Tren a las Nubes

Information

It is a tourist train in the province of Salta, which currently runs between the town of San Antonio de los Cobres and the La Polvorilla viaduct. It reaches an altitude of 4,536 metres above sea level, making it the third highest in America and the fourth highest in the world.

First of all, it is important to clarify that it is always advisable to check the current itinerary on the official website, especially with regard to the timetable and content of the trip, in case there have been any modifications. It is also recommended to check there and with those who manage the excursion the precautions regarding altitude sickness.

Tickets can be purchased online, but it is advisable to do so in advance, as there are times of high demand. As the train leaves from San Antonio de los Cobres, there are options to buy only the train ticket, or else the bus-train-bus package to include the transfer from the city of Salta. On the day of the excursion it is necessary to show up one hour before, as it is compulsory to go to the ticket office with your passport or ID card.

The route by car or bus from Salta to the station San Antonio de los Cobres goes through the Yungas, pre-Puna and Puna. There are several interesting places to make stops:
- Campo Quijano: it is a village where there is a station with food and sweets stalls.
- When leaving Campo Quijano you can appreciate the mountainous and wooded environment of the surrounding Yungas. The route goes along the Quebrada del Toro (a ravine), running parallel to the Toro River, which looks like a murky watercourse because it contains a lot of sediment. At one point the route is crossed by the enormous Toro viaduct.
- Further on, other viaducts can be seen. Several of them were given names such as El Panteón viaduct (The Cemetery, because of people who died in an accident), El Candado viaduct (The Padlock, because of the shape of the place), etc.
- El Alfarcito: it is a place that has a church and a museum-like ecclesiastic centre next to it.
- Santa Rosa de Tastil: there is a church, an archaeological site with ruins on a mountain (you need time to visit it) and a museum on the side of the road.
- On the way you can see the Nevado de Acay (a mountain) in the distance, which is a peak that is snow-capped all year round. At one point you pass Abra Blanca at 4080 metres above sea level and from there you start to descend.
- San Antonio de los Cobres: this is the town where is located the station where the Tren a las Nubes leaves from. It has a regional museum, several places to eat and the so-called 'Paseo de Piedra' (a stone walkway) along the river that crosses the town.

Then, at the San Antonio de los Cobres station you get on the train and along the way there are several points of interest:
- Termas de Pompeya (Pompeya Hot Springs): they look like two eyes or circles of sulphurous and alkaline waters.
- Mina Concordia Station: a mine where mainly lead, copper and zinc were extracted.
- La Polvorilla Viaduct: this is where the excursion ends. Here the train stops at a viewpoint located at the beginning of the viaduct.