This ‘Train to the Clouds’ Rail Journey Is One of the Highest Train Routes in the World

In the lesser-visited northwestern corner of Argentina, where the high desert meets the Andes mountains, a historic train travels 13,850 feet above sea level. The train, which is the third highest train route in the world, zigzags up steep mountain terrain, passing over 29 bridges and through 21 tunnels on a rugged, mountainous route.

Tren a las Nubes, or Train to the Clouds, is just that — a journey up the mountains and into the clouds.

The original purpose of the train, which took 27 years to complete and is still considered to be a feat of engineering, was to connect Argentina and Chile via the Andes. In 1972, it began operating as a tourist train, showcasing the mountainous desert of northwestern Argentina. It is one of the few remaining passenger trains in Argentina. 

The train is a three-hour roundtrip journey from the tiny town of San Antonio de los Cobres. The tricky part, as a passenger, is that San Antonio de los Cobres is remote and hard to access. It sits 12,385 feet above sea level and requires a three-hour drive from the neighboring city of Salta.

To get to the San Antonio de los Cobres train station, you have three options: rent a car, book a taxi, or take a bus. The journey by car or taxi is three hours, while the bus takes five hours. (The bus leaves Salta at 7 a.m. and makes stops at various sites along the way. This includes Campo Quijano, a town known as “the portal of the Andes,” and the colorful Yacoraite Geological Formation.)

Either way, everyone meets at the San Antonio de los Cobres train station for the thrice-weekly noon departure of the Tren a las Nubes.

Upon arrival in San Antonio de los Cobres, passengers board the train and begin the ascent into the clouds. Through the large windows on either side of the train, travelers can watch the otherworldly reddish-orange landscape pass, a high desert covered in native cacti and quinoa plants. The highlight of the train journey is the crossing of the Viaducto la Polvorilla, a viaduct that stretches 735 feet over a valley, with a drop of over 200 feet. It also marks the highest point of the journey, at an elevation of 13,850 feet above sea level. 

Shortly after crossing the viaduct, the train turns around and returns to San Antonio de los Cobres. The bus meets the train, taking travelers back to Salta. Due to the dramatic elevation change, medical assistance (and oxygen canisters) are available on the bus and train. 

The full experience, which includes the bus ride to and from Salta, takes around 13 hours. Ticket prices vary by date, but typically cost between $130 and $170 for the full bus and train excursion, and between $80 and $110 for just the train ride.