Laguna de los Tres

El Chaltén, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina

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Laguna de los Tres is iconic glacial lake and Patagonia’s most famous hiking destination, located just outside the trekking hub of El Chaltén in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina, at the foot of the towering granite spires of Mount Fitz Roy within Los Glaciares National Park. The 42-kilometer round-trip trail (about 8–9 hours total) follows Del Salto stream through ñire forests and across rocky moraines, climbing roughly 400 meters up a steep final slope to reach the turquoise lake nestled in an ancient lateral moraine, where hikers are rewarded with Patagonia’s closest and most dramatic view of Fitz Roy’s sheer granite walls and surrounding aiguilles. The lake’s name (“Three Lakes”) comes from three small晾lesque lagoons that merge into one body of water filled with meltwater from the nearby De los Tres Glacier, creating striking reflections of the snow-capped peaks. Many hikers start at dawn to witness the peak’s famous alpenglow, when Fitz Roy turns fiery red-orange at sunrise, often considered one of the world’s most spectacular mountain views. The hike is challenging but non-technical, best done from November to March when snow is minimal, and requires good boots, layers, waterproof gear and a headlamp, as well as an online entrance ticket to the national park. Beyond the main viewpoint, a side trail leads to the desolate Laguna Sucia and additional hanging glaciers, making it a full-day adventure that showcases the raw, pristine beauty of Argentine Patagonia.