Day 4, Thursday May 12

El Fuerte back to Creel

Notes:

Good breakfast. Only ate half took other to go. Left it at hotel, taxi backtracked waiter met Troi at door.

Got to station and family of dogs knew we had food and wanted it. Too hungry and it cost too much to take pity on them.

Couple from same hotel recommended Aubrey tours out of Boston

On the trip back to Creel we saw a few hare running through the field they look to be about 18 inches long and tall. Blend in beautifully with background when standing still.

I thought I saw a deer, then when I saw big ears I thought it was a burrow, then realized that a burrow did not move so gracefully so knew it WAS a deer. First real wild animal of any size we've seen down here.

Descansar tunnel took 3.5 minutes northbound a full minute longer than southbound

Recommendations for el Chepe:
Left side South right side North. best views from the dining car.

Buy tickets ahead of time.

We had seats 11&12 down left side
43&44 up left side. Best window view
Numbers start back right, groups of 8per window

Train almost empty down, more people up

Maybe due to clase turista

Trip up... View better from right side but the sun spends a lot of time there 3 hours in and they are still in sunshine. Going down we had it only for last part, and there wasn't much to see.

Thought adventure park at Divisadero would be waste of money, but maybe that is where to get more views

Riding in dining car a lot rougher

Monday, Wednesday, Friday South is First Class Only. On Thursday going up we passed the train that has tourist (clase economico), they added 2 passenger carriages and another dining car (I think). Troi said he saw a guard with a machine gun on it - ours did not.

Cannot see scale in photos, rocks huge

If stopping in El Fuerte think about finding some one to share taxi with while on train.Read more