Laguna de los Tres, at the foot of Fitz Roy, is the best-known hike in El Chaltén. Most people start in the village, but there is another way in, from the north, leaving Route 41 and climbing the Río Blanco valley. We live at the foot of that route: this is what we know about it.
· Patagonia Eco Domes
- Distance
- About 9 km each way from Route 41.
- Gain
- About 760 m.
- Time
- 7 to 10 h round trip.
- Season
- November to April.
- Fee
- Los Glaciares National Park, online or by QR.
In this guide ↓
The Laguna de los Tres hike in numbers
Laguna de los Tres sits at the foot of the Fitz Roy wall, 1,174 m above sea level, inside Los Glaciares National Park. It is the best-known hike in El Chaltén. These are the numbers from our door, measured along the route:
- Distance
- About 9 km each way, 18 km round trip.
- Elevation gain
- About 760 m: from 458 m to 1,174 m.
- Time
- A full day: 7 to 10 hours round trip.
- Difficulty
- Demanding. The final stretch is very steep.
Where it starts: from the village, or from the north via the Río Blanco
There are two ways to the lake. The first leaves on foot from the north end of El Chaltén village and passes Laguna Capri. The second starts on Provincial Route 41, north of the village, and climbs through the forest and the Río Blanco valley: the one many people look up as "from El Pilar" or "from Río Eléctrico".
Both routes meet at Campamento Poincenot, before the last climb. Eco Domes is on the north side, on Route 41, with its own access: you walk out of your dome, no car or shuttle needed.
The trail, stage by stage
- Forest and the Río Blanco valley
- The long, gentle part: lenga forest and the open valley, with Fitz Roy ahead.
- Piedras Blancas Glacier viewpoint
- A short detour to the hanging glacier above its own lake. From the dome, 1 h 40.
- Campamento Poincenot
- Where the northern route and the one from the village meet.
- The final climb
- About 3 km and more than 400 m of ascent to the lake, at the foot of the wall. This is the hard part.
The final ascent: wind, timing and when to turn back
The final stretch is very steep, on loose rock. National Parks marks it as dangerous in wind or rain. Set out early, check the forecast the night before, and if the wind up top makes walking hard, turn back: the lake will still be there.
To reach the lake at first light you have to leave in the dark, with a headlamp. From the dome you save yourself the walk out of the village.
The traverse: up from the north, down to the village
An option many people take: go up on the Río Blanco side and, instead of returning the same way, come down past Laguna Capri to El Chaltén. From Laguna Capri it is 4 km more, downhill, to the village. On the way down you have Fitz Roy straight ahead, across the water.
National Park entry and rules
The trail is inside Los Glaciares National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The entry fee is paid online or by QR code at the park gate. You do not need a guide for Laguna de los Tres: the trail is marked.
Beyond Piedra del Fraile, toward Lago Eléctrico and the Marconi Glacier, you do need to register with National Parks and go with a licensed guide.
What to bring to Laguna de los Tres
- Layers
- A waterproof jacket and a warm layer: it is cold up top and the wind changes fast.
- Footwear
- Hiking shoes or boots you have broken in. Poles help on the way down.
- Food
- Lunch for the whole day. At Eco Domes it comes with full board.
- Water
- A bottle to refill.
- Headlamp
- If you leave before sunrise.
Sleeping at the trailhead
Patagonia Eco Domes is eleven domes in a lenga forest on Route 41, 15 km from the village, where the trails on the north side of Fitz Roy begin. You set out from your door with a packed lunch and come back to a wood-fired hot tub and a four-course dinner.
We suggest staying at least three nights, so you can pick the clear day for the lake. For stays of two nights or more, the transfer from El Chaltén is free.
See the domes →
Other hikes from the same door
- Piedras Blancas Glacier viewpoint
- Easy. 1 h 40 each way. For the day you arrive or the day you leave.
- Piedra del Fraile
- Easy. About 2 h 30 each way. The refuge is open November 1 to April 6, cash only.
- Laguna Capri
- Moderate. Then 4 km downhill to the village.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Laguna de los Tres hike take?
A full day: 7 to 10 hours round trip from the north side, depending on your pace and the wind.
How long is the trail?
From Eco Domes, through the Río Blanco valley, about 9 km each way (18 km round trip) and about 760 m of elevation gain.
How difficult is Laguna de los Tres?
Demanding. Most of it is gentle, but the last stretch climbs more than 400 m in about 3 km on loose rock, and it is dangerous in wind or rain.
Where does the hike start?
At the north end of El Chaltén village, passing Laguna Capri; or on Route 41 to the north, through the Río Blanco valley. Both meet at Campamento Poincenot.
Can you hike Laguna de los Tres from El Pilar or Río Eléctrico?
Yes: that is the northern access, through the Río Blanco valley, off Route 41. Patagonia Eco Domes is on that side and has its own access to the trail.
Do I need a guide?
Not for Laguna de los Tres: the trail is marked. You do beyond Piedra del Fraile, toward Lago Eléctrico.
Is there an entrance fee?
Yes, the Los Glaciares National Park fee. It is paid online or by QR code at the park gate.
When is the best time to hike Laguna de los Tres?
November to April. December and January have the longest days; in March the wind eases. Always leave spare days for the weather.
Can you swim in Laguna de los Tres?
The water is glacial meltwater and freezing. For hot water, the wood-fired hot tub when you get back.
Where to stay closest to Laguna de los Tres?
Patagonia Eco Domes, on the north side: you walk out of your dome, about 9 km to the lake. Full board with a packed lunch for the trail. Book on this site, or write to patagoniaecodomes@gmail.com.
Andes Developers