Hike to Laguna de los Tres

This 13 mile roundtrip hike begins in El Chalten, at the end of Avenida San Martín, the main street in town. Within the first 10-15 minutes, you should encounter a clearly marked sign for "Senda al Fitz Roy" ("Path to Fitz Roy") with park rules and information about points of interest.

From there, the trek continues about half a mile to Mirador Rio de las Vueltas (viewing point for Rio de las Vuletas). Before the 2.5 mile mark, the path diverges so that you may choose to pass Laguna Capri or Mirador Fitz Roy (one of many viewing points for Fitz Roy). We chose to go to Mirador Fitz Roy on our way in, and to stop by Laguna Capri on our way out. Mirador Fitz Roy features sweeping mid-range views of the Fitz Roy massif, perfect for photos of the mountain range with people and trees in the foreground. The diverged paths come together again around mile 5 as you pass Camp Poincenot, a campground for those who choose to hike Laguna de los Tres in more than one day.

Four hours from the starting point you will cross the Río Blanco. This is a good opportunity to fill your bottle up with refreshing glacial water from the river. (Since this trek is at the edge of the Southern Patagonian icefield, the snow and glaciers ultimately feed lagoons such as Laguna de los Tres and rivers such as the Rio Blanco.) You will also pass the Río Blanco base camp. From there the path becomes much more difficult as you ascend approximately a quarter mile. The last part is a steep slope that seems to have no end. The right technique is to take short steps and just keep moving. Watch your step carefully among the loose rocks. This is when trekking poles come in handy. Keep climbing until you arrive at Laguna de los Tres for imposing and unforgettable views of "los Tres," Mount Fitz Roy, the Poincenot and the Torre.

Many sources say this hike takes 8-10 hours, depending on your fitness level. It's a long trek but the impressive scenery and mystical Mount Fitz Roy make it worthwhile!

Tip: The weather can change quickly in Patagonia. In general, December and January are considered pretty windy. When we went in early January, however, it was hot and sunny. (Winter in the U.S. is summer in Patagonia.) I recommend checking the condition of the trail at the Visitors' Centre of Los Glaciares National Park located just before the entrance to El Chalten.