Chorrillo del Salto Waterfall
Chorrillo del Salto, the 20 m waterfall north of El Chaltén: how far it is (the park and the town give different figures), the short walk, and the day trips from El Calafate that stop there.
Chorrillo del Salto is a 20 m waterfall in the forest north of El Chaltén, and the walk to it is the easiest in the area. The El Chaltén tourism office puts it 4 km from town, about an hour on foot; the national park’s activities page says 6 km. Either way it is a half day at most, and you can shorten it to a few minutes’ walk from a parking area. If you are coming from El Calafate for the day, Tolkeyen Patagonia Turismo’s Hike to Condor Lookout & Falls pairs it with the Mirador de los Cóndores, from US$107 a person (checked November 2026).
The calendar is Tolkeyen Patagonia Turismo’s day: hotel pickup in El Calafate at 8:00 AM, a guide, food and drinks, and the return to El Calafate at 7:00 PM. The national park entrance and the municipal entrance are not included.
How far, how long
The three public sources do not agree on the distance, because they measure from different places:
| Source | Distance | Time | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Chaltén tourism office (page from 2016) | 4 km from town | About 1 hour on foot | Low |
| Administración de Parques Nacionales, activities page | 6 km from El Chaltén | Not given | A half-day outing; “it can also be done on foot” |
| Park North Zone trail leaflet (English edition, 2024) | 3 km, one way | 0:40, one way | “The easiest trail in the area” |
Read November 2026.
The leaflet also explains the short version: you can drive to a parking area and walk about 10 minutes to the waterfall. It describes the place as a 20 m waterfall where you can enjoy the water and a walk through the forest, popular with people who come to the North Zone for a few hours.
Who it suits
Anyone who wants a gentle walk: a rest day after Laguna de los Tres, an evening stroll, a family outing, or a first afternoon in town. The leaflet gives it no climb at all; the Spanish edition calls it a “sendero sin desnivel”, a trail without a height difference.
It is not a substitute for the big hikes. You see the forest and the falls, not Fitz Roy up close.
Day trips from El Calafate that stop here
Among the day trips from El Calafate that include the waterfall:
- Tolkeyen Patagonia Turismo's Hike to Condor Lookout & Falls: the visitor centre, the hike to the Condor Lookout, lunch, then Chorrillo del Salto, 11 hours with food and drinks included. Not recommended for people with limited mobility.
- Patagonia Dreams' Full-Day Tour to El Chaltén, from US$130 (checked November 2026): a coach day with guided visits to the Mirador de los Cóndores and the waterfall, reached by a 500 m path through lenga forest. Lunch only on the dearer option.
- VIENTO BLANCO.'s private day, from US$529 per group of up to three (checked November 2026): about 30 minutes at the waterfall among its stops.
Discover El Chaltén: Hike to Condor Lookout & Falls
Tolkeyen Patagonia Turismo: hotel pickup, the Condor Lookout hike, lunch and drinks, then the waterfall. Park and municipal entrance extra.
Check dates →From El Calafate: Full-Day Tour to El Chaltén
Patagonia Dreams: about 2.5 hours each way by coach, a stop at Parador La Leona, then the Mirador de los Cóndores and the waterfall with a guide. Lunch only on the dearer option.
See the day →El Chaltén/Mount Fitz Roy: Private full-day excursion at a great price
VIENTO BLANCO.'s private day from El Calafate for up to three: the town, the waterfall and the Mirador de los Cóndores at your pace; a guide only on the guided 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 reaches Laguna de los Tres. For that, see the hike from El Calafate.
Around El Chaltén
More Days Out from El Calafate and El Chaltén
Hikes, day trips and boats in the north of the park with live availability. What each includes and its cancellation terms show before you book.
The Waterfall and the Condor Lookout, Guided
Tolkeyen Patagonia Turismo's day from El Calafate: hotel pickup at 8:00 AM, the hike to the Mirador de los Cóndores, lunch, then Chorrillo del Salto. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before; park entrance extra.
Check dates