In short: A day trip from Medellín to Santiago and Cisneros, in northeast Antioquia, with the La Quiebra tunnel by motorrail cart (“brujita”), El Limón station, Locomotive 45 and the railway museum. The private tour adds a panela farm.
About this tour
The gateway to northern Antioquia is unique for the changes it has seen over the years and for the history told by the railroad, which endures and refuses to disappear. This route takes you through mountain landscapes to a past brought into the present.
The route reaches the district of Santiago, where you visit the La Quiebra tunnel and local entrepreneurs with a talk from a local guide, then ride the tunnel on a motorrail cart (brujita). You see El Limón station and its natural surroundings, and reach Cisneros, where Locomotive 45, the first to go through the La Quiebra tunnel, stands as a tribute. The museum tells the story of the Antioquia Railroad, and you visit the church, the park and the sculpture dedicated to the arrieros (muleteers). You relax in a local hostería.
The private tour adds a panela farm: you see the sugarcane mill (trapiche), make your own panela and taste its by-products, learn about regenerative agriculture, refresh in a natural pool with a mineral-salt and cane-honey scrub, and eat a honey-flavored lunch.
Pairs well with Santa Fe de Antioquia Day Trip from Medellín: Colonial Town & Hanging Bridge and Guatapé & El Peñol Day Trip from Medellín: 740 Steps and a Boat Ride. Planning more days around Medellín? Read the Medellín & Antioquia travel guide and our list of the best day trips from Medellín.
Choose your option
Private: Cisneros, the Route of a Train
Your own vehicle with a departure time agreed with you, breakfast on the road, lunch, snacks, plus the panela farm, regenerative agriculture, a natural pool and a hostería.
Shared: Route Cisneros
Shared departure from Medellín. Breakfast on the road, local lunch, the Locomotive 45 and museum visit, the motorrail ride through the tunnel, and a hostería.
Itinerary
- Stop 1 · Santiago and La Quiebra tunnelA talk with a local guide, and a ride through the tunnel on a motorrail cart.
- Stop 2 · El Limón stationThe old station and its natural setting.
- Stop 3 · Cisneros and Locomotive 45The first locomotive through the La Quiebra tunnel.
- Stop 4 · Railway museum and townThe history of the Antioquia Railroad, the church, the park and the arrieros sculpture.
- Stop 5 · Hostería, or panela farm on the private tourA relaxing afternoon, or the full panela experience.
Included
- Ground transport from Medellín
- Breakfast on the road and lunch
- Motorrail ride through La Quiebra tunnel and the visits described
- Hostería entrance
- Medical assistance card
- Tourist guide
Not included
- Meals and expenses not listed in the plan
- Costs caused by road delays or weather
Questions
What is a brujita?
A small motorrail cart, adapted to run on the old train tracks, used to ride through the tunnel.
Is this tour good for children?
Yes. Children over 3 or taller than 96 cm pay full fare on the shared tour; ask us for details.
How much does the Cisneros tour cost?
The shared departure starts from USD 52 per person. Private tours depend on the number of people and the guide's language. Request a quote or message us on WhatsApp for your exact price.
How do I book and pay?
Tell us your date and group size and we send a quote. A deposit confirms your booking and the balance is due a few business days before the tour. You pay with a secure Bold payment link.
Where do we meet?
We pick you up at your hotel or lodging in the Medellín metropolitan area. The shared departure leaves Medellín early; we confirm the exact meeting point and time when you book.