Patagonia Doesn’t Have to Be Hard — Mirador de los Cóndores & Águilas: An Approachable Family Hike in El Chaltén
Looking out over El Chaltén from Mirador de los Cóndores — a short, approachable hike in Patagonia that delivers big, in a way that works well for families.
When most people think of Patagonia, they picture wild, windswept peaks at the untamed end of the world, alongside strenuous, multi-day treks meant only for the most serious hikers.
Patagonia is all of those things. But it’s also full of smaller, more approachable experiences that don’t require technical skills or weeks on the trail.
Some of its most memorable views are surprisingly accessible, including hikes that work well for families who might otherwise be intimidated by Patagonia’s reputation.
- Short, approachable hike just outside El Chaltén, Argentina with big views early on.
- Steady uphill at the beginning (not “easy”), but quick payoff and very manageable for kids who enjoy hiking.
- We started with Mirador de los Cóndores and returned around the back side of Mirador de las Águilas to make it a loop.
- Go early morning or late afternoon to miss the tour buses and enjoy a quieter trail.
- Pack layers and wind protection — Patagonia weather changes fast.
Why This Hike Works for Families in Patagonia
This is a great jumping off hike if you’re looking to explore Parque Nacional Los Glaciares in Argentinian Patagonia with kids.
For families who worry that Patagonian hiking means long days, technical terrain, or pushing kids past their limits, this trail offers a gentler entry point.
It’s short, starts from town, offers stunning views, and is easy to adapt based on energy levels, making this hike a low-stress way to experience Patagonia without overcommitting.
A pause at the Mirador de las Águiles, shared across three generations.
Trail Overview: Mirador de los Cóndores & Águilas from El Chaltén
Follow the sign to Mirador De Los Cóndores and continue past the lookout to turn it into a loop, returning to the same trail you started with after stopping for lunch or a snack at Mirador De Las Águilas.
The trailhead is easy to access directly from the visitor center in El Chaltén.
The trail is well-marked and you can choose a brief hike just to Mirador de los Cóndores (Condor lookout; 1.2 miles out-and-back), for a spectacular panorama of El Chaltén town and the mountains, or a slightly longer walk to Mirador de las Águilas (Eagle lookout; 2.5 miles out-and-back) for another sweeping view of the steppe and the huge glacial Viedma Lake. You can also easily combine these into a loop (3.2 miles), which is what we did.
If you’re going to hike multiple days in the El Chaltén area or visit the Perito Moreno Glacier outside of El Calafate, consider buying a flexi-pass ahead of time (available online only). Otherwise, you can purchase a day pass at the trail head.
Our Route: Starting with Mirador de los Cóndores, Then Looping Around Águilas
The trail to Mirador de los Cóndores starts with a gentle incline away from the town and Mt. Fitz Roy and quickly turns into a short but somewhat steep climb to the viewpoint. There are multiple trails that start from this point, so make sure to follow the signs for Mirador de los Cóndores.
I would recommend you choose this direction, (tackling Cóndores rather than Águilas first). The views are better, steepest part will be at the beginning when you’re fresh, and you’ll want to savor the view before the tour groups descend upon Cóndores (we saw multiple groups just do this part of the trail before turning back).
A big payoff for a relatively short climb — the view from Mirador de los Cóndores overlooking El Chaltén.
After appreciating the views of El Chaltén from above with Mt. Fitz Roy in the background, continue away from the town to stay on the loop toward Águilas. There isn’t a sign, but you’ll find a clear trail to follow. If you’re not confident navigating without the trail marker, you can track the full loop easily on the Alltrails app.
The trail between the miradors was mostly flat, with a slight incline along the ridge line. From Mirador de los Cóndores, it’s roughly a 20–30 minute walk along the loop to reach Mirador de las Águilas, depending on pace and stops.
Boy, was I glad we didn’t turn around after the first viewpoint. Mirador de las Águilas was spectacular in a totally different way, and the wide plateau at the upper part of the viewpoint made for a fantastic place to stop and enjoy lunch.
The open landscape from Mirador de las Águilas, reached by continuing the loop beyond Mirador de los Cóndores.
What the Hike Is Actually Like (With Kids)
Rocky sections and open space to explore — the hike is steady, but never technical, with plenty of room for kids to move at their own pace.
This certainly isn’t a stroller friendly hike, but our 7-year-old had zero problems with this trail. There is definitely some uphill, but nothing that even little legs couldn’t handle given the short distance. This is particularly true if you decide just to tackle Mirador de los Cóndores.
The views are dynamic and engaging through the entire trail, and the boulders scattered along the miradors make for exciting landscapes to climb. Luckily, the area was wide enough that we didn’t have to worry about our son falling off. He was also really excited to look out over El Chaltén and map out the town—pointing right away to where our Airbnb was located.
This was a perfect warm up hike for all of us before heading the other direction to tackle the hike to the base of Mt. Fitz Roy the next day.
When to Go to Miss the Tour Buses
Start early, but not crazy early. We arrived at the trailhead around 9am, and it was perfect. When we arrived at Mirador de los Cóndores there was one other person at the lookout, and we visited in late December—peak tourist season for El Chaltén. This trail would likely also be great in the late afternoon or early evening.
We had the trail completely to ourselves as we continued on to Mirador de las Águilas. However, after looping back to the trailhead we saw busloads of tour groups arriving and rapidly cycling through the short hike to Mirador de los Cóndores and back down to town.
What to Pack for a Short Patagonia Hike
The same things you’d pack for a long hike in Patagonia. Layers! The weather is unpredictable and can change very rapidly, even in the summer. The trail is exposed and can get quite windy, particularly along the ridge line at the top between the two Miradors.
On the way up, I was in short sleeves and rolling up my hiking pants. At the top, I was pulling out my fleece jacket, headband, and gloves, and a good windbreaker to enjoy my lunch with a view.
Make sure not to forget sunscreen and a hat. It can be easy to forget how brutal the Patagonian sun is when the wind brings in a chilly breeze.
A Good First Patagonia Hike
As a first hike in Patagonia, Miradors de los Cóndores and de las Águilas are both accessible and genuinely spectacular. They offered wide, memorable views that felt surprising given how little time and effort the hike required. It was a great way experience the scale and drama Patagonia is known for without committing to a long or demanding day, making it especially well suited for families easing into the region.
We paired it with a stop at Chorrillo del Salto, driving and parking near the waterfall rather than walking from town. Together, these experiences made for an easy but rewarding first day in El Chaltén. High payoff, low pressure, and a comfortable way to start our time there.
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About Christal
I’m a clinical psychologist, professor, and writer who believes in resisting hustle culture and finding awe through slow, meaningful travel with my family.
I’ve explored five continents, often blending work and play through teaching abroad and cultural immersion.
I created We Went Anyway as a space to share stories about choosing presence over perfection and finding joy in a full, connected life through adventure — big and small.
When I’m not writing or hiking, you’ll find me sipping peppermint tea on the porch with friends, building Legos with my son, watching design videos to guide the slow remodel of our 119-year-old home, or planning the next family trip from our home base in Kentucky.