Your ride to the Tren a las Nubes: Salta to San Antonio de los Cobres and back
If you bought the train-only ticket, the train starts and ends at San Antonio de los Cobres station, 164 km (102 miles) from Salta, and getting there is up to you. We drive you up route RN 51 in a private minibus or 4x4 with a driver, wait while you ride the train, and bring you back to Salta the same day.
Which ticket did you buy?
Bus-Tren-Bus and Solo Tren are not the same trip
The train sells two products at different prices, and some online resellers offer the train-only ticket by itself. Check the name on your voucher.
A bus leaves from the city of Salta, with check-in at 6:15 a.m. at Plazoleta Antofagasta, across from the train station. It includes stops on the way, the train to the La Polvorilla viaduct and the bus back to Salta. You do not need us for this one.
It starts and ends at San Antonio de los Cobres station. The train's own website states that it does not include transport to or from San Antonio de los Cobres: passengers get there on their own. That leg is what we provide.
Lausof SRL is an independent transport company. We do not operate the Tren a las Nubes and we do not sell its tickets. Departure days, times, fares and cancellations are confirmed on the train's website: trenalasnubes.com.ar. Details checked there on October 10, 2026; departure days change with the season.
On the day
A train-only day, hour by hour
Train times are the ones the train publishes for its route. Our pickup and return times are planning estimates with a margin, not measured times.
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| Around 7:30 a.m. | Pickup at your hotel in Salta. We head out on RN 51 through Campo Quijano and the Quebrada del Toro. |
| 11:40 a.m. | Arrival at San Antonio de los Cobres station to board the train. |
| 12:00 to 2:45 p.m. | The train leaves at noon, reaches the La Polvorilla viaduct at 1:00 p.m., stops for half an hour and is back at the station at 2:45 p.m. Your driver waits in town. |
| From 3:00 p.m. | Back down to Salta, stopping wherever you like. Expected arrival in the city between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. |
The road up
Route RN 51 and the altitude
About 164 km (102 miles) from Salta to San Antonio de los Cobres, roughly 2 h 50 min of driving without stops (approximate). With photo stops and time to adjust to the altitude, plan on 3 to 4 hours.
According to Argentina's national roads agency, the 134 km between Campo Quijano and San Antonio de los Cobres are paved. In summer, flash floods can close the road for a day or two; if that happens we know before leaving and tell you.
San Antonio de los Cobres sits at about 3,775 m (12,400 ft) and the La Polvorilla viaduct above 4,200 m (13,800 ft). The train advises a good night's sleep before, a light meal and no alcohol. We climb slowly and stop on the way.
The same places the train's bus stops at, such as Campo Quijano, the El Toro viaduct, the Yacoraite rock formation and Santa Rosa de Tastil, or others you choose. On a private ride, the group sets the pace.
Frequently asked questions
What travelers ask before the train
Can I use public transport instead?
If you look into it, check that its timetable fits the noon train and the 2:45 p.m. return; we cannot vouch for any schedule but ours. A private ride waits for you and leaves when the train is back.
What if the train is canceled for weather?
The train warns that this is a high-mountain trip that can be canceled in bad weather. Refunds or date changes for the ticket are handled with the train; we reschedule your ride with you, or drive the Quebrada del Toro anyway if you prefer.
Do the drivers speak English?
Our drivers work in Spanish. We plan everything with you in English by email or WhatsApp, and an English-speaking driver can be requested, subject to availability. The driver is not a licensed guide.
Can we see the viaduct from below too?
Yes. The vehicle can reach the base of the La Polvorilla viaduct on a dirt road, so you can see the bridge from the ground as well as ride over it. Ask for it when you request the quote.
Should we arrive in Salta the day before?
Yes. The train leaves San Antonio de los Cobres at noon and there are almost three hours of road first. We can also do your airport pickup the day you land.
Who we are
More than a decade of work in the Puna
Lausof SRL has run passenger transport since 2010 and knows route RN 51 from years of work in the high plateau of Salta. CNRT license No. 60284. About the company.
Related: private transfers and day trips in Salta and Jujuy · Holy Week in Salta and Jujuy · Salta to San Antonio de los Cobres · 4x4 rental.
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Holding a train-only ticket?
Send us the date, how many are traveling and where you are staying in Salta. We reply in English with a price and a pickup time, normally the same business day (Argentina time, UTC−3).