Hiking to Laguna de los Tres: Fitz Roy / Cerro Chaltén
Day two of hiking in Patagonia was the famous hike to Laguna de los Tres, with the Fitz Roy mountain range rising behind it and reflecting back in the turquoise-blue lake – one of the reasons I was drawn to hiking in the region to begin with.
The silhouette of Fitz Roy mountain range is also famous for being the logo of the Patagonia clothing brand. While Fitz Roy is the name given to the mountain after Robert FitzRoy, a British captain known for his role in charting parts of South America, the Tehuelche – the Indigenous people of Patagonia – referred to the mountain as Cerro Chaltén meaning “smoking,” in reference to the clouds that frequently gather at its peak.
The Hike
With 24 km and just over 1,000 m of elevation gain ahead of us, we had an early start, while still feeling the effects of an 8-hour hike the previous day. The trail begins just outside El Chaltén in Los Glaciares National Park.
From the start, we had beautiful views of the Chaltén mountain range reflected in the calm waters of the Río Eléctrico river. We had a long day of hiking with some tough moments along the way. This hike is especially known for its last steep ascent, covering 400 meters of elevation gain over 1km. It was no easy feat, definitely feeling longer than 1km. As with all tough hikes, the reward of reaching the top and being met with beautiful views kept us going.
Reaching the top of the trail and looking out over the calm, turquoise-blue waters of Laguna de los Tres, with the jagged face of Chaltén rising behind it, was nothing short of breathtaking.
Like everyone else, I had seen the photos but seeing it in person was even more beautiful, and a reminder of the beauty of nature. Looking out, I shared with a hiker next to me that it was the most beautiful view I had ever seen.
The Lake and the Landscape
One of the things that stands out with Laguna de los Tres is its bright turquoise colour. The colour is due to the lake being fed by water from glaciers that carries rock flour – fine particles created as glaciers grind over rock. These particles remain suspended in the water and scatter sunlight, reflecting blue and green wavelengths more strongly.
The distinct shapes of the mountains here – tall and jagged with sharp ridges – is also a result of glacial activity. The granite peaks have been carved over thousands of years, creating the dramatic landscape that defines this region.
The Way Down
After lunch break taking in the views, we made our way back down, knowing we had to descend the same steep section we had climbed.
On the way down, we took in the scenery with what energy we had left, spotting Crested Caracara birds along the way and stopping at the scenic Laguna Capri. We were lucky to have another beautiful, clear-sky day to enjoy the views, an experience to remember.
Hike Details:
Distance: 24 km (15 miles)
Elevation Gain: 1040m (3412 ft)
Time on Trail: 10h30
