Winter holidays begin, time to enjoy landscapes and activities throughout the country with the family.
And in terms of analyzing activities to enjoy, the proposal of the tourist trains that travel through different landscapes from Argentina, from the mountains of Córdoba to the forests and mountains of Fuegian or the highlands of Salta.
Tourist trains are an opportunity to get to know these landscapes, with tours of various durations and varied proposalsranging from full contact with nature to historical stories or meals on board.
Here, six proposals for these winter holidays 2024.
1) Train to the Clouds, Salta
It is the most famous train in the country, which in July last year celebrated 50 years as a tourist railway service and was elegido por National Geographic as one of the best railway trips in the world.
Although originally its route started from Salta capital and went to the La Polvorilla viaduct, in the Puna -217 kilometers in 7 hours-, for several years now that route was shortened, and the first part of the trip is now done by bus that lead from Salta capital to San Antonio de los Cobres, through the Lerma Valley and the Quebrada del Toro.
The train trip, then, begins at the San Antonio de los Cobres station and goes to the La Polvorilla Viaduct, a spectacular work of engineering 223.5 meters long at more than 4,200 meters above sea level and with a maximum height of 63 meters above the ground. Is one of the highest railway bridges in the world.
Until Saturday 7/20, departures from Salta are at 9 amreturning at 10 p.m. From Sunday the 21st, it leaves at 7 in the morning and returns at 8:30 p.m.
The complete trip (bus+train+bus) has a promotional rate for residents of Argentina this winter of $ 93.900 for those over 13 years of age if paid by bank transfer, and $103,900 with a debit or credit card in one payment. It can also be paid in 3, 6, 9 or 12 installments (for example, 3 installments of $37,362 or 12 of $11,621).
For retirees, $79,900 with transfer and $89,900 with debit or credit; and for children under 13, $73,900 and $83,900, respectively,
2) End of the World Train, Tierra del Fuego
It circulates through the spectacular landscapes of the Tierra del Fuego National Park, on the railway line that the prisoners built who were detained in the Ushuaia prison, Tierra del Fuego, at the beginning of the 20th century (that’s why they also call it “the prisoners’ train”).
Of the original 25 kilometer route, 7 kilometers are traveled aboard a tourist train that departs from the End of the World Station, 10 km from the center of Ushuaia.
From there, the End of the World Train enters the Tierra del Fuego National Park and runs largely along the banks of the Pipo River, between mountains covered by lenga forests. During the trip, a recorded narration tells the story of the tren, which has a first stop at the Cascada La Macarena station, after crossing the Cordón del Toro and passing through the Quemado bridge over the river.
There he makes a stop for a few minutes to descend to see the waterfall and a reconstruction of a settlement of the Yámanas, original settlers of Tierra del Fuego.
After passing through the “tree cemetery”, where you can see the remains of the trees that were cut down 100 years ago by the prisoners, stops at the last station, National Park, where the uncoupling and coupling maneuvers of the old locomotiveto begin the return to the initial station, without intermediate stops.
In total, the walk lasts almost two hours, and It has three departure times: 9:30, 12:15 and 3 p.m., with two categories of tickets: in Turista class, the fare is $ 40.000 for those over 13 years old, $26,000 for retirees and $20,000 for children between 4 and 12 years old (from 0 to 3 years old, free).
In Premium class, over 13, $108,000; children from 4 to 12, $54,000.
3) Jungle Ecological Train, Misiones
A reconstruction that arrives just in time. The route of the Ecological Jungle Train that runs through the Iguazú National Park recovers from this Saturday, July 13, the final section of its route, to the Garganta del Diablo station, after months without the possibility of doing so due to the reconstruction of the walkways. , which were affected by a strong river flood last October.
On its 14 km route from the entrance to the park to the Devil’s Throat, the main waterfall of the Falls, the train runs with wagons open to the natural environmentwhich allows you to appreciate nature.
It leaves from the Central station (where there is a cafeteria and a kiosk), and stops first at the Falls stationwhere the trails that lead to the Lower and Upper circuits begin and where there is a small square, a rest area, gastronomy and toilets.
The last stop is Devil’s Throat Stationwhere the recently reopened walkway begins and, at 1,100 meters, leads to the Balcony of the Devil’s Throat, the main waterfall of the Falls, 80 meters high.
The train ride is included in the entrance to the National Parkwhich for Argentines costs $ 10.000and it is free for retirees and pensioners, children from 0 to 5 years old and people with disabilities.
4) Train of the Sierras, Córdoba
This train connects Córdoba capital with La Cumbre and Capilla del Monte, in the Punilla Valley, in a trip of three and a half hours, and is a very interesting option to explore Córdoba landscapes.
Winding between the mountains, the train stops at stations such as San Roque and Cassaffousth – on the shores of Lake San Roque, Villa Carlos Paz -, Bialet Massé, Cosquín, Casa Grande and Valle Hermoso, among others. Cross streams, pass between mountains and go through tunnelsgiving away great landscapes of Punilla.
The train has seven daily frequenciesalthough not all of them start from the terminal stations (see schedule on the website).
From Córdoba station to San Roque the ticket costs $1,500; to Cosquín, $1,850; to La Cumbre, $3,350; and Capilla del Monte, $3,700.
5) La Trochita, Chubut
A train that has already become legendary. With almost 80 years of life The Old Patagonian Express, known as La Trochita for its narrow gauge tracks -75 cm-, is a museum on rails which was born to unite towns located where the Patagonian steppe begins and carry loads, and which today offers tourist tours that allow you to travel to the Patagonia of other times.
Powered by locomotives built in 1922 in England and Germany, today it has three tourstwo in Chubut and another in Río Negro (the latter not available for now).
In Chubut, the most popular trip-part of Esquel and circulates through the steppe and the foothills to Nahuel Pan stationwhere you can visit the Museum of Native Cultures, artisan fairs and the Tokom topayiñ fair, which opens when the train arrives.
In July it will have departures every Saturday and the Tuesday the 16th and Thursday the 18th at 10 (check in from 9am) to return at 1pm. The rate for Argentines is $ 29.500$21,000 for minors and $21,500 for retirees and university students.
From The Maiténalso in Chubut, this winter the route until km 228: 1h 45′ towards the border with the province of Río Negro (round trip). There is a stop at the bridge that crosses the Chubut River and on the way back, a guided tour of the car and locomotive general repair workshops. The rate is $ 17.000 (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays leaving at 2pm and returning at 4pm).
6) Patagonian Train, Río Negro
The Patagonian Train is for passengers, but also a great tourist experience, as it runs through 850 km across the steppe Patagonia between San Antonio Oeste, on the Atlantic coast, and Bariloche, on the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi and at the foot of the Andes Mountains.
Between both headers the train makes 10 stopssuch as Valcheta, Ramos Mexia, Maquinchao and Ingeniero Jacobacci, among other stations.
Part Fridays at 8:30 p.m. in San Antonio Oeste and arrives on Saturdays at 9:53 in Bariloche. Return from the mountain city Sundays at 5pmto arrive in San Antonio Oeste on Mondays at 7:14.
For Friday the 26th and Sunday the 28th there are First Class tickets for $ 36.000 per person.
In addition, the Patagonian Train offers a special tourist service from Bariloche to Perito Moreno, which in July runs on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 6pm. Dinner is included. Passengers return to Bariloche at 11:21 p.m. It costs 70,000 per person (discounts for retirees and minors).
