San Antonio de los Cobres Day Trip: Polvorilla Viaduct Views

Drive the Train to the Clouds route and stand at the foot of Polvorilla Viaduct

A 10-hour day trip from Salta follows the route of Argentina's famous Train to the Clouds on a scenic drive to San Antonio de los Cobres, the country's highest-elevation town. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with a professional guide who speaks English or Spanish and travels in an air-conditioned vehicle. The tour stops at Quebrada del Toro gorge, the pre-Incan ruins of Santa Rosa de Tastil, and ends with two hours to explore San Antonio de los Cobres and view the iconic Polvorilla Viaduct. The elevation reaches 4,080 meters at the highest point on the road, and the town itself sits at 3,750 meters.

Step-by-step itinerary

Scenic day trip from Salta to San Antonio

• Hotel pickup in Salta
• Drive northwest to San Antonio de los Cobres
• Photo stops along Train to the Clouds route
• Visit Quebrada del Toro gorge
• Pass through El Candado, El Gólgota, Alfarcito villages
• Visit Santa Rosa de Tastil ruins and museum
• Drive past Finca La Encrucijada and ascend Muñano Cliff
• Stop at Abra Blanca viewpoint
• Explore San Antonio de los Cobres town
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Return drive to Salta without stops
• Hotel drop-off in Salta

The experience

The day starts with hotel pickup in Salta for the 160-kilometer drive northwest into the Andes. Your route parallels Argentina's Train to the Clouds railway, but instead of staying on board, you stop whenever the group wants to photograph the Andean landscape. After about two hours, you reach Quebrada del Toro, the Gorge of the Bull, where a 24-meter viaduct built in the 1920s and '40s crosses the ravine. Your guide points out the bridges of Alisal and Chorrillo, and explains the geology that shifts from dense vegetation in the lower elevations to rocky terrain dotted with cardones (native plants that look like celery stalks) as you climb.

You pass through small villages (El Candado, El Gólgota, Alfarcito), and stop at Santa Rosa de Tastil, a pre-Incan archaeological site where you walk through the ruins of housing and streets from a former civilization. An on-site museum has more detail if you want it (entrance is a separate cost). The road then climbs to Abra Blanca at 4,080 meters, the highest point between Salta and San Antonio de los Cobres, where the views open across the gorge and you might spot condors or llamas on the mountainside. The vehicle is air-conditioned throughout, so the temperature shift as you gain elevation happens inside the cabin.

San Antonio de los Cobres sits at 3,750 meters and is one of Argentina's highest towns. You have two hours to explore on your own: wander the adobe-lined streets, browse handicraft stalls, eat lunch at a local restaurant serving regional dishes, and stand in front of the Polvorilla Viaduct, one of the most photographed bridges in the region. The return drive to Salta is direct with no stops, and you're back at your hotel by evening.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Salta.
• professional guide speaking English or Spanish.
• air-conditioned vehicle for the full 160-kilometer round trip.
• stops at Quebrada del Toro gorge, the viaduct crossings of Alisal and Chorrillo, and the pre-Incan ruins of Santa Rosa de Tastil.
• two hours to explore San Antonio de los Cobres and view Polvorilla Viaduct.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (7 and older) · Child (3 to 6 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 30 · max 9 per booking

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Tangol

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're traveling with at least one other person and want a guided introduction to the high Andes without driving yourself. The fixed itinerary and group stops mean you see the major landmarks (the gorges, the viaducts, the archaeological site, and the town) in a single day, with time to photograph and explore at each one.

Traveler reviews

4.75★★★★★★★★★★

4 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 6 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What is Quebrada del Toro and why does the tour stop there?

Quebrada del Toro is the Gorge of the Bull, a dramatic ravine in the Andes where a 24-meter viaduct built between the 1920s and '40s crosses the gorge. The tour stops here to photograph the viaduct and the surrounding landscape, which shifts from dense vegetation to rocky terrain with native cardones plants as the elevation rises.

What can I see and do in San Antonio de los Cobres during the two hours there?

San Antonio de los Cobres is a quiet mining town where you can walk the streets lined with traditional adobe houses, browse handicraft stalls, eat lunch at local restaurants, and view the Polvorilla Viaduct, one of the most photographed bridges in the region. The town sits at 3,750 meters elevation and offers sweeping views of the surrounding Andes.

What are the pre-Incan ruins at Santa Rosa de Tastil?

Santa Rosa de Tastil is a pre-Incan archaeological site where you walk through the arid, rocky terrain to see remnants of housing and streets from a former civilization. An on-site museum provides more historical detail, though entry to the museum costs extra and is not included in the tour price.

How high does the elevation go on this tour, and could altitude affect me?

The highest point on the road is Abra Blanca at 4,080 meters, and San Antonio de los Cobres sits at 3,750 meters. The operator recommends drinking plenty of hot tea or water before the tour and carrying any necessary medication, as some travelers may experience altitude sickness at these elevations.

What's included in the tour price, and what costs extra?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, the air-conditioned vehicle, and a professional guide in English or Spanish are included. The entrance fee to the archaeological museum at Santa Rosa de Tastil, food and drinks, and gratuities are not included and are your own expense.

How long is the full day trip, and when does it start and end?

The tour runs 10 hours total, starting with hotel pickup in Salta and ending with hotel drop-off. The drive to San Antonio de los Cobres takes about two hours, you spend two hours in the town itself, and the return drive is direct with no stops.