Quebrada del Toro Train Devils Circuit

The Quebrada del Toro carved a route through the Andes that’s so dramatic they built a tourist train just to show it off – then you can drive the mining roads they didn’t want civilians to see. This 85-kilometer circuit parallels the famous Tren a las Nubes route from Salta through Campo Quijano, then branches onto mining access roads that climb to 4,200 meters through the Quebrada del Toro’s candy-striped canyon walls. The route passes through Santa Rosa de Tastil’s pre-Columbian ruins and connects to active copper mining operations near San Antonio de los Cobres.

Difficult terrain requiring 4WD with low-range and altitude preparation – you’ll climb from 1,200 to 4,200 meters in 60 kilometers. Dry season only (May-October); summer brings flash floods that regularly wash out creek crossings. Fuel and supplies available in San Antonio de los Cobres, but carry extra water and altitude sickness medication. Camping possible near Tastil ruins with permission from local communities. This route delivers Altiplano landscapes without crossing international borders, plus access to some of Argentina’s most remote Quechua villages.