Laguna de los Tres
Also known as: Fitz Roy base
Mount Fitz Roy (Cerro Chalten, 3,405 m), Laguna de los Tres, Aguja Poincenot, the Piedras Blancas glacier and Laguna Sucia
The route
The line through Los Glaciares NP (north), Argentina - waypoints, elevation and the day-by-day shape of the walk.
Waypoints
- 1El Chalten trailhead (north end)Trailhead
Register at park office; well-marked
- 2Mirador Fitz RoyVariant split
First Fitz Roy view; natural turnaround
- 3Campamento Poincenot (camp)Junction
Camp for the sunrise glow
recommended · Nov-Apr - 4Base of the moraine (Rio Blanco)Junction
Start of the 400 m boulder scramble
- 5Laguna de los TresSummit
Turquoise lake at the foot of Fitz Roy
Season & conditions
Nov-Apr (Dec-Jan longest light); Fitz Roy is often cloud-covered - clear views need patience or luck
Famous Patagonian wind, rapid change and summit cloud
The sunrise 'amanecer' when Fitz Roy glows orange (camp Poincenot); autumn lenga colour (Mar-Apr)
Nov-Apr trekking season; shoulder snow possible. Confirm.
On the trail
Valley trail, forest, boardwalk, a steep boulder moraine
Non-technical until the brutal last km up a loose boulder moraine (~400 m); poles strongly advised
Excellently marked (signs + red blazes); solo fine; register at the park office
Fit day-hikers comfortable on loose rock; not wheelchair; a natural turnaround at Mirador Fitz Roy / Poincenot for those skipping the moraine
Huemul (endangered Andean deer - rare), Andean condor, austral parakeet
Lenga and nire forest, notro, calafate
The area's most popular hike; busy in peak; a dawn start beats the crowds and often the wind
Turn around at Mirador Fitz Roy or Campamento Poincenot (skip the moraine); camp Poincenot for the sunrise glow; Laguna Sucia extension (unmarked); connector to Laguna Torre (35+ km combined)
Getting there & staying
From El Chalten (trailhead at the north end of town); El Chalten is ~3.5 h by bus from El Calafate (220 km)
Not required (starts in town); bus El Calafate <-> El Chalten
Free wild camping at Campamento Poincenot and Rio Blanco (basic, dry toilets, stream water) - reserve via the El Chalten camping system; no huts
Layers, wind/waterproof, boots, poles (rentable in town); stream water potable; patchy coverage; ARS cash
None on the trail; El Chalten has full services (shops, cafes, gear rental) at the trailhead
Not required; self-guided; guides available
Permits & safety
None - the El Chalten sector of Los Glaciares NP is free; register and get the briefing at the park office at the town entrance. Confirm.
Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.
Wind, rapid weather, the loose moraine descent (knees/ankles) and cold; manage summit-cloud expectations
Register at the park office; well-travelled trail; return toward town; weather-driven turnarounds are common
This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand trail report. Coordinates are approximate.