Easy Hikes in El Chaltén
The easy and short hikes in El Chaltén: the Mirador de los Cóndores, Chorrillo del Salto, the Río de las Vueltas viewpoint and Laguna Capri, with the park leaflet's times and the guided days that walk them.
The easy hikes in El Chaltén are short and close to the village: the Mirador de los Cóndores (about 45 minutes up), the Chorrillo del Salto waterfall (the park leaflet calls it the easiest trail in the area) and the Río de las Vueltas viewpoint (20 minutes from the Fitz Roy trailhead). If you can manage a few hours, Laguna Capri is the step up worth making: about 4 km and 1:45 each way to a lake with Fitz Roy across it. That is also the walk Info de Ushuaia guides from El Calafate, from US$130 a person (checked November 2026).
The calendar is the guided picnic hike to Laguna Capri from El Calafate. Minimum age 12; free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
The short walks, on the park’s figures
| Walk | One way | Height | The leaflet’s note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Río de las Vueltas viewpoint | 0:20 from the Fitz Roy trailhead, 0.7 km | 100 m | A view of the Río de las Vueltas valley |
| Mirador de los Cóndores | 0:45, 1 km | 100 m | Accessible, low slope; the village and both mountain ranges |
| Mirador de las Águilas | 1:00, 2 km | 100 m | Lago Viedma and the steppe |
| Chorrillo del Salto | 0:40, 3 km | None given | A waterfall; the easiest trail in the area |
| Laguna Capri | 1:45, 4 km from the Fitz Roy trailhead | 350 m | Excellent views of the Fitz Roy range |
Source: Los Glaciares National Park, North Zone trail leaflet (Administración de Parques Nacionales, English edition, 2024), read November 2026.
Which easy walk for which day
- A first evening: the Mirador de los Cóndores, which starts at the park’s visitor centre at the entrance to the village. The leaflet calls it suitable for people not used to walking in the mountains, and with some luck you see condors.
- A rest day or a family outing: Chorrillo del Salto, a 20 m waterfall in the forest north of the village. The leaflet says you can drive to a parking area and walk about 10 minutes to it.
- One free morning and fit legs: Laguna Capri. The first kilometre is steep; after that the path through the forest is gentle, and you sit at a lake facing Fitz Roy.
When “easy” stops being easy
The leaflet adds that in winter snow and mud make every trail harder, and that the weather in the mountains is not the weather in the village. Beyond Laguna Capri the Fitz Roy trail continues to the Poincenot camp and the steep climb to Laguna de los Tres, which is a different kind of day (see Capri or Laguna de los Tres).
Guided days that walk them
Three days from El Calafate walk them with a guide:
El Chaltén: Capri Hike with Guide and Patagonian Picnic from El Calafate
Info de Ushuaia: transport from El Calafate, a nature guide, about 8 km on foot and an hour's picnic at the lake. Minimum age 12.
Check dates →Discover El Chaltén: Hike to Condor Lookout & Falls
Tolkeyen Patagonia Turismo: hotel pickup, the visitor centre, the hike to the Condor Lookout, lunch and Chorrillo del Salto, food and drinks included.
See the day →From El Calafate: Full-Day Tour to El Chaltén
Patagonia Dreams: 2.5 hours each way, a stop at Parador La Leona, then the Mirador de los Cóndores and Chorrillo del Salto with a guide. Lunch only on the dearer option.
See the day →Prices, ratings and review counts from the listings (GetYourGuide checked November 2026). Operators price by date and season, so treat the figures as the shape of the market, not a quote.
None of these includes the national park pass: ARS 50,000 on the general rate from 1 June 2026, bought online and paid by card for the El Chaltén portals (APN tariffs).
Around El Chaltén
More Days Out in El Chaltén with Open Dates
Hikes and day trips in the north of the park with live availability. What each includes and its cancellation terms show before you book.
The Easy Hike with the Big View
Info de Ushuaia's guided picnic hike from El Calafate to Laguna Capri: about 8 km, moderate, with Fitz Roy across the lake. Minimum age 12; the park entrance is extra.
Check dates