Chorrillo del Salto is a worthwhile easy forest-and-waterfall walk for a spare two to three hours, poor-weather backup, or recovery day in El Chaltén—not a substitute for Fitz Roy-scale scenery. It works best if you are already willing to buy the Los Glaciares park-entry ticket, which is the same charge as for the major hikes.
Buy the APN park ticket
There is no separate waterfall ticket: use the official APN sales site or pay at the Base Fitz Roy portal; general daily access is ARS 50,000 and tickets are nominal, so bring the passport or ID used to buy it.
MoreStart at Base Fitz Roy portal
Walk north to the end of Avenida San Martín, pass the Base Fitz Roy/Puesto Amarillo access point, then follow signed Chorrillo del Salto signs rather than the main Fitz Roy ascent or bike-only path.
MoreAllow two to three hours walking
The waterfall is 3 km from town, about 40 minutes each way on mostly level ground; driving via RP 41 reduces the final approach to roughly 10 minutes on foot.
MoreCheck weather that morning
Snow, ice, mud, high wind, rain or safety closures can change this easy trail quickly, especially from May through September; confirm conditions with park staff or El Chaltén tourism before leaving.
MoreOpen 24 hours
Hours from Google; check before you go.
Chorrillo del Salto is a roughly 20-metre waterfall on the Chorrillo stream, reached through ñire and lenga forest just north of El Chaltén in the northern sector of Parque Nacional Los Glaciares. It is a natural, low-elevation walk rather than a built attraction: from town, the signed route is about 3 km one way (around 40 minutes) from the Base Fitz Roy portal, while drivers can use RP 41 and walk about 10 minutes from the designated parking area. There is no separate waterfall ticket or visitor centre; access uses the national-park entry ticket for the El Chaltén portal sector.
This is a worthwhile two-to-three-hour easy outing for an arrival day, active-recovery day, families, or cloudy weather when Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre views are hidden. The shaded forest and waterfall offer a more intimate experience than the town’s exposed mountain viewpoints. Skip it if you want Patagonia’s biggest panoramas, solitude, or a strenuous trek—or if paying the full Los Glaciares park-entry charge for a short walk does not appeal.
Before you go
There is no separate waterfall ticket, reservation, or guided-tour requirement. Access uses the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares ticket for the El Chaltén/Portal Base Fitz Roy sector. The published general daily rate is ARS 50,000 per person (effective June 1, 2026). Buy it in advance through APN’s official sales system at ventaweb.apn.gob.ar, selecting the El Chaltén portal and your visit date, or buy at the portal. Bring the passport or ID used for purchase: tickets are nominal and the date, visitor category, and portal cannot be changed after an online purchase.
APN publishes no timed release, daily quota, or evidence that this trail routinely sells out. Do not panic-buy months ahead. Buy online before setting out for the simplest arrival; if the site is unavailable, access rights are also sold in person. The park accepts Argentine-peso cash and card payments.
From El Chaltén, it is a 3 km walk each way, about 40 minutes each direction, with essentially no elevation gain. Allow 2–3 hours round trip including time at the falls. You can drive north on RP 41 toward Lago del Desierto to the signed Chorrillo del Salto parking area, then walk about 10 minutes to the waterfall; allow 45–90 minutes total from the parking area. No parking price or capacity is published.
Start at Portal Base Fitz Roy/Puesto Amarillo, at the north end of Avenida San Martín beyond the Río Fitz Roy bridge. After ticket control, follow signs specifically for Chorrillo del Salto rather than beginning the main Fitz Roy ascent. The route meets or follows RP 41; watch for traffic and do not use the signed bike-only path.
No fixed seasonal entry hours are published for the northern El Chaltén trail network. Access may close without notice for weather or safety. In winter, snow, ice, mud, short daylight, and restrictions can make this normally easy route conditions-dependent. Check the same morning with park staff or the Municipal Tourism Information Centre at the bus terminal, Av. Perito Moreno 28, before leaving.
November through March offers the most reliable walking conditions, long daylight, and active water flow; January and February are busiest. March is a strong balance of access and slightly fewer visitors, while April can bring autumn color but colder, shorter days. July and August can offer frozen-waterfall scenery, but only go with suitable footwear and a same-day conditions check. On a normal day, morning or late afternoon is most pleasant; avoid changing plans merely for crowds, but do change them for high wind, heavy rain, ice, snow, poor visibility, or an official closure.