Mirador de los Condores is one of the easiest hikes in El Chalten. It’s also one of the best!
Unlike the other hikes in the area, you only need a few hours to reach the viewpoint, which offers spectacular views of El Chalten.
It’s the ideal hike to do on the day you arrive or the last day when your legs are feeling tired.
My only advice: do not skip it!
This guide includes everything you need to know about hiking to Mirador de los Condores. I’ve also added my thoughts on whether the second viewpoint, Mirador de las Aguilas, is worth checking out.
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Mirador de los Condores and Mirador de las Aguilas hike
There are two options for doing the Mirador de los Condores hike.
You can either do Mirador Condores only. Alternatively, you can add Mirador las Aguilas to your route, which is an hour’s detour.
Both start and end at the same location.
Mirador Condores only
- Distance: 2.6 km
- Time needed: 1.5 hours
- Difficulty: Easy
- Route: Out and back
- Best for: Hikers who are really short on time
Mirador de los Condores is the iconic viewpoint that overlooks El Chalten with Fitz Roy Mountain in the background.
If you only hike to and from Mirador Condores, it’s an out-and-back trail. This means you’ll walk the same way up as you do back down.
Hiking to Mirador de los Condores is quick and easy and recommended for those who don’t have much time on their itinerary for Argentina.
However, it’s best to add the detour to Mirador de las Aguilas to your route, which is what I did.
Mirador Condores and Mirador Las Aguilas
- Distance: 5.3 km
- Time needed: 2.5 hours
- Difficulty: Easy
- Route: Loop
- Best for: Hikers looking for two unique viewpoints
Mirador de las Aguilas is a 2.5 km addition to the Mirador de los Condores hike. But it’s a flat and easy trail, worthy of doing.
After reaching Mirador de los Condores, you’ll continue along a path to Mirador Las Aguilas, which offers gorgeous views of Viedma Lake.
By adding this section to your hike, the trail becomes a loop meaning you’re following a different route on the way back. It later re-connects to the Mirador de los Condores trail, which you’ll follow back down.
I recommend doing the extra bit, which will add Mirador Las Aguilas to your route.
Mirador de los Condores hike difficulty
Mirador de los Condores is an easy hike that only takes 2.5 hours to complete (if you include Mirador las Aguilas).
It starts with a gradual uphill from the trailhead until you reach the Los Condores viewpoint.
After the first viewpoint, the path flattens as you walk toward Mirador las Aguilas. The way back is all downhill.
How to get to Mirador de los Condores trailhead
The trailhead to Mirador de los Condores is a short walk from El Chalten. It’s near the Los Glaciares Visitors Centre, just past the Fitz Roy River Bridge.
You can find the exact location here.
The trailhead is shared with a few other trails that lead in different directions, so be sure to follow the signs to Mirador de los Condores and Mirador Las Aguilas.
The uphill part
After reaching the trailhead, the route gains elevation. It’s all uphill for about 40 minutes until you get to Mirador de los Condores.
This uphill section was more tiring than I thought it would be, but it’s not nearly as steep as the Laguna de los Tres hike!
Arriving at Mirador De Los Condores
From Mirador de los Condores, you’ll have spectacular views of El Chalten, Fitz Roy, and the Cerro Torre mountain ranges.
You won’t get views like this anywhere else! Keep your eyes open for condors as they frequently fly overhead.
Mirador de los Condores to Mirador Las Aguilas
After taking in the views from Mirador de los Condores, you have two options.
You can either finish your hike and return the same way you came up. Or you can continue right to Mirador Las Aguilas.
If you go to Mirador Las Aguilas (which I recommend), you’ll follow a flat, easy trail through grassy fields. This quieter route offers different views from what you would have seen already.
Arriving at Mirador de Las Aguilas
From the Las Aguilas viewpoint, you’ll be rewarded with picturesque views of Viedma Lake.
You then follow a different route back that will reconnect with the Las Condores trail.
Where to stay in El Chalten
Most people stay in El Chalten town as it’s an excellent base for exploring all the nearby trails.
It’s easy to walk to the Mirador de los Condores trailhead from here, and there are plenty of accommodation options to choose from.
I stayed at Hosteria El Alamo and highly recommend it. It’s well-priced, given the prime location in the town center, and breakfast is included. The staff were friendly and happy to help me plan my hike to Mirador de los Condores and Mirador de las Aguilas. Check availability here
If you’re looking for something more luxurious, you can’t go wrong with Chalten Suites Hotel. This is the perfect place to come home after a long hiking day. There’s an onsite restaurant, and it’s just a stone’s throw away from the Los Condores trailhead. Check availability here.
Best time to do the Mirador de los Condores trek
There’s no “bad” time to do the Mirador de los Condores hike.
You only need two and a half hours, so I recommend doing it the day you arrive in El Chalten after you’ve settled into your accommodation and had lunch.
Try not to leave it to your last day. You may feel sore from all the hiking, and it would be a shame to skip both viewpoints.
READ MORE: THE PERFECT 3 DAY BARILOCHE ITINERARY
What to pack
It’s a quick hike to Los Condores and Las Aguilas, so you don’t need to pack to many things.
Keep in mind the notorious weather in Patagonia. When we started our hike, the conditions were perfect. But the wind picked up halfway in, and we were nearly blown off our feet!
- 1 Liter of water
- Warm top
- Windbreaker or raincoat
- Flashlight if you’re doing a sunrise or sunset hike
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Sunglasses
Is Mirador de los Condores worth it
Yes, doing the Mirador de los Condores trek is 100% worth it. You won’t get views like this elsewhere in El Chalten.
It’s a quick and easy hike, perfect for stretching those legs after taking the bus from El Calafate.
But because of its ease and accessibility, Mirador de los Condores is a popular hike, so the trail can sometimes be crowded.
Final thoughts
Mirador de los Condores is the perfect warm-up hike for your El Chalten adventures.
After doing this short hike, you should consider hiking to Laguna Torre the next day. This was my favorite hike in El Chalten. While it’s an easy trail, it does take a full day to complete but you’ll be rewarded with incredible views of Cerro Torre.
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Are you wanting to check out Mirador de los Condores, Chalten? If you have any questions, drop me a message in the comments section below.
Looking for more Argentina travel inspiration? Check out my other posts!
