Tren Solar de la Quebrada: Route, Schedules, Tickets and Prices

The train runs on the tracks of the old Belgrano railway branch that once climbed the Quebrada toward La Quiaca on the Bolivian border. No passenger trains had used this line for about 30 years until the province of Jujuy bought two light trainsets from Chinese manufacturer CRRC Tangshan. Each one seats around 70 people and has panoramic windows, a glass roof, phone chargers and onboard connectivity.

The name is a little misleading: there are no solar panels on the roof. The train runs on fast-charging lithium batteries with a range of 100 to 120 km, according to the operator, and they are recharged at the stations with electricity from Jujuy's solar farms. The result is a quiet ride with no exhaust along the way.

A ceremonial first run took place on December 7, 2023, and commercial service began in mid-2024 between Volcán and Maimará. Tilcara station opened on August 16, 2024, completing the 42 km first stage. The service is run by a company owned by the provincial government.

It's an easy way to see the Quebrada de Humahuaca, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003, without driving, and with local guides explaining the history and culture of each village.

The working section is 42 km long. These are approximate distances from Volcán, worked out from each station's railway kilometer marker:

• Volcán (km 0): the starting station, about 40 km (25 miles) north of San Salvador de Jujuy on Route 9. It has parking, and the full-day rides begin here.
• Tumbaya (about 7 km): a small village with a late 18th-century church.
• Purmamarca (about 20 km): the station sits outside the village, at the junction of Route 9 and Route 52. The village and the Hill of Seven Colors are about 3 km away.
• Posta de Hornillos: a halt between Purmamarca and Maimará, next to an old colonial staging post that is now a museum.
• Maimará (about 35 km): right below the striped Paleta del Pintor hills and the hillside cemetery. Our Maimará and Paleta del Pintor guide has the details.
• Tilcara (about 42 km): the newest station and the highest point of the line, at 2,465 m (8,087 ft). From here you can walk to the Pucará ruins or the village center; see what to see and do in Tilcara.

The line mostly runs alongside Route 9 and the Río Grande, so the scenery is what you'd see from a car, only through bigger windows, with no mountain driving and plenty of time to look around.

This is the main product. According to the official website, it lasts about 10 hours, covers all six stations with scheduled stops, and includes guides on board and in each village. Every stop has free time to walk around, eat or join the activities on offer, which are optional and paid separately.

• Group A: leaves Volcán at 9:00 AM.
• Group B: leaves Volcán at 10:00 AM.
• Each group visits the stations in a different order, and your group is assigned when you buy the ticket.
• Return: the day ends back in Volcán in the evening.

In Group A, for example, the longest stop is Purmamarca, at over two hours, followed by about an hour in Maimará and more than an hour and a half in Tilcara. Some reviewers say the last stop drags after such a long day, so bring a book or plan what you want to see.

You can buy the train ticket only and get to Volcán on your own, or add a round-trip transfer from San Salvador de Jujuy (departing 8:00 or 9:00 AM) or from the city of Salta (6:00 or 7:00 AM), run by a group of local tour operators. If you haven't sorted out your trip to the province yet, read how to get to Jujuy by plane, bus or car.

This option is meant for travelers short on time, families with kids, or anyone who just wants to try the train. It starts and ends at Purmamarca station, with a brief stop at the far end for coffee and photos. Transfers are not included.

• Option A: Purmamarca – Maimará – Purmamarca, departing at 9:55 AM.
• Option B: Purmamarca – Volcán – Purmamarca, departing at 11:55 AM.
• Length: between one and a half and two and a half hours, round trip.
• Stop at the turnaround point: about 15 minutes.

Under the terms and conditions, a 180° ticket only lets you board and get off at the stations of the segment you bought, with no stops in between. Also bear in mind that Purmamarca station is about 3 km from the village, so you'll need a car, a taxi or a decent walk to get there.

It's the cheapest option, and the most divisive one. Some riders enjoy it as a scenic outing, while others complain that 15 minutes isn't enough to see anything. Think of it as a train ride with views, not a visit to Maimará.

As of October 2026, the official website says stations are open Thursday to Tuesday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, which means there is no service on Wednesdays. Some unofficial sites say it doesn't run on Mondays either, so the safest approach is to pick your date in the booking calendar on trensolar.com.ar, which only shows days with departures.

Other things worth knowing:

• Annual maintenance: in 2025 the train was out of service from December 15 to January 1 for battery, brake and track work. If you're traveling in late December, check first.
• Peak season: Argentina's winter school holidays in July, long weekends and the summer months. Seats are limited, so book ahead for those dates.
• Check-in: get to the station about 20 minutes early with your ticket QR code and your passport.
• Special departures: the operator adds themed trips on set dates, such as a wine train with tastings and winery visits, and stargazing evenings with dinner at Posta de Hornillos.
• What to bring: layers, sunscreen, water and a camera. No food is sold on board.

In April 2026, the Tren Solar issued a warning through the Jujuy government's press office about unofficial websites using the train's name and copying the look of the real site. These are the only official sales channels:

• Website: trensolar.com.ar, the only site authorized to sell tickets online.
• Official WhatsApp: +54 9 388 575 7366, for questions and bookings.
• Ticket offices at Volcán, Tumbaya, Purmamarca, Maimará and Tilcara stations.
• A sales point at the Cabildo, the historic town hall in San Salvador de Jujuy.
• Partner travel agencies: more than 100 across Argentina, according to the operator.

Before paying, make sure the address is exactly trensolar.com.ar, not a version with extra words or a different domain. Be wary of heavily discounted prices and of requests to wire money to personal accounts. The operator accepts cash, debit and credit cards, QR payments and payment links.

You'll see several fare types. The foreigner fare applies to anyone without an Argentine national ID (DNI), however long you've been in the country, and you'll need your passport. The national fare is for Argentines aged 12 and over with a DNI, and there are also fares for Argentine retirees, children aged 2 to 11 and Jujuy residents.

The official fare chart published on the website, valid from September 15, 2026, listed these prices per person in Argentine pesos (ARS). Peso prices change often with inflation, so check when you book.

• 360°, train only, foreigner adult: ARS 113,000
• 360°, train only, Argentine national: ARS 90,000
• 360°, train only, Argentine retirees and children 2–11: ARS 60,000
• 360° with transfer from San Salvador de Jujuy, national fare: ARS 125,000
• 360° with transfer from Salta, national fare: ARS 143,000
• 180°, foreigner: ARS 60,000
• 180°, Argentine national: ARS 50,000
• 180°, Argentine retirees and children 2–11: ARS 35,000
• Children under 2 and passengers with an official Argentine disability certificate: free

Activities at each stop, meals and museum tickets are not included. If you're a group and plan to drive anyway, compare the cost with a rental car in Jujuy: many travelers combine one day on the train with other days on the road.

No. The line currently ends in Tilcara. The project includes a second stage to Huacalera, Uquía and Humahuaca, for a total of about 90 km from Volcán, but as of October 2026 that extension is not running and no opening date has been announced.

To continue north, frequent buses run from Tilcara to Humahuaca, about 42 km away on Route 9. On the way, it's worth stopping in Uquía to see its church and hike the Quebrada de las Señoritas, as explained in our guide to Uquía and its arquebusier angels.

A sensible plan is to ride the train one day and spend another on Humahuaca and the Hornocal, using our guide to what to see and do in Humahuaca.

It's a good fit if:

• You don't have a car and want to see several Quebrada villages in one day, with a guide.
• You're traveling with kids or older relatives and would rather skip hours of mountain driving.
• You like the experience for its own sake: a quiet panoramic train that is one of a kind in Argentina.
• You only have a few days and want a first look at the Quebrada before deciding where to go back for longer.

It may not suit you if:

• You want more time in each village: the day runs on a fixed timetable.
• Your plans include the Salinas Grandes salt flats, the Hornocal or Iruya, which are far from the tracks.
• You're on a tight budget: local buses between villages cost far less.

The line climbs gently and its highest point is Tilcara, at 2,465 m (8,087 ft), so it works well in your first days. Still, if you're arriving from sea level, read our tips on adjusting to the altitude in Jujuy.