El Chaltén – Condors Viewpoint & Chorrillo del Salto Waterfall

This is the best combination of activities to experience El Chaltén in a single day departing from El Calafate. No advanced hiking experience is required. With our guide, you will enjoy an easy walk to a stunning panoramic viewpoint, have lunch at a classic restaurant in El Chaltén, visit a beautiful waterfall that freezes completely during winter, and explore the remote town known as Argentina’s trekking capital.

This exclusive expedition begins around 8:00 a.m., with pick-up at or near your accommodation. We travel along the iconic Ruta 40 to the Punta del Lago viewpoint, where we stop for photos. We then cross the Santa Cruz River and continue along the breathtaking canyon of the La Leona River.

We stop at the historic Paso La Leona roadside hotel, a former travelers’ stop that today feels like a living museum on Ruta 40.

Continuing along Lake Viedma, we enjoy views of the impressive Viedma Glacier, always framed by the Andes Mountains, including Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre, especially as we approach El Chaltén.

Along the route, it is common to spot hundreds of guanacos, as well as choiques (Patagonian rheas), hares, foxes, armadillos, birds such as caranchos, and—of course—the majestic Andean condor, whose sightings become more frequent near El Chaltén.

Before reaching town, we stop at the Viedma Glacier viewpoint, offering panoramic views of the glacier, the Andes range, and the iconic Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre peaks. After approximately 3 hours of travel and 220 km, we arrive in El Chaltén.

From the National Parks Interpretation Center, we begin a guided hike to the Condors Viewpoint (Mirador de los Cóndores). This is a low-difficulty ascent that takes about one hour and rewards us with spectacular views of the surrounding mountain range, including Fitz Roy (3,405 m), Cerro Torre (3,133 m), Agujas Mermoz, Saint-Exupéry, Poincenot, and more. From this viewpoint, it is also possible to see the Piedras Blancas Glacier, the town of El Chaltén below, and the Río de las Vueltas Valley—a truly outstanding panoramic spot. As the name suggests, chances of seeing condors are high.

After returning to the vehicle, we head to the Chorrillo del Salto Waterfall, a crystal-clear glacial melt waterfall over 20 meters high, surrounded by Patagonian forest with lenga and ñire trees. In winter, the waterfall freezes completely. Access involves a short, easy walk.

Next, we stop for lunch at a restaurant located in the heart of El Chaltén—perfect for relaxing, sharing impressions, and reviewing photos from the day (and yes, uploading them to social media).

After this unforgettable experience, we return to El Calafate, confident that we have witnessed some of the most beautiful landscapes in Patagonia.