Do not plan this hike now: the essential Poincenot–Laguna de los Tres segment is officially closed because its bridge is out. When it reopens, it is El Chaltén’s signature full-day hike for fit, well-equipped walkers with a clear-weather window.
Check trail status that morning
The standard route is currently unavailable: both the Laguna Capri/Mirador Fitz Roy–Poincenot section and the bridge-less Poincenot–Laguna de los Tres segment are listed closed or not recommended.
MoreBuy APN entry only after reopening
There is no separate Laguna de los Tres reservation, but APN charges park access at the El Chaltén gateway; buy online before hiking only after the official status page confirms the route is open because online tickets are generally non-refundable.
MoreAllow a full daylight day
From El Chaltén, the normal out-and-back is about 25 km and takes 8–9 hours, including a very steep final kilometre and substantial ascent.
MoreChoose clear summer-weather conditions
The Fitz Roy massif is the main payoff, so go on a clear forecast when open; May–September can bring ice, mud and snow, when poles and crampons are mandatory.
MoreOpen 24 hours
Hours from Google; check before you go.
Laguna de los Tres is the high glacial lagoon beneath Cerro Chaltén/Fitz Roy in the northern sector of Los Glaciares National Park, reached by the Fitz Roy trail from El Chaltén. It is the destination of a demanding mountain hike through lenga forest, Laguna Capri and the Poincenot area, ending on a moraine below the granite Fitz Roy massif. The normal El Chaltén out-and-back is about 25 km and takes 8–9 hours, with roughly 750 m of ascent; it is a maintained backcountry trail rather than a separate staffed attraction. As of November 11, 2026, the essential Poincenot–Laguna de los Tres section and preceding access sections are officially closed because a bridge is out, so the standard hike is not currently available.
When open and clear, this is El Chaltén’s signature full-day hike: it delivers close, ground-level views of the Fitz Roy towers, with Laguna de los Tres below and Laguna Sucia visible from the moraine. Skip it if you are not ready for a long, strenuous day with a steep final climb, loose descents, wind and volatile weather; it is also not worthwhile when Fitz Roy is fully clouded in. Do not attempt it while the official closure remains in force; check the National Parks trail-status page on the morning of any future hike.
Before you go
No. As checked November 11, 2026, the essential Poincenot–Laguna de los Tres section is listed by Argentina’s National Parks as “No recomendable (cerrado – cortado sin puente)” because its bridge is out. The Laguna Capri/Mirador Fitz Roy–Poincenot section is also closed, so the standard hike from El Chaltén is not currently possible. Check the official trail-status page on the morning you plan to hike; do not cross a closed bridge or rely on old GPX tracks: https://www.argentina.gob.ar/node/169786
There is no separate Laguna de los Tres trail ticket, timed-entry slot, or day-hike reservation. However, APN charges park entry at the El Chaltén gateway. Buy the named, non-transferable park ticket online before an open-route hike at https://ventaweb.apn.gob.ar/ or at the authorized APN access point. Bring the passport or ID used for purchase. Do not buy before confirming the trail is open: APN says online tickets generally cannot be changed or refunded, including when access is suspended.
From June 1, 2026, the Los Glaciares—Portada El Chaltén daily entry is ARS 50,000 for a general/international adult, ARS 25,000 for an Argentine resident, ARS 8,000 for a Santa Cruz resident, and ARS 15,000 for an eligible student. APN also sells 3-day and 7-day Flexipasses and an annual pass. These are park-entry products, not a separate trail charge. Official tariffs: https://www.argentina.gob.ar/node/131189
No: access uses the paid Los Glaciares National Park entry through the El Chaltén gateway. There is no additional Laguna de los Tres admission or hiking-permit fee for a normal day hike. Children through age six and certain documented categories—including local residents, qualifying people with disabilities, and Argentine-DNI pensioners—have free APN entry under the park’s rules.
When reopened, allow a full day. The standard El Chaltén out-and-back is about 25 km and takes roughly 8–9 hours of moving time, plus breaks. The park trail sheet lists 10 km one way and about 750 m of ascent. It is a medium-to-high difficulty mountain hike, with a particularly steep final kilometre and loose, demanding descent on the return.
The normal self-guided start is the signed Sendero al Fitz Roy / Base Fitz Roy gateway at El Chaltén’s northern edge. It has no published postal address. From the town centre, allow roughly 15–30 minutes to walk to the signed trailhead, depending on your lodging. The Río Eléctrico/RP 41 alternative is currently unusable because RP 41 is listed inaccessible.