The renowned Patagonia region of Argentina boasts some incredible hiking trails, but the ultimate experience lies in the day hike to Mount Fitz Roy and the Laguna De Los Tres!
This entire trek unveils awe-inspiring scenery, culminating in the breathtaking Laguna De Los Tres, a mesmerizing blue glacier lake nestled at the base of Mount Fitz Roy, one of South America’s most iconic and impressive peaks.
The Fitz Roy hike presents a challenge, featuring considerable distance and elevation gain. However, most hikers will find it quite manageable. Even if you don’t hike all the way to the lakes, you can still capture stunning mountain shots from the Fitz Roy Mirador (viewpoint), requiring only a moderate amount of hiking from the town of El Chalten.
Our comprehensive travel guide will walk you through the Laguna De Los Tres hike, what essentials to carry, the best time to visit, how to get to El Chalten, and everything else you need to know before embarking on this unforgettable journey!
Fitz Roy Quick Facts* Distance: 22 kilometers (14 miles) round trip Elevation Gain: 1,050 meters (3,445 feet) Ending Elevation: 1,175 meters (3,850 feet) Duration: 7 – 9 hours round trip Difficulty: Moderate / Hard *These stats pertain to the full hike to the lake of Laguna De Los Tres from El Chalten. The Mirador (viewpoint) is shorter and easier.
Where Is Mount Fitz Roy Located? The Mount Fitz Roy hike is situated near the small town of El Chalten, within Argentina’s famous Patagonia region.
El Chalten offers comfortable hotels and restaurants for tourists, and since it’s a small town, you can easily access the starting point of this hike from any part of town.
How To Get To El Chalten El Chalten does not have its own airport, so the closest one for this hike is the small international airport in El Calafate (FTE), which offers direct flights from Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Ushuaia, and other destinations.
From Buenos Aires, the flight to El Calafate takes around 3 hours and is offered by multiple airlines at reasonable prices. You can find flights to Argentina on Skyscanner.
Once you arrive in El Calafate, it’s a 3-hour drive to El Chalten. You can get there via bus, private shuttle, or rental car. Multiple companies provide bus services with regular departures
For those short on time, day tours from El Calafate to Laguna De Los Tres are also available (more on that below).
Best Fitz Roy Patagonia Tours If you’re on a tight schedule and prefer minimal planning, GetYourGuide offers day tours for El Chalten and El Calafate, including some of the best hikes like Laguna De Los Tres!
Their highly-rated Fitz Roy day tours provide hotel pickup and drop-off, transportation from El Calafate to El Chalten, and optional lunch. While not mandatory for the hike, these tours simplify your experience. GetYourGuide also offers day tours to Perito Moreno glacier and other top sights in Patagonia.
We’ve used GetYourGuide for various tours and activities worldwide, and they come highly recommended!
Laguna De Los Tres Hike: What To Expect The hike to Laguna De Los Tres is an out and back trail, mostly flat with a few kilometers of uphill trekking at the start and end.
Popular as a day hike, you can also find campgrounds along the trail for longer stays or combine it into a loop hike with nearby Laguna Torre.
The following sections detail each part of the Fitz Roy hike and what to expect!
Starting The Hike From El Chalten At the beginning of the Fitz Roy hike, you’ll encounter an uphill stretch. The first few kilometers account for a significant portion of the total elevation gain of the trail.
The path takes you through a forest, offering occasional clearings with great views of El Chalten town and the surrounding scenery.
Las Vueltas River Viewpoint Around 1 kilometer from El Chalten, you’ll exit the trees and reach a nice viewpoint of the Las Vueltas river, providing excellent sights of the winding river and surrounding mountains.
Laguna Capri After hiking about 3.3 kilometers, the path splits, allowing you to choose between a lake (Laguna Capri) or the Fitz Roy viewpoint. Opt to visit the viewpoint on your way up and the lake on your way down. Laguna Capri also has a campground for longer stays.
Mirador Del Fitz Roy Viewpoint Approximately 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from El Chalten, you’ll reach the ‘Mirador Del Fitz Roy’ viewpoint, offering spectacular views of Mount Fitz Roy and the jagged peaks of Patagonia. The mountains feel remarkably close, and there’s a sign at the viewpoint labeling each peak.
Fitz Roy Secret Waterfall Around 5.3 kilometers from El Chalten, a short spur trail leads to a secret waterfall with Mount Fitz Roy as the backdrop. The waterfall is an ideal spot for photos and a pleasant addition to your hike.
Fitz Roy Valley To Poincenot For the rest of the Fitz Roy trek, you’ll traverse a flat valley trail with little elevation gain or obstacles. This section is enjoyable due to its mostly flat path, allowing you to appreciate the serene beauty of Patagonia.
Climbing To Laguna De Los Tres The most challenging part of the Fitz Roy hike is the climb to Laguna De Los Tres. This section involves trekking and scrambling up a steep slope with loose rocks and gravel for the last 2 kilometers (1.2 miles). It demands a good physical condition and caution on slippery rocks.
Laguna De Los Tres: Lake & Viewpoint The hike culminates in the breathtaking blue lake of Laguna De Los Tres, named ‘Lake of the Three’ in Spanish, after the three surrounding peaks: Fitz Roy, Poincenot, and Saint-Exupery.
You can admire the lake from above and hike down to see it up close. The glacier water gives it a stunning turquoise color. Don’t miss seeing the second lake, ‘Laguna Sucia,’ by climbing the nearby hill for panoramic views of both blue lakes, a waterfall, and Fitz Roy in the distance.
Fitz Roy Hike Difficulty: How Hard Is It? Most of the Fitz Roy hike is moderate or even easy. For instance, the hike to the Fitz Roy viewpoint takes about 1.5 hours (one way) from El Chalten, with a moderate elevation gain of about 330 meters (1,100 feet). The trail is mostly flat and straightforward after that until the final climb to Laguna De Los Tres.
The complete hike to Laguna De Los Tres is challenging, but not dangerous. It involves a long and strenuous journey with some rough sections towards the end, making it a worthwhile challenge.
In summary, Fitz Roy is an excellent day hike suitable for various age groups and abilities. The final climb to the lakes is tougher, but overall, the hike is worth it for its incredible views.
What To Bring
- Layers: The temperature varies significantly from the trailhead to the final lake, so bring extra layers like a t-shirt, sweatshirt, and light down jacket.
- Headwear: A warm beanie hat to cover your ears is essential for the lake area
