Laguna de los Tres is the glacial lake at the foot of Monte Fitz Roy (3,405 m), and the hike to it is the longest day walk from El Chaltén in Argentina’s Los Glaciares National Park. The park’s own trail table puts it at 10 km one way from the trail start at the end of Avenida San Martín, 5 hours, with 750 m of climbing: about 20 km and 9 to 10 hours for the round trip. Most of the gain sits in the last kilometre, a steep moraine climb of roughly 400 m above the Río Blanco valley.
This page holds the route data: distances, camps, fees for the 2026-27 season and the park rules. For the rest of Argentina’s trails see Argentina hiking trails; the gentler walk on the same side of town is Laguna Torre.
Laguna de los Tres at a glance
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Distance | 10 km one way (official); about 20 km round trip |
| Time | 5 h up (official); 9 to 10 h round trip with stops |
| Elevation gain | 750 m (official), about 400 m of it in the final kilometre |
| Start / high point | El Chaltén, about 400 m / Laguna de los Tres, about 1,170 m |
| Difficulty | Challenging: long day, steep loose final climb, wind |
| Guide | Not required on the marked trail |
| Park access 2026-27 | ARS 50,000 day ticket for foreign visitors, bought online or by QR |
| Season | October to April; May to September poles and crampons are mandatory |
The route, section by section
El Chaltén to Laguna Capri (4 km)
The trail leaves the north end of Avenida San Martín and climbs through lenga beech forest above the Río de las Vueltas. The official table gives 4 km and 1 h 45 min to Laguna Capri, about 350 m above town. A short spur leads to the Mirador Fitz Roy viewpoint at the same distance. If the tops are clear here, keep going; if Fitz Roy is already in cloud at 9 am, the view from the lake will rarely be better.
Laguna Capri to Poincenot camp (8 km)
Past Capri the path runs nearly flat across open moorland and boggy meadows. At 7 km the Madre e Hija connector branches south to the Laguna Torre trail, which lets you link both lakes in one long day. Poincenot campsite sits at 8 km (2 h 45 min from the start in the park’s timing), in forest by the Río Blanco.
The final kilometre to the lake
After the Río Blanco crossing the trail turns uphill: roughly 400 m of gain in one kilometre over loose rock and gravel. The park brochure warns that this section is very steep and dangerous in wind and rain. Allow an hour up and nearly as long down; the descent on tired legs is where most slips happen. At the top the moraine drops to Laguna de los Tres, with Fitz Roy, Poincenot (3,002 m) and Saint-Exupéry (2,558 m) above it. Laguna Sucia lies below to the left; stay back from the edge.
Fees, campsites and park rules for 2026-27
Los Glaciares charges an access ticket in the El Chaltén (north) zone. Rates valid from 1 June 2026 for foreign visitors: ARS 50,000 for one day, ARS 100,000 for a 3-day Flexipass, ARS 175,500 for 7 days; a second day used within 72 hours costs 50% less. Buy online (ventaweb.apn.gob.ar) or with the QR code at the trail portals; card only, no cash. Charging for the 2026-27 season resumed on 8 October 2026. Source: APN tariffs.
Capri, Poincenot and De Agostini are the only campsites on these trails. All three are managed and reservation-only through the Asociación Amigos del Parque Nacional Los Glaciares (listed at 30,000 per adult per night in Argentine pesos; paid in advance, non-refundable). Camping anywhere else is not allowed. Book at amigospnlosglaciares.org.
Park rules: no fires (gas stoves only, at the authorised campsites), no pets, no drones, no bicycles on the trails. From May to September poles and crampons are mandatory and walking on frozen lagoons is prohibited. Registration is required only for climbing and treks in remote areas such as Laguna Toro, not for this day hike. Source: APN recommendations for Los Glaciares.
When to go
The trekking season runs October to April. December to February brings the longest days and the most people; March and April bring autumn colour in the lenga forest and shorter days. October and November can still hold snow on the final climb. Wind is the constant: it builds through the day, so start early and treat the last kilometre as optional if gusts are knocking people off balance. From May to September the park makes poles and crampons mandatory.
Laguna de los Tres or Laguna Torre?
| Laguna de los Tres | Laguna Torre | |
|---|---|---|
| One way (official) | 10 km, 5 h | 10 km, 3 h 30 min |
| Elevation gain | 750 m | 250 m |
| Hard part | Steep final kilometre | None; mostly gentle |
| Peak in view | Fitz Roy, 3,405 m | Cerro Torre, 3,102 m |
| Campsite on route | Capri, Poincenot | De Agostini |
If you have one fit day and one weather window, Laguna de los Tres. If the forecast is poor, or you want an acclimatisation day for longer treks, Laguna Torre.
Getting to El Chaltén
El Chaltén is 213 km from El Calafate by road (park map figure), about 3 hours by bus from the El Calafate bus terminal. El Calafate has the nearest airport. The trail starts on foot from town; there is no shuttle to it. Planning the wider trip? Our Argentina travel guide covers routes and seasons across the country.
Planning with us
Inca Trail Reservations is a Cusco operator; in Argentina, local tour service providers provide all services. Travellers often pair El Chaltén with a Peru trek, and we can help you fit the two together. Write to info@incatrailreservations.com.