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South America · Argentina

Laguna de los Tres

El Chaltén, Los Glaciares National Park, Santa Cruz, Argentina

Distance
15.5 mi1,225.0 km
Days
1 day1,3
Season
Oct–Mar2,1
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Hikes / South America / Laguna de los Tres

Where these numbers come from

Public sources, official ones first, each numbered and listed under Sources, checked Nov 2026. Anything they don't give is left out.

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Relief map

The route

A long day hike from the village of El Chaltén through southern beech forest, past Laguna Capri and Camp Poincenot, then a steep last hour up to the glacial lake at the foot of Cerro Fitz Roy (3,405 m). It's the park's closest natural viewpoint to the granite peak and an out-and-back on the same trail.1,2,3

Relief map of Laguna de los Tres: the route from OpenStreetMap drawn in red, labelled Fitz Roy and El Chaltén.

Route drawn from OpenStreetMap (Sendero Laguna de los Tres, read Nov 2026). © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Terrain: Mapzen Terrain Tiles (SRTM, GMTED) on AWS. A sketch for planning, not for navigation.

Before you go

The basics

Start
El Chaltén village (the base of the park's Zona Norte trails)1
Finish
El Chaltén (same trail back)1,2
Direction
Out and back on one trail; Laguna Capri shares the first stretch and makes a shorter turnaround.1,2
Distance
25 km round trip (both the park and the national tourism office give it).1,2
Days
A day hike of 8 to 9 hours; the village tourist office gives about 4 hours each way.1,3
Usual difficulty
The park rates it medium-high; the El Chaltén tourist office lists it as high difficulty, with a steep final climb after Poincenot.1,2,3
Best time
the national tourism office says October to March is the best time to visit El Chaltén; from May to September hikers must register with the park first2,1
Permits
The park lists no entry fee for this trail. From May to September, and for remote areas any time, registering at the park's information centre (or with its online remote-area form) is mandatory.1
Getting there
El Chaltén is about 200 to 220 km of paved road (part of Ruta 40) from El Calafate; the trail starts from the village.1,2

From the sources

Safety

Rescue numbers

  • Police: 101 (local line 02962 493003)
  • Health post: 107 (local line 02962 493033)
  • Fire brigade: 100 (local line 02962 493142)
  • Gendarmería: 02962 493140
  • National Parks (Los Glaciares, El Chaltén visitor centre): 02962 493004

Source 4,1

Phone signal

  • The park warns that remote areas have limited communication, so help can take a long time to arrive

Source 1

Insurance

  • The UK government says you will have to pay for most helicopter rescues in Argentina and advises insurance that covers all your activities, including helicopter rescue and medical evacuation

Source 5

Bail-out points

  • Turn back at Laguna Capri for a shorter 8 km round trip
  • Camp Poincenot sits about an hour before the lake

Source 2,3

From the sources below, checked Nov 2026. For planning, not navigation: check before you go.

Their films and versions

Creators who've done it

1 creator so far: Kraig.

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Typical: 1 day (the hike's facts).

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Planning questions about Laguna de los Tres, answered only from this page's facts, the creators' versions and hikers' public tracks, with where each answer comes from. When the data doesn't say, the answer says "not given".

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    Answered from the data

    Questions people ask

    How many days do you need for Laguna de los Tres?

    1 day. A day hike of 8 to 9 hours; the village tourist office gives about 4 hours each way.

    From Administración de Parques Nacionales, Parque Nacional Los Glaciares: Actividades (official); El Chaltén municipal tourist office (official), checked Nov 2026. [1] [3]

    How long is Laguna de los Tres?

    15.5 mi (25 km). 25 km round trip (both the park and the national tourism office give it).

    From Administración de Parques Nacionales, Parque Nacional Los Glaciares: Actividades (official); Argentina national tourism office, Hacer trekking en El Chaltén (official), checked Nov 2026. [1] [2]

    When is the best time to hike Laguna de los Tres?

    Oct–Mar. The national tourism office says October to March is the best time to visit El Chaltén; from May to September hikers must register with the park first.

    From Argentina national tourism office, Hacer trekking en El Chaltén (official); Administración de Parques Nacionales, Parque Nacional Los Glaciares: Actividades (official), checked Nov 2026. [2] [1]

    Do you need a permit for Laguna de los Tres?

    The park lists no entry fee for this trail. From May to September, and for remote areas any time, registering at the park's information centre (or with its online remote-area form) is mandatory.

    From Administración de Parques Nacionales, Parque Nacional Los Glaciares: Actividades (official), checked Nov 2026. [1]

    How do you get to Laguna de los Tres?

    El Chaltén is about 200 to 220 km of paved road (part of Ruta 40) from El Calafate; the trail starts from the village.

    From Administración de Parques Nacionales, Parque Nacional Los Glaciares: Actividades (official); Argentina national tourism office, Hacer trekking en El Chaltén (official), checked Nov 2026. [1] [2]

    What's the emergency number on Laguna de los Tres?

    Police: 101 (local line 02962 493003). Health post: 107 (local line 02962 493033). Fire brigade: 100 (local line 02962 493142). Gendarmería: 02962 493140. National Parks (Los Glaciares, El Chaltén visitor centre): 02962 493004.

    From Municipalidad de El Chaltén, Teléfonos útiles (official); Administración de Parques Nacionales, Parque Nacional Los Glaciares: Actividades (official), checked Nov 2026. [4] [1]

    Sources

    1. Administración de Parques Nacionales, Parque Nacional Los Glaciares: Actividades (official) · official · checked Nov 2026
    2. Argentina national tourism office, Hacer trekking en El Chaltén (official) · official · checked Nov 2026
    3. El Chaltén municipal tourist office (official) · official · checked Nov 2026
    4. Municipalidad de El Chaltén, Teléfonos útiles (official) · official · checked Nov 2026
    5. www.gov.uk · official · checked Nov 2026

    Facts are written in our own words from these pages; nothing is copied. Rules, fees and closures change: check the official page before you go.

    Plan this hikeThe route