Tren de las Sierras | How to Take the Scenic Route from Córdoba

Taking the Tren de las Sierras (Mountain Train) is the best way to see the landscapes and scenery in the Argentine province of Córdoba.

Córdoba is known in Argentina for its proximity to nature. The Tren de las Sierras offers you a great chance to see the scenery. People travel to Buenos Aires for city life, Mar de Plata for the sea, and Córdoba for the mountains.

While Córdoba Capital has a lot to offer, the surrounding nature is the real draw to the area, including the Tren de las Sierras. It’s accessible and affordable. The scenic route is sometimes the best choice!

I took the Tren de las Sierras on a day trip in March 2022 and enjoyed my time. This blog post will provide you with all the details you need to know in order to take this trip for yourself.

Tren de las Sierras

I first learned about the Tren de las Sierras when I went to drop off my laundry at the lavanderia. I started speaking with the women who worked there. They were excited to meet a foreigner who wanted to discover their country, so they began to tell me about several day trips I could do from Córdoba.

Tren de las Sierras was one of the day trips that immediately stood out to me. I went home and began to research it. Just two days later, I was on that train! I had already explored all the things to do in Córdoba Capital, so I was ready to see what was outside of the city.

When I took the Tren de las Sierras in 2022, the last stop was at Valle Hermoso. They have since added several new stops including La Falda, La Cumbre, and the last stop at Capilla del Monte.

Map of the Tren de las Sierras

Timetable for the Tren de las Sierras

The following times are current as of August 2024.

Note: If you want to go all the way to Capilla del Monte from Córdoba, you need to change trains in Cosquin.

Córdoba to Capilla del Monte

The train leaves Monday-Friday at precisely 7:45 am from the Estación Córdoba, on the southeast side of the city center.

There are no trains that leave from Córdoba Capital on weekends or holidays. The trains leave only from the Alta Córdoba station at 7:53 am, 12:45 pm, and 4:05 pm.

Capilla del Monte to Córdoba

More trains leave Capilla del Monte in the direction of Córdoba than in the opposite direction. Every day of the week, three trains leave Capilla del Monte at 8:25 am, 1:10 pm, and 6:10 pm.

Price of the Tren de las Sierras

If you have a DNI (the National Argentinian ID), you can purchase your tickets online. If you’re like me, and you do not have a DNI, you’ll need to purchase your tickets at the station. I went the day before, just in case. However, it is entirely possible to purchase the tickets the morning of your trip, just get there a bit early.

The price of the tickets is inexpensive. From Córdoba Capital to Capilla del Monte, the total price (as of August 2024) is 4100 pesos, which is about 4 USD.

I recommend purchasing a one-way ticket. The train is very much a tourist route, and therefore it is slow-moving. It would be faster to return to Córdoba Capital on a bus instead of taking the Tren de las Sierras back in the opposite direction (unless you really want to).

Arriving at the Estación Córdoba

Make sure you arrive at Estación Córdoba on time. They start allowing people on the tracks about 10 minutes before the train departs. A line will form on the platform. After they check your ticket, they will direct you to one of the two available cars. You do have a seat number on your ticket, but you can disregard that and sit wherever you like.

Going to Argentina soon? Get Ready at a glance:

Get travel medical insurance with SafetyWing.
Book your stay with Booking.com.
Check Flights with Skyscanner or Hopper.
Rent a car with RentalCars.com or Discover Cars.
Download the Airalo app and get an Argentine eSIM.
Purchase the Ultimate Buenos Aires guidebook.
See all my Argentina guides on the Thatch app.
Take a tour with GetYourGuide or Viator.
Have a 1:1 consultation with me in advance!

Inside the Tren de las Sierras

Most people sit facing forward, which leaves the other half of the train virtually empty. Inside the train, there are no bathrooms, so make sure you go before you get on. In the summer and fall, the air conditioning is pumped into the train, so make sure you also bring a jacket for the ride, to avoid suffering through the cold like I did.

There is no food sold on the train either, so I suggest bringing some snacks.

One of the oddest things I found was that the windows were covered with a million black dots. I’m not sure the reasoning for this- shade? Avoid scratches? I don’t know. But for a ‘scenic train’ ride, they certainly make it difficult to see out the windows.

Extended Train Stops along the Journey

On the way up to Tren de las Sierras, the train made two extended stops. The stops give you just enough time to get off the train and use the bathroom or grab some food.

La Calera

The first stop was at La Calera, which is the halfway point between Córdoba Capital and Lago San Roque (near Carlos Paz). I’m not entirely positive if this was a planned stop that happens every time, or if it was a coincidence and happened only on the particular day I took the train.

They announced there would be a 20-30 minute delay (which ended up being closer to 45 minutes), which I was grateful for because it allowed me to use the bathroom.

Casa Bamba

The second stop along the Tren de las Sierras was at Casa Bamba. There was a bathroom just down below, but this stop is less than 10 minutes, so you may not have time to get snacks and go to the bathroom.

There were people at a table selling cafe con leche, cake, snacks, etc. It felt panicky as there were several people trying to buy food (myself included) at once, and the train was constantly honking its horn to remind you to hurry up! I was super grateful for this stop because by the time we arrived here, I was starving and the coffee and cake saved me.

Cosquin

Cosquin was once the last stop along the Tren de las Sierras, but now it continues much further. However, if you do want to continue along the journey, you will need to change trains at the Cosquin station. You should be able to follow the crowds, but if it’s not obvious just ask someone where to catch the train to Capilla del Monte.

If you don’t speak Spanish well, just say “Capilla del Monte?” as a question, and someone will certainly point you in the right direction.

Valle Hermoso

When I took the Tren de las Sierras, the last stop available was Valle Hermoso. It took 4.5 hours to arrive at Valle Hermoso from Córdoba Capital. As soon as I arrived in Valle Hermoso, I immediately knew I would take the bus back instead of taking the train for another 4.5 hours.

The bus stop in Valle Hermoso is easy to find. It is literally across the street from the Valle Hermoso train station. There are several small cubicles with poles painted green. Buses back to Córdoba pass by all day long. If you want to take the bus back, this is where you’ll need to go.

Having lunch and meeting locals

There didn’t seem to be a lot of options for lunch besides a small market on the corner and an ice cream shop around the block. I eventually found a place called La Sole, which is now closed down.

Just to the east of Valle Hermoso is the Reserva Natural Vaquerias, which is a highly recommended place to visit. However, I went on a rainy day so chose against it. I also met a couple of Porteñas at the bus stop who told me they had tried walking there, for over an hour and couldn’t find the entrance.

So after talking to these women, and a local I had met, Diego, I decided to walk down to the “Dique de la Isla.” Fortunately, the rain stopped and the clouds went away for a while, so I was back in adventure mode.

Dique de la Isla

I followed the instructions that Diego gave me to find that dam, and within 10 minutes I was there. This entire area is beautiful and worth spending a few hours there.

I spent a few hours walking through the greenery, down paths that led to the river, climbing on rocks, flying my drone, and reading my book in the grass. It was incredibly peaceful, and I was very grateful the rain had gone away to let me have this experience.

Capilla del Monte

This is now the last stop along the Tren de las Sierras. It’s a small hippie town famous within the province of Córdoba.

Transportation from Valle Hermoso to Córdoba

Just before 5 pm, the sky started to turn grey once more, so I gathered my things and headed back up to the center of Valle Hermoso. Almost as soon as I arrived at the bus stop, a bus rolled up.

This bus was passing through Carlos Paz, which would add about 20-30 minutes to the trip back to Córdoba, but that was okay with me. Two and a half hours later, I was back in Córdoba.

There are several buses leaving Valle Hermoso headed for Córdoba (some via Carlos Paz), and take around 2 hours. The buses leave every 40-45 minutes, so you shouldn’t have a problem getting back.

You can get off at any stop that you want along the route. Regardless of where you get off, there will be plenty of buses going back to Córdoba Capital.

When should I take the Tren de las Sierras?

The best time to take this scenic Córdoba train route would be in the spring, summer, and fall. Just remember that they pump air conditioning, so you should make sure to bring a sweater or wear long pants.

Where to stay along the Tren de las Sierras

Capilla del Monte – Posada del Arbol Hotel

This hotel is located in the center of town and provides a free breakfast. There is a restaurant and a swimming pool.

Stay in this affordable hotel in the center of Capilla del Monte, BOOK NOW

La Cumbre- Gran Hotel La Cumbre

This is where I stayed when I visited La Cumbre with some friends. It’s tucked right in the mountains with beautiful views. They have a large dining room (breakfast included) and several recreational and parrilla spaces.

BOOK NOW to stay in this beautiful mountain lodge

Final Thoughts on Tren de las Sierras

A one-day trip on the Tren de las Sierras is definitely worth it. If I were to do it again, knowing what I know now, I would have brought a blanket and packed a picnic lunch. The blanket would be both for the cold train ride and to use once I arrived at the dique to relax by the river.

Taking the Tren de las Sierras is a great way of being able to see the mountainous region of the Córdoba province. Each small town offers something truly unique and magical.

TRAVELING SOON?

INSURANCE: Cover yourself with travel medical insurance by SafetyWing.

FLIGHTS: Get the best flight deals with Skyscanner and set flight alerts with Hopper.

STAYS: Check out hotels and apartments with Booking.com and Vrbo.

RENTAL CARS: Get the best deal on rental cars with Discover Cars or RentalCars.

GOING HIKING? Get a 30% discount off your yearly AllTrails+ Account (code: nickiposts30)

eSIM: Get an international eSim with Airalo.

CITY GUIDES: Save time and purchase pre-made city guides with Thatch.

CITY TOURS: Book your tour with GetYourGuide and Viator

LUGGAGE: Get the best carry-on suitcase here.

CREDIT CARD: Start earning travel points with the best travel credit card.

BUENOS AIRES GUIDE: Purchase my Buenos Aires travel companion here.

CONSULTATION: Book a 1:1 travel consultation with Nicki here.

SUBSCRIBE: Get the Nicki Posts Travel Stuff newsletter every month.

TRAVEL BETTER: Check out my Travel Tips and best Travel Resources pages.

MORE? Check out more on my LINKS page to find me in more places!