Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
210
The Train to the Clouds
The
Tren a las Nubes (Train to the Clouds)
is one of the world's great
railroad experienc es—a br eathtaking ride that climbs t o 4,220m (13,842 f t.)
without the help of cable tracks . The journey takes y ou 434k m (269 miles),
through 21 tunnels and o ver 13 viaduc ts and 29 bridges , culminating in the
stunning La Polvorilla viaduct. You will cr oss magnificent landscapes, making
your way from the multic olored Lerma valley thr ough the deep can yons and
rugged peaks of the Quebrada del Toro and on to the desolate desert plateau
of La Puña. The train st ops at the peak , where your tour guide (there's one in
each car) will describe the r egion's t opography and check that ev eryone is
breathing fine and not suffering from altitude sickness. In the small town of San
Antonio de los C obres, you'll have a chance to buy handicraf ts, ponchos, and
other textile goods fr om the indigenous people . The 15-hour ride includes a
small breakfast, lunch, and a f olkloric show with regional music and danc e. A
restaurant, post offic e, communications center, and infirmar y are among the
first-class passenger cars . The ride makes f or a fascinating experienc e, but be
prepared for a v ery long da y, as depar ture is at 7am and the train r eturns at
11pm. Always check ahead, as cancellations are common.
For more information, contact
General Belgrano Train Station,
Ameghino
and Balcarce (
&
387/421-5658
), or
Tren a las Nubes Buenos Aires Office,
Av.
Córdoba 650 (
&
11/5246-6666;
www.trenalasnubes.com.ar). The train oper-
ates from April to November and departs Salta's General Belgrano Station.
Tickets c ost $140 (£95), including br eakfast and lunch, and can be pur-
chased at any of Salta's conventional travel agencies.
8
SEEING THE SIGHTS
Most museums in the Northwest don't have formal admission fees; instead, they request
small contributions, usually $1 (70p) or less.
Casa de la Cultura
Salta's cultural center is a hive of activity, staging art exhibitions,
dance performances, music r ecitals, and theater plays. The all-glass facade hides an old
adobe structure that is a warren of galleries and spaces.
Caseros 460.
&
387/421-5763.
www.culturasalta.gov.ar. Daily 10am-1pm and 3-7:30pm (sometimes
later depending on performances).
El C abildo/Museo Históric o del Nor te (Historical Museum of the Nor th)
First erected in 1582 when the city was founded, the Cabildo has since r einvented itself
a number of times. The latest town hall was completed in 1783; typical of S panish con-
struction, it has two levels and a tower built around interior patios. The building houses
the Museo Histórico del N orte (Historical Museum of the N orth), with 15 exhibition
halls related to the Indian, Colonial, and Liberal periods of Salteño history. Here you will
see religious and popular ar t, as w ell as wor ks from the J esuit period and fr om upper
Peru.
Caseros 549.
&
387/421-5340.
www.museonor.gov.ar. Museum Tues-Fri 9:30am-1:30pm and 3:30-
8:30pm; Sat 9:30am-1:30pm and 4:30-8pm; Sun 9:30am-1pm.
