Laguna de los Tres

Laguna de los Tres is the classic Fitz Roy viewpoint — a glacial lake at the foot of the mountain's granite walls, reached by a full-day hike from El Chaltén. The trail is about 21 km return with around 700 metres of elevation gain; the final section involves a steep scramble up a loose moraine that takes about 45 minutes. Get to the top and you are standing at the base of the rock walls themselves, looking up at the sheer face of Fitz Roy and its satellite spires, with the turquoise lake reflecting everything in still conditions.

Go as early as possible. The mountain generates its own weather, and mornings tend to be clearer than afternoons. The trail is busy in high season — November to March — but the size of the landscape absorbs the crowds. Allow 7–9 hours total. The trail begins at the trailhead near the village ranger station and is well-signed.

things to do sight hiking
A story
The laguna is named for the three French climbers — Lionel Terray, Guido Magnone, and their partner — who made the first ascent of Fitz Roy in February 1952. At the time, the route was considered the hardest climb yet accomplished anywhere in the world, completed in an era before modern lightweight gear, GPS, or reliable weather forecasting.