Alausi Tours: Top 5 Cultural Tours You’ll Actually Love

Alausí, this quaint town nestled high in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador, happens to be far more than just a stop on the way to someplace else; so too, it’s actually a spot absolutely teeming with history and Indigenous culture, so if you have the Alausi travel bug, listen up! It’s almost the kind of location that quietly whispers tales of the past, inviting everyone to take a closer look, and actually explore. You see, away from the well-worn tourist paths, Alausí offers some super special opportunities to really connect with the country’s heritage, and you are going to get some experiences here that aren’t your run-of-the-mill tourist traps; after all, many tours give insight to old communities and help the economy of local Ecuadorians.

The Devil’s Nose Train Ride

The Nariz del Diablo, you might know this attraction as “The Devil’s Nose,” and is quite the famed railway feat, it’s almost a must-do when anyone visits Alausí; so too, it’s more than just a train ride; that said, it’s really a step back in time. Way back at the beginning, people figured out how to construct this train route that snakes down a really steep mountain, and you will hear all kinds of neat details and stories about that ingenuity as the train chugs along. Instead, it really showcases engineering skills, but as you travel you’ll find out about some pretty heavy, and unfortunately not happy, Indigenous slavery practices used in order to get it built. The views you’ll get from the train happen to be just drop-dead striking, but I encourage you to spend some time chatting with the locals, usually Indigenous community members. They are there selling crafts and local goods and you get a wonderful opportunity to show some support, all while learning even more. Also you are really up in the mountains, so that can lead to issues with breathing depending on how high you normally live.

What Makes This Tour Shine

That views, right? Views that could really be the highlight.
Oh, and I almost forgot – it’s not every day you get to take a ride on a railway like that, which really should be considered an engineering achievement.
The way to support that economy. Local things, food and handcrafted stuff will really allow you to provide some money in ways other tours can’t.

Also be certain to factor in that train times, at least to me, can be pretty changeable, but they happen to normally run a few times a day; so too, it would really be in your interest to double-check. Plus, get yourself there just a bit before schedule to make sure you get a spot, after all seats happen to be allocated on that first-come, first-served system.

Community Tourism in the Sibambe Community

Not far from Alausí, this place, it’s almost the community of Sibambe that provides you an unbelievably moving and truly personal cultural immersion; so too, forget viewing things from afar—here, and in stark contrast to other tourist traps, you’re basically diving right into it all. As you’re actually lodging right within the families’ houses, you can get to sample the rich daily living and just spend some time really sharing experiences with community members themselves; Instead, a really big piece of the puzzle here is actually helping and maintaining age-old Indigenous ways and customs.

Experience Authentic Rural Life

Take time to join in the preparation of really old Ecuadorian dishes and get that chance to pick from ingredients they’ve grown on the farm yourself.
Then get involved, if that tickles your fancy, in rural farming activities where it happens that you can plough the terrain using the oxen.
Maybe find time to go along with native storytellers to hear tales that are centuries old about heritage.

You might think, well just what really do these tours provide back to the place?; so too, any cash made directly go back to supporting instructional initiatives, bettering infrastructure, and retaining ancestral heritage, after all it gets pumped into that Sibambe. Anyway the best time is really when you respect things, when you are keen to immerse, and you are keen to spend some money in really helping communities survive. Make sure to set that up way prior, because there may often not be heaps of availability. It’s often well viewed as slow travelling so anticipate it being less like a sight-seeing vacation and a bunch more like a long period to learn.

Trekking the Inca Trail

Alausí might be near part of what you know as the historic Inca Trail, providing really special trekking adventures where culture mixes in together with beautiful landscapes; so too, many of these trek tours involve going alongside really capable local guides who understand that cultural weight this track possesses and might lead to amazing Inca locations. While going down this, that, you’re walking paths once crossed centuries back by Incans and have time to absorb a ton more regarding those advanced techniques, as well as beliefs regarding what happened within their society.

Highlights of the Hike

Amazing natural panoramas. Along with all the mountains the landscapes happen to be just incredible.
Really get your hands wet in the cultural insights while local guide stories all regarding old cultures and traditions.
Likely get opportunities for visiting native communities on your hike getting a great taste regarding old culture.

When organizing hiking journeys please pack and wear correctly considering climate, since highland weather happens to be changeable. As for people thinking that they should be hiking at differing times it would almost be greatest visiting through what they term dry months; so too, from pretty much June until around September one can frequently encounter fairly stable climbing scenarios. At the very same period please double-test to obtain the licences including trekking permits through area regulatory physiques well since these’s normally very vital.

Alausí’s Local Markets

To properly obtain a superb, delicious perception including Alausi’s cultural vibe there’s almost that requirement through going that regional town markets that truly constitute those sensory indulgences into authentic Ecuadorian way; so too, from this, it is where natives coming those from nearby zones actually assemble into bartering plus transacting so don’t ignore to experience distinctive delicacies like the hornado, (that being the roasted pig) alongside empanadas loaded having regionally procured cheeses. Anyway taking any relaxed-paced stroll within almost those stands offers those brilliant possibility with speaking right alongside dealers, plus probably learning directly concerning everything concerning those resources put including preparing such specialties that have already been within those family members countless number plus numerous years.

Must-See Highlights

Flavor such neighborhood gastronomy just like llapingachos along alongside fritada – traditional treats this offers distinct sample connected native dishes.
Obtain such regionally artisanal stuff: Handcrafted apparel, colourful textiles plus some leather pieces. These constitute unbelievable memories as well alongside those exceptional chances into supporting regional artisans too.
Get some engaging local merchants, try bargaining with such for obtaining such greatest works-these’s usual parts associated alongside those market culture in there!

Market periods will definitely change greatly; very however often Saturday appears those major active selling daytime; after all for possessing somewhat relaxed-minus-populated knowledge it will probably potentially feel definitely very attractive seeing during weekdays though just certain dealers generally conduct.

Exploring the Alausí Historical Center

Really you have to get some slow hours traveling along this really historically well known center in Alausi – just very lovely for being that true embodiment involving cultural past that’s preserved from town; so too, starting through visiting their emblematic church buildings along those just typically cobblestoned route-paths, a number among old architecture definitely shares several accounts which can talk from what Ecuador already happened. That particular center’s genuinely just walkable so really enables one to obtain these opportunities in only pausing only at regional pubs plus such boutique-y art boutiques in any place every last thing tells which tale on tradition together having customs already.

What You’ll Find

View such Colonial structure marvel- only focus specifically along these just intricately patterned balconies right together alongside that well conserved facades whom talk a number of decades worth over human happening occurrences!
By using the Municipal Museum, dive very intensely into some hometown story so actually appreciate many things the way their municipality previously arose since this primary place upon regional trade routes almost immediately through that early colonial period!
Savour Alausi neighbourhood espresso even though experiencing people move across, which constitutes ideal for you in simply ingraining personally through those neighborhood way; or you can also just watch people watch!

Remember in only possessing certain peaceful adventure starting into some faster days that really avoid which most major passenger period, if possible so; that said, I will encourage that certain relaxed speed even so to be prepared during certain increased crowds also; just for many the way to have better learning experience, even contemplate acquiring neighborhood book with actually guiding those across all centre alongside such interesting small snippets just as just simply only that certain guidebook actually only is likely won’t reveal; because every thing almost comes simply through knowledge which has currently has now already transferred right through certain natives throughout quite generations also.