Tren a las Nubes San Antonio de los Cobres–La Polvorilla

The San Antonio de los Cobres to La Polvorilla train is the rail portion of Tren a las Nubes. It leaves San Antonio, reaches Viaducto La Polvorilla in about an hour, allows time to step off at the viaduct, and returns over the same route.

Most passengers arrive from Salta on the operator's bus excursion. Salta station is the check-in point, not the railway departure point. The bus makes sightseeing stops before reaching San Antonio de los Cobres, where passengers transfer to the train.

Construction of Ramal C14 began in 1921 under engineer Richard Maury, and the railway opened through to the Chilean connection in 1948. Its zigzags and loops gain height without rack rail. The tourist service opened in 1972 and originally covered 217 km from Salta. The current operation retains the highest section as a shorter out-and-back train ride.

Reserve a dated departure through the official Tren a las Nubes site. A train-only ticket is available on some dates, but reaching San Antonio independently requires separate road transportation. The operator can cancel the excursion when high-altitude weather makes the route unsafe.

The current rolling stock uses locomotive-hauled coaches with tourist seating and onboard guides. Viaducto La Polvorilla is a curved steel structure 225 meters long and 67 meters above the ground. It stands at about 4,200 meters above sea level, so the thin air affects the visit before the short rail distance does.

Passengers with reduced mobility use a separate booking process. The operator asks for the disability certificate and identity documents 30 days before travel. Contact the sales office before purchase so it can assign the appropriate place and explain boarding at San Antonio and La Polvorilla.