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Argentina🇦🇷 | landmarksQuebrada de los CóndoresCondor roosts, Las Higueras viewpoint, Sierra de los Quinteros, guided treks, horseback routes | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Quebrada de los Cóndores
👌 Worth visitingunique site ranked #12
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 19, 2026

Quebrada de los Cóndores is a provincial reserve of about 800 hectares in the Sierra de los Quinteros, in the north-west of Argentina, roughly 180 km from La Rioja city near Santa Cruz. Andean condors breed and roost on its cliffs, and that is the entire point. Skip it if you want a quick roadside photo; the effort is multi-day and on foot or horseback. In the quiet hours I heard the dry rush of air through primary feathers before I ever spotted the bird. Go for the viewpoints and the guides. Unlike the busier condor lookouts in Córdoba, nobody here queues.

Discover everything you want to know in the 📖 Argentina Travel Guide.


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✨ Why go?
Ranked #12 unique site in ArgentinaReasons people choose to visit here

Quebrada de los Cóndores gives you condors at a breeding and roosting site where you watch from the Las Higueras and Santa Cruz viewpoints without a crowd. That alone justifies the haul to a corner of La Rioja that most itineraries ignore. The trip runs 2 to 4 days with local guides, on foot or horseback, so you spend nights and meals with people who live in the Sierra de los Quinteros, not on a tour bus schedule. It also works as a detour from the Rioja wine and canyon circuit, pairing naturally with other remote western stops. Bring your own food planning and patience, because this is slow travel in its plainest form.

💡 HighlightsWhat this place is best known for

  1. Andean condor roosts and nesting cliffs: the reason the reserve exists, where adults and young birds gather on the rock walls and ride the morning thermals.
  2. Las Higueras viewpoint: a lookout facing the cliffs, good for long, steady observation of birds gliding at eye level or below.
  3. Santa Cruz viewpoint: the second main vantage point, giving a different angle on the ledges and the canyon floor.
  4. Guided trek through the Sierra de los Quinteros: the multi-day walk itself, passing dry hills, cacti and rock formations that shift color through the day.
  5. Horseback routes: local guides run horse options for the longer stretches, a practical way to cover ground and a traditional way to move here.
  6. Santa Cruz village: the nearest settlement, where you meet the guides and get a sense of rural La Rioja life.
… read more 👉
  1. Andean condor roosts and nesting cliffs: the reason the reserve exists, where adults and young birds gather on the rock walls and ride the morning thermals.
  2. Las Higueras viewpoint: a lookout facing the cliffs, good for long, steady observation of birds gliding at eye level or below.
  3. Santa Cruz viewpoint: the second main vantage point, giving a different angle on the ledges and the canyon floor.
  4. Guided trek through the Sierra de los Quinteros: the multi-day walk itself, passing dry hills, cacti and rock formations that shift color through the day.
  5. Horseback routes: local guides run horse options for the longer stretches, a practical way to cover ground and a traditional way to move here.
  6. Santa Cruz village: the nearest settlement, where you meet the guides and get a sense of rural La Rioja life.
Quebrada de los Cóndores is visited only with local guides, so book the guide and the multi-day itinerary ahead of time.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

🌤️ When to go?Weather, crowds, and seasonal trade-offs

  • Autumn (March to May): Clear, dry days of 18 to 26°C (64 to 79°F) and cool nights near 5°C (41°F) make this the most comfortable window for multi-day treks. Daylight runs about 11 to 12 hours.
  • Winter (June to August): Sunny but cold, with highs of 12 to 20°C (54 to 68°F) and nights that can fall below freezing. Few visitors, easy guide booking, shorter days of about 10 hours.
  • Spring (September to November): Warming to 20 to 30°C (68 to 86°F), with condors active over the cliffs. Argentine holiday weekends bring small groups.
  • Summer (December to February): Highs of 30 to 38°C (86 to 100°F) and afternoon thunderstorms that can flood the dry riverbeds. Longer days of 14 hours, but hard walking.
Book a local guide a few weeks ahead for April, May or September, when demand is highest.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: good for travelingFEBFebruary: good for travelingMARMarch: good for travelingAPRApril: highly recommended for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: highly recommended for travelingJULJuly: highly recommended for travelingAUGAugust: highly recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: excellent for travelingNOVNovember: excellent for travelingDECDecember: good for traveling
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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas to stay in Argentina

Santa Cruz, the small village beside the reserve, is the best place to sleep. It is where guides are arranged, the Santa Cruz viewpoint trail starts, and families rent simple rooms or let you camp in the yard. Nights are quiet, meals are home-cooked, and you will mostly meet fellow trekkers and local guides over dinner, which makes it easy to join a group and split costs.

Las Higueras is the other base, closer to the second viewpoint and the best choice if you want an early start on the cliffs. Lodging there is very basic, so bring a sleeping bag and cash.

Neither place has a hostel scene. If … read more 👉
Santa Cruz, the small village beside the reserve, is the best place to sleep. It is where guides are arranged, the Santa Cruz viewpoint trail starts, and families rent simple rooms or let you camp in the yard. Nights are quiet, meals are home-cooked, and you will mostly meet fellow trekkers and local guides over dinner, which makes it easy to join a group and split costs.

Las Higueras is the other base, closer to the second viewpoint and the best choice if you want an early start on the cliffs. Lodging there is very basic, so bring a sleeping bag and cash.

Neither place has a hostel scene. If you want nightlife, hot showers and bus connections, stay in La Rioja city before and after your trek. Safety in both villages is excellent, since everyone knows who is staying where.
Best hostels in Argentina


Best quality hotels in Argentina

👛 Costs (as of 19 October 2026)Money, prices, and spending tips

Quebrada de los Cóndores costs roughly US$58 to 106 a day for a guided trek, counting one night of high-season lodging. Everything is paid in Argentine pesos, and there are no ATMs near the reserve, so withdraw cash in La Rioja city first.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Guide (per day)US$20 to 35Local guides are the normal way in. Cost drops when split among a group.
Horse rental (optional)US$15 to 25Offered per day, with a guide walking alongside.
AccommodationUS$8 to 15 (camping or basic room)Family rooms or yard camping in Santa Cruz. Prices rise slightly in autumn.
FoodUS$10 to 18Home-cooked meals at the lodging, with simple groceries brought from La Rioja.
TransportUS$5 to 10 (daily share)Long trip from La Rioja city, often by shared car or arranged transfer.
Entry/Reserve feeUS$0 to 3Small
… read more 👉
Quebrada de los Cóndores costs roughly US$58 to 106 a day for a guided trek, counting one night of high-season lodging. Everything is paid in Argentine pesos, and there are no ATMs near the reserve, so withdraw cash in La Rioja city first.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Guide (per day)US$20 to 35Local guides are the normal way in. Cost drops when split among a group.
Horse rental (optional)US$15 to 25Offered per day, with a guide walking alongside.
AccommodationUS$8 to 15 (camping or basic room)Family rooms or yard camping in Santa Cruz. Prices rise slightly in autumn.
FoodUS$10 to 18Home-cooked meals at the lodging, with simple groceries brought from La Rioja.
TransportUS$5 to 10 (daily share)Long trip from La Rioja city, often by shared car or arranged transfer.
Entry/Reserve feeUS$0 to 3Small or absent, usually handled through the guide.
Total Daily BudgetUS$58 to 106Roughly US$70 for a typical day.


source: argentina.gob.ar
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

FAQCommon questions from travelers

Quebrada de los Cóndores is a provincial nature reserve of about 800 hectares, created in 2005 in the Sierra de los Quinteros, La Rioja. It is a breeding and roosting site for Andean condors, watched from the Las Higueras and Santa Cruz viewpoints. Visits are on foot or horseback with local guides, and guided days cost roughly US$20 to 35.
Plan on 2 to 4 days at Quebrada de los Cóndores, depending on how many viewpoints and trails you want to cover. Two days is enough for the Santa Cruz and Las Higueras viewpoints, while three or four allow longer walks or horseback routes. Add a day on each end for the long trip from La Rioja city.
Quebrada de los Cóndores lies about 180 km from La Rioja city, near the village of Santa Cruz in General Belgrano department. Most travelers go by rented car or an arranged transfer, which takes roughly 3 to 4 hours, with the last stretch on unpaved roads. Public transport is limited, so arrange your guide in advance and bring cash in pesos, as there are no ATMs nearby.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Argentine landmarks near Quebrada de los Cóndores

Explore more nearby:

  • Mar de Ansenuza—Hypersaline float, flamingos, Miramar ruins, salt mirrors| 360 km away
  • Campo de Piedra Pómez—Pumice towers, mushroom rocks, volcanic basin, wind silence| 449 km away
  • Cañón del Atuel—Route 173, red rock walls, turquoise rapids, dam reservoirs| 518 km away

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We 💚 feedbackFinal thoughts on visiting Quebrada de los Cóndores

Quebrada de los Cóndores deserves at least 3 days; two is rushed once travel and guide logistics are counted, and four lets you watch the birds in different light without hurrying. I would book the full 4 if horseback appeals, and pack plenty of water and layers.

✈️ When did I visit Argentina?
I have visited Argentina, together with Chile, in September 2012.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Argentina, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

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