Tren a las Nubes
Rail · Tren a las Nubes SFTSE
1 line · 2 stations
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Service information checked . Check the operator before travel because schedules can change at short notice.
Quick facts
- Rail route
- The train runs from San Antonio de los Cobres to Viaducto La Polvorilla and back. It does not leave from Salta city.
- From Salta
- The standard excursion uses a bus from Salta to San Antonio de los Cobres, followed by the train and a bus return.
- Tickets
- Reserve a dated excursion through the operator. The calendar, price, and choice of bus-and-train or train-only products vary.
- Altitude
- Viaducto La Polvorilla is about 4,200 meters above sea level. The curved steel viaduct is 225 meters long and stands 67 meters above the ground.
- Accessibility
- The operator provides a separate purchase process for passengers with reduced mobility. Arrange it before booking.
Mike’s notes
The Tren a las Nubes is the tourist train between San Antonio de los Cobres and Viaducto La Polvorilla. The railway climbs through the Puna to the viaduct at more than 4,200 meters above sea level, then returns over the same track.
The current trip is shorter than the historical service. The classic excursion covered 217 km of Ramal C14 from Salta. Today, the standard package checks in at Salta station, travels by bus along National Route 51, and boards the train in San Antonio de los Cobres. A train-only ticket is also offered on selected dates.
Construction of Ramal C14 began in 1921 under engineer Richard Maury, and the railway opened through to the Chilean connection in 1948. The route gains height through zigzags and loops instead of a rack railway. That engineering remains visible on the longer road excursion, even though the current train only covers the final section.
La Polvorilla is a curved steel viaduct 225 meters long and 67 meters above the ground at its highest point. It sits at about 4,200 meters above sea level. The train stops there before reversing to San Antonio de los Cobres.
The first official tourist departure ran on July 16, 1972. Private companies operated the excursion from 1991 until 2014, when the Province of Salta created the current state-owned operator.
Reserve for a specific date through the official site. The locomotive-hauled coaches have assigned service, onboard hosts, medical staff, and road support. This is a high-mountain excursion, so the operator can cancel for weather or safety.
Altitude is the main access issue even when boarding is manageable. The operator has a dedicated purchase channel for passengers with reduced mobility and asks travelers using it to begin the process 30 days before departure. Read the medical guidance before committing to the trip.