A breathtaking ride (in the true sense of the word) through 21 tunnels, more than 29 bridges and 13 viaducts in incredible heights - this is the Tren a las nubes - the train through the clouds.

In 1921 construction began on this spectacular railway line. It has departure point from the picturesque northwest Argentinian metropolis city of Salta at 1,200m above sea level, and scales up to 4,500m and has the country of Chile on the other side of the Andes.

The route between Salta and San Antonio de los Cobres is one of the best things to do while visiting Argentina during your vacation. It has hights of over 2,800 meters, and a length of over 185 km. Sights of the valley and countryside below are breathtaking. From the train you´ll also get a spectacular glimpse of Quebrada del Toro.

The line zig zags over the mountain ridges, crosses several gorges and reaches the highest train station in Argentina, Abra Muñano at 3,940 meters of altitude. Shortly after the deserted mine village of San Antonio de los Cobre, you will come upon the most spectacular of the whole railway line, La Polvorilla that is 224m long and 65m high. Here you can feel the magic and grandeur of the 6,000m high summits of the Andes, before going back to Salta.

Warm clothing and a good health (prevention of the Acosta´s disease) obligatory for this trip. Medical assistance and oxygen are usually in the train. Even more adventurous people can take the freight train with a passenger carriage which goes all the way over the endlessly wide plateau of the Argentine altiplano, in midst the cordilleras to Chile. The part of Chile goes down to the Pacific along the coastline and is rightly called the "Tren a la costa" - train of the coast.