I rode the Train to the Clouds, one of the highest passenger trains in the world. The bird's-eye views made the altitude sickness worth it.

Christine GilbertMay 22, 2023, 23:02 IST

A view of the Viaducto La Polvorilla from the Tren a las Nubes.Rodrigo Valle/Getty Images

I rode the Tren a las Nubes, or Train to the Clouds, through Salta, Argentina, for the first time.
It's one of the highest passenger trains in the world, rising about 13,845 feet above sea level.

Before my recent trip to Argentina, I'd only traveled through the country by plane or bus, but it's had trains running through it since the 1850s.

Following the railways' privatization in the late 20th century, the number of active passenger trains dwindled, but the most famous one — the Tren a las Nubes, or the Train to the Clouds — is still in operation. It's also one of the highest passenger trains in the world, rising about 13,845 feet above sea level.

My friend and I signed up for a round-trip, full-day excursion through northern Argentina's Salta province aboard the Tren a las Nubes. I paid 23,850 Argentine pesos (about $84 thanks to a parallel exchange rate) for my ticket.

Here's what the 13-hour journey was like.

To begin the journey, we boarded a bus in Salta that delivered us to the train's departure station.

On the bus, my friend and I shared a tortilla de grasa, which is a grilled tortilla sandwich with ham and white cheese.Christine Gilbert

We passed the first viaduct of the trip and both felt a bit of altitude sickness during the bus ride.

We passed the Viaducto el Toro during the first part of the bus ride.Christine Gilbert

We stopped for a breakfast break along the way in a small village called El Alfarcito.

El Alfarcito is a tiny village that was on the way to San Antonio de los Cobres.Christine Gilbert

About five hours after our bus' departure, we finally boarded the Tren a las Nubes in San Antonio de los Cobres.

Each car had quotes about travel painted on the walls from luminaries like Lao Tzu to Julio Cortázar.Christine Gilbert

The best parts of the train ride were looking out at the landscapes and spotting wildlife.

I saw a chinchilla in the wild for the first time in my life during the rail journey.Christine Gilbert

Train passengers were eager to get photos of the Viaducto la Polvorilla, the most famous attraction on the train's route.

The Tren a las Nubes slowed down on the Viaducto la Polvorilla so passengers had time for photos.Christine Gilbert

We stopped and got off the train to watch a flag ceremony.

The Tren a las Nubes passengers gathered for the flag ceremony.Christine Gilbert

Our last stops were at a local festival in San Antonio de los Cobres and a UNESCO World Heritage site called the Qhapaq Ñan in Santa Rosa del Tastil.

One of the customs of the Day of Pachamama is to put offerings in a hole.Christine Gilbert

I wouldn't have gotten the same experience crossing the Viaducto la Polvorilla and spotting wildlife if I was exploring by car, so I'm glad I opted for the Tren a las Nubes.

The Tren a las Nubes runs between San Antonio de los Cubres and Viaducto la Polvorilla.Christine Gilbert

I wouldn't have gotten the same experience crossing the Viaducto la Polvorilla and spotting wildlife if I was exploring by car, so I'm glad I opted for the Tren a las Nubes.

I had breakfast, lunch, and dinner during my stay at 'The White Lotus' hotel in Sicily, and now I understand why the characters never dined elsewhere

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I rode the Train to the Clouds, one of the highest passenger trains in the world. The bird's-eye views made the altitude sickness worth it.

To begin the journey, we boarded a bus in Salta that delivered us to the train's departure station.

We passed the first viaduct of the trip and both felt a bit of altitude sickness during the bus ride.

We stopped for a breakfast break along the way in a small village called El Alfarcito.

About five hours after our bus' departure, we finally boarded the Tren a las Nubes in San Antonio de los Cobres.

The best parts of the train ride were looking out at the landscapes and spotting wildlife.

Train passengers were eager to get photos of the Viaducto la Polvorilla, the most famous attraction on the train's route.

We stopped and got off the train to watch a flag ceremony.

Our last stops were at a local festival in San Antonio de los Cobres and a UNESCO World Heritage site called the Qhapaq Ñan in Santa Rosa del Tastil.

I wouldn't have gotten the same experience crossing the Viaducto la Polvorilla and spotting wildlife if I was exploring by car, so I'm glad I opted for the Tren a las Nubes.