging their own transport.

Step-by-step itinerary

Devil's Nose hike and Ingapirca ruins

• Hotel pickup
• Visit local community project
• Hike Devil's Nose trail
• Optional biking to Sibambe station
• Drive Pan-American Highway to Ingapirca
• Explore Ingapirca Ruins and Sun’s Temple
• Hotel drop-off

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel and a drive to Devil's Nose Mountain, where you'll hike a trail that runs alongside the original railroad tracks. Built in 1899 to connect the coastal city of Guayaquil with the highland capital of Quito, this railway was considered one of the greatest feats of engineering of its time: the tracks zigzag up the mountainside in a pattern that solved the problem of steep terrain. You'll walk where the train once ran and see the panoramic views of the Andean landscape from the vantage points the route created. An optional biking activity descends dirt roads with minimal traffic down to the Sibambe train station if you want to extend the physical part of the day.

After the Devil's Nose section, the tour continues south on the Pan-American Highway to Ingapirca, Ecuador's largest pre-Columbian archaeological site. Here you'll see the Sun's Temple, an elliptical platform that stands as one of the most important Inca structures in the country, along with courtyards, terraces and other ruins spread across the site. Your bilingual guide explains the history and layout as you move through the complex. The full day ends with hotel drop-off.

A minimum of two adults must book together. For groups of one to five passengers, your bilingual guide also drives. Larger groups get a separate driver and guide. Lunch can be added at checkout, and vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free options are available if you request them when booking. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended for the hike sections.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• private vehicle transport.
• bilingual guide.
• access to the Devil's Nose Mountain area and Ingapirca Ruins.
• lunch if selected at checkout.

Before you book

Days and timesFriday to SundayDepartures at 07:20 and 08:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Cuenca Bestours Tour Operator

Is this one for you?Choose the all-inclusive option if you want lunch and one less decision during the day. The basic option works if you prefer to eat on your own schedule. Either way, the private format means the guide adjusts the pace to your group's fitness level and interests, and you avoid the coordination of getting to two remote sites on your own.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What is the Devil's Nose Train and why does it matter to this hike?

The Devil's Nose Railroad, built in 1899, connected Guayaquil on the coast to Quito in the highlands by zigzagging up the mountainside in a pattern that solved the problem of extreme elevation gain. The hike follows the original tracks, so you walk the same route the train once traveled and see the engineering solution from ground level.

What exactly will I see and do at Ingapirca Ruins?

Ingapirca is Ecuador's largest Inca archaeological site. You'll explore the Sun's Temple, an elliptical platform that is one of the most important Inca structures in the country, plus courtyards, terraces and other ruins spread across the complex. Your guide walks you through the site and explains the history and layout.

Is the biking part of the tour mandatory, or can I skip it?

The biking activity is optional. It descends dirt roads with almost no traffic from the Devil's Nose area down to the Sibambe train station, so you can choose to do it or stick to the hiking section only.

How long is the full day, and what time does pickup happen?

The tour runs nine to eleven hours total. Your guide will pick you up from your hotel at a time arranged when you book. Drop-off happens at your hotel after the Ingapirca visit.

Can I add lunch to this tour, and are dietary options available?

Yes, lunch is available as an add-on option at checkout. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free meals can be arranged if you request them when you book.