Riobamba

Three of Ecuador's most formidable peaks—Chimborazo, Altar, and Tungurahua—are visible from Riobamba, a pleasant town with wide, tree-lined streets and some well-preserved colonial architecture. Most travelers head to Riobamba because it's the starting point for the famous Devil's Nose train trip. Mudslides have destroyed large sections of the Trans-Andean Railroad, which once ran all the way from Quito to Durán. Plans are underway to rehabilitate the tracks and expand regional rail service once again.