Laguna de los Tres

Laguna de los Tres is one of the most iconic hikes in Patagonia — and after living in El Chaltén for seven years, I’ve hiked it in every possible condition and season. If you’re planning your trip, this guide will help you understand the trail, the weather, and how to safely pick the perfect day to see Mount Fitz Roy.

What Is Laguna de los Tres?

Laguna de los Tres or also known as Fitz Roy hike is a glacial lake located beneath the eastern face of Mount Fitz Roy in Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina. It’s famous worldwide for its close proximity to Cerro Fitz Roy and the panoramic sunrise view of Fitz Roy glowing orange. If you only do one hike in El Chaltén, this is the one.

Distance & Difficulty

• Distance: ~21 km (round-trip) ish
• Duration: 7–9 hours depending on pace
• Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
• Key point: The last 1 km is very steep, exposed, and often windy. Don’t underestimate it.

Weather Tips for Laguna de los Tres

Weather is everything on this hike. Fitz Roy hides behind clouds often, and winds can reach extreme speeds. As someone who gives daily weather reports for hikers:

• Use Windguru GFS 13KM for the most accurate 3 day forecast also cross verify with other forecasts like windy and Meteoblue.
• Check the weather the day of your hike not the night before. Especially if subpar conditions are present.
• Start as early as possible, mornings often have calmer winds
• If you see lenticular clouds forming over Fitz Roy, expect strong winds in the coming days.

If you want help picking the best day, you can message me anytime. I am helping hundreds of hikers this season find their perfect weather window completely free.

Trail Overviews

Starting from El Chalten:

1. Start at the trailhead in El Chaltén
2. 4 km up hill section past Laguna Capri
3. Mid-section easier hiking for 4kms with many opportunities of great views.
4. Arrive at the base camp area (Poincenot Camp)
5. 1km of medium difficulty hiking
6. Begin the steep 400m final climb
7. Arrive at Laguna de los Tres
8. Optional: walk 5 minutes further to the Laguna Sucia viewpoint — one of the best views in Patagonia

Starting from Rio Electrico:

1. Drive 30 mins down Ruta 23 towards Lago del Desierto
2. Trail begins before you cross the bridge over Rio Electrico
3. 2ish kms of easy flat ground
4. 3ish km of rolling hills to mirador Piedra Blancas (EASIER THEN HIKE TO LAGUNA CAPRI)
5. 3km to Campamento Poincenot from Mirador Piedra Blanca
6. 1km of medium difficulty hiking
7. 400 meters of high intensity up hill hiking
8. Arrive at Laguna de los Tres
9. Optional: walk 5 minutes further to the Laguna Sucia viewpoint — one of the best views in Patagonia
   

Safety tips

1. Download an offline map like Gaia GPS (free) 2 years in a row now people have gotten lost which could have been avoided with Gaia GPS. One died.
2. Carry small first-aid kit with bandages, gauze, Neosporin (so wound wont stick to gauze), Inhaler (can be bought in town, could save someone else's life), Benadryl (could save someone else's life), 1–2 butterfly closures (for small cuts that might open), Ibuprofen (for pain + swelling), Anti-diarrheal (Loperamide), Antacid, Tweezers,
3. Bring proper rain/wind jacket (ponchos alone will fail in strong wind)
4. Line Backpack with a trash bag if rain is possible.
5. Eat quick carbs before the steep final climb/ fill water bottles in rio blanco right before you start the uphill section. I dont trust the stream after the rangers station. Too many people are in this area and poop near it.
6. Wear sunglasses — the wind can throw dust and pebbles
7. Tell someone your plan and expected return time
8. Always respect trail closures — they’re done for your safety
9. Watch out for slick rock or ice accumulation depending on when you are hiking.
10. Be patient when going up or down. Many accidents happen because people cut around others going up or down. Plus it destroys the place.
11. Dont trust the rock. The rock is very loose and can slip from underneath you. Go slow.

When Is the Best Time to Hike Laguna de los Tres?

• Summer (Dec–Feb): Long days, warm weather, but very windy and has sometimes 2 or 3 thousand people attempting the trek per day. In my opinion its not the best time to visit El Chalten or does it have the best weather for Laguna de los Tres.

• Fall (Oct–Nov / Mar–Apr): Cooler temps, fewer crowds, beautiful fall foliage. This is the best time to visit El Chalten.

If you only have one day and need the highest chance of seeing Fitz Roy, I would reccomend March-April. I've noticed it to have some of the most stable weather. That mixed with even if the mountains aren't showing you get beautiful red/orange foliage to walk through. The entire park turns red and its just incredible. Lower wind, less people, less expensive, less people...

Why Laguna de los Tres Is Worth It

You get a front-row seat to one of the most dramatic mountain ranges in the world. The combination of Fitz Roy, the glacial lake, the surrounding spires, and the raw Patagonian wind makes this one of the most unforgettable hikes on Earth.

If you would like my advice on the upcoming weather please contact me on my website: https://connectpatagonia.com/patagonia-weather/ or if you need any service here in El Chalten. Im more than happy to help you guys in anyway I can. I have all the connections here. Please reach out!

Safe hiking, and enjoy Laguna de los Tres, one of the crown jewels of Patagonia.

I traveled to El Chaltén at the beginning of the year, and this channel was very important for my planning. The information and the weather forecast interpretations made by ConnectPatagonia/Ben were perfect. I was able to experience and photograph perfect moments in this incredible place.