Laguna de los Tres
The whole Fitz Roy, mirrored in a glacial lake at the foot of its wall.
Duration
8 hrs – 10 hrs
Difficulty
●●●●○
Best time
Set off at dawn, October to April
Open
Every day
Entry price
Free
Laguna de los Tres is the destination of El Chaltén's classic hike: twenty-two kilometres return from the village, with a glacial lake set directly beneath the wall of Fitz Roy.
The name comes from the three members of the 1952 French expedition — Terray, Magnone and Guillaumet — who made the first ascent of the peak. The last kilometre climbs four hundred metres up a steep scree slope, and that is the only hard part; the rest is easy walking.
Getting there
Starts in El Chaltén village, on foot. No transport and no fee: the national park is freely open.
What to bring
- Walking shoes
- Windbreaker
- Sportswear
Rules on site
The Patagonian wind is violent and the weather turns within an hour: layers, a windproof, and turn back if Fitz Roy clouds over. The last kilometre stays snowy and slippery into November.
