A Guide To The Mount Fitz Roy Hike: 10 Best Things To Know

Are you looking to hike the Laguna de los Tres? Is the Mount Fitz Roy hike one of your dreams? I have you covered!

Since my first trip to Argentina in 2012, I have dreamed of hiking Fitz Roy, the base of Mount Fitz Roy, in Argentinian Patagonia. However, I wasn’t able to make it all the way to El Chalten then.

It took me another trip to Argentina to finally make this dream come true, and I finally was able to hike the Laguna de Los Tres trail and reach the base of the mountain,

It was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life and, to date, the most incredible hike I have ever done. In this post, I highlight everything you should know to hike to Laguna de Los Tres and reach the base of Mount Fitz Roy (or Cerro Fitz Roy, as it is called locally).

Traveling to Argentina? Make sure to check out my Argentina itinerary and read my guide to the things to do in Argentina.

Background Information On Mount Fitz Roy

Mount Fitz Roy is located in the Andes Mountain Range, between Argentina (where it is part of the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares) and Chile and close to the tiny town of El Chalten, in the region of Patagonia.

With its 3,405 meters (11,171 feet) and a prominence of 2,000 meters (6,561 feet), it’s a mighty mountain and on a clear day you can see even it from a far distance.

The original name of the Cerro Fitz Roy is Chalten, which in the Aoniken language means “smoking mountain.” The name referred to the clouds that normally form around the peaks. This was a sacred mountain to the Mapuche indigenous peoples that used to live in the region.

The name was assigned by Argentine explorer Francisco Moreno in 1877: he named the mountain in honor of Robert FitzRoy, captain of the Beagle, who traveled up the Santa Cruz River in 1834.

Together with the rest of Patagonia, Fitz Roy is considered to be a climbers’ paradise. However, several recent incidents that resulted in the death of four climbers are a reminder of how unpredictably dangerous this part of the world can be.

A Guide To The Mount Fitz Roy Hike

Quick facts about the Fitz Roy hike

Contrary to other hikes in Patagonia, you need to pay a small fee to access the trail for the Laguna de Los Tres hike. You can buy tickets online or directly at the gate located at one of the trailheads or online on the official website of the national parks of Argentina, and can opt for a regular ticket, a 3-day or even a 7-day pass.

MOUNT FITZ ROY HIKE DIFFICULTY – Moderate to hard.

TYPE OF HIKE – Out and back, or point to point, depending on where you start from.

MOUNT FITZ ROY HIKE TRAILHEAD – You can start either in El Chalten at the end of St. Martin Street where you’ll find a large parking lot and a sign that says “Sendero al Fitz Roy” (in this case, it will be an out and back hike); or in Hostaria El Pilar, located north of El Chalten, around 14 km (8.7 miles) from the town on Ruta 41, where you can get by taxi (in this case, it’s a point to point hike).

“Sendero al Fitz Roy” is the trail that most people follow. I followed the trail that starts in Hostaria El Pilar.

OVERALL WALKING DISTANCE – Depending on whether you walk the trail from El Chalten or from Hostaria el Pilar, the overall walking distance is either 26 or 24 km (between 15 and 16 miles).

OVERALL WALKING TIME – 8 to 10 hours, including various stops for photos, rest, lunch and to admire the views.

ELEVATION GAIN – 864 meters (2,835 feet)

FOOD AND DRINKS – You will have to carry your food and drinks for the duration your Fitz Roy trek. With regards to water, you can refill at the river – all guides ensure the water is pristine and safe to drink.

There are no toilets along the way, save for a pit toilet right at the Rio Blanco rest area. You will also find toilets at the Campamento Poincenot and the Laguna Capri camping areas. There are no garbage bins either, so make sure to carry an extra bag to dispose of your tissues, toilet paper and any other garbage, and take it back to El Chalten.

What to expect about the Cerro Fitz Roy hike

For my hike to the Laguna de los Tres, I used the trailhead near the Hostaria El Pilar, but the walking distance and walking time are more or less the same whichever trail you decide to follow.

Like all other trails in Patagonia, the trail is very well-marked and easy to follow, in all its parts, and the terrain is mostly good.

If you use the trailhead near Hostaria El Pilar, for about two hours you will walk along the banks of the Rio Blanco, through a beautiful shady forest. About halfway you’ll find the first viewpoint, Mirador Piedras Blanca, from where you get the first incredible peak of Fitz Roy.

The trail then continues to the Campamento Poincenot, a camping site where some hikers spend the night to have a very early start to Laguna de Los Tres.

Here, the trail splits in two: one trail goes up to Laguna de Los Tres at the base of Mount Fitz Roy, and one continues to Laguna Capri and then back to El Chalten. You will be passing here also if you are coming from El Chalten.

To go up to Laguna de Los Tres you’ll have to cross the river (you can refill your water there) and then reach the base of the trail to Laguna de Los Tres which is right by the Rio Blanco rest area.

The walk is nice and easy until the Campamento Poincenot and Rio Blanco rest area.

From then on, the real challenge starts. A sign warns people walking up about the difficulty and suggests to continue walking only if you are in excellent physical condition.

The trail you follow gains 400 meters (1,312 feet) of elevation in just 1 km (0.6 miles) – that’s most of the elevation gain during the entire Mount Fitz Roy hike in a very short distance, going up high steps, rocks, and over boulders too – so you’ll have to watch your step.

It takes roughly one hour to walk up. It will take you longer if you are not prepared for such a hike and need to stop more often.

Let me not sugarcoat it for you: I am fit and do lots of sports regularly, yet I found this bit challenging.

The good thing about hiking in Patagonia is that the days are very long, and you have plenty of time to make it to Laguna de Los Tres and admire Mount Fitz Roy in all its glory. However, start walking nice and early to avoid the largest crowds and so that you can take your time once you reach the Laguna de los Tres.

By the time you get to the Laguna de los Tres, you will be rewarded for all your efforts: the view is stunning, and you can’t help but be in complete awe of it. This is also the best spot to have lunch. Some people try to swim in the lagoon but it is forbidden (and freezing).

You have to walk down the same trail, and as tough as walking uphill is, I found the walk down by far more challenging. It takes pretty much the same amount of time to walk to the Rio Blanco rest area.

Once down, you will have to follow the signs to Laguna Capri to walk back to El Chalten. Before reaching Laguna Capri (where there is another camping site), right at a sign that marks km 5 of the trail, you can take a short detour to go to Chorrillo del Salto, a beautiful waterfall.

There’s no marked trail, but you can follow the roar of the water and it is fairly easy to find.

From Laguna Capri, the walk is mostly downhill, first through the forest and then along an easy trail (the same you’d take if you follow the trail starting in El Chalten).

The Sights

Throughout the hike, the views are incredible. The first part of the trail is mostly through a beautiful, thick forest and in the shade. You’ll get the first peak of the mighty Mount Fitz Roy from Mirador Piedras Blancas.

Once at Laguna Los Tres the view is simply breathtaking, and you will feel rewarded for all the effort of walking up the trail. It’s the perfect lunch spot, too!

At km 5 of the main trail, a short detour goes to Chorrillo del Salto, a beautiful waterfall with a nice swimming hole (though the water is mighty cold). It is a great spot to relax for a short while, enjoying yet another incredible view of Mount Fitz Roy and the surrounding landscape.

Laguna Capri is another lovely sight. It’s a good place to hang out for a bit – there is a camping site nearby so there’s quite a few people there, but the views remain splendid.

What to wear and carry for the Fitz Roy hike

The Laguna de Los Tres / Fitz Roy hike packing list is based on my experience of a day hike.

The first thing to keep in mind when gearing up for the Laguna de Los Tres hike is that the weather in Patagonia tends to be unpredictable.

You may wake up in the morning and find a fantastic sunny day and perfect visibility of Mount Fitz Roy, and moments later the wind may start blowing, the clouds gathering up and it may start raining. Make sure to be properly equipped for any weather conditions. The key is to wear layers you can take off or put on as needed.

Here’s a list of essentials for your Fitz Roy trek:

• A good pair of hiking boots. Make sure to pick a pair that is waterproof and that provides excellent ankle support: you will need it when walking downhill.
• A pair of hiking pants, best if waterproof as well, a lightweight t-shirt and a comfortable fleece. You may even want to carry an extra one, in case the weather turns for the worst.
• A good windproof jacket.
• A hat (you can use a baseball hat to protect against the sun, or even a fleece hat to keep warm) and gloves (it is fairly cold in the early morning).
• A good daypack. Make sure to take something with easy-to-reach, outside pockets for your bottle of water.
• A refillable water bottle, snacks, and food for the duration of the hike (I recommend at least 2 liters of water). Bring some water tablets or a filter in case you need to refill at the river.
• Sunscreen with a high protection factor, as well as lip balm and sunglasses.
• Don’t forget to take your camera or smartphone to take photos and bring a power bank as well!
• Tissues or toilet paper, and a good antibacterial hand gel. Also take an extra spare bag to put all your garbage.
• Compeed.

For a complete guide on what to pack for Patagonia, read my post Hiking Gear And More: The Perfect Patagonia Packing List.

Can you do the Fitz Roy trek independently?

The hike to Laguna de Los Tres can be done independently: the Sendero al Fitz Roy is well-marked and easy to follow, and so is the trail that starts at Hostaria El Pilar.

This is one of the most popular ones in Patagonia. This means that on any given day there will be quite a few people on the trail. Regardless of that, don’t walk this trail alone: there is no phone reception along the trail and it is safer to have someone you can rely on for emergencies.

There is no need for a guide to hike to Laguna de los Tres, but if you prefer, you can also join a guided group hike. There are various departing daily from El Chalten: enquire locally with your hotel for the best options.

You also have the option of this guided hike that goes to both Laguna de los Tres and Laguna Torre: it is a highly-rated tour.

Laguna de los Tres is another fantastic hike in El Chalten. You can read more about it in my post A Guide To Hiking To Laguna Torre.

Best time to hike Laguna de los Tres

The best time to hike around Patagonia is in the late spring and summer months, between October and April. Even then, the weather remains unpredictable, and you can expect wind, rain, and even snow at any time.

I was actually very lucky and enjoyed sunny, warm weather throughout my stay, but unless you have a tight schedule, I advise you to be as flexible as possible so that you can wait for the perfect day for your Fitz Roy trek.

Planning to travel to Patagonia? Make sure to read my post 30 Things You Should Consider Before Traveling To Patagonia.

How to get to Fitz Roy

El Chalten is the nearest getaway for hiking Fitz Roy. The nearest airport is that of El Calafate, which is well connected with direct Aerolinas Argentinas flights to Buenos Aires and Ushuaia. It then is a very scenic 3-hour ride to get from El Calafate to Fitz Roy.

By Bus

There are regular bus rides between El Calafate and El Chalten, with buses departing from the main terminal located on Julio Argentino Roca in El Calafate at 8:00 am and 6:00 pm. During peak season there is an extra bus that leaves at 1:00 pm. The most reliable bus companies are Chalten Travel and Caltur.

By car

Alternatively, you can rent a car directly at El Calafate airport. The only stop along the way is at Estancia La Leona. There, you can have a snack (though let me tell you, the food is barely passable) and use the washrooms.

Where to stay in El Chalten

El Chalten has some excellent accommodation options and a few good restaurants and breweries. Keep in mind that most hotels and restaurants are closed between the end of April and the beginning of October.

Here is a selection of the best places to stay in El Chalten:

RANCHO GRANDE – A nice hostel near the center of El Chalten. There are private rooms, dorms, good common areas, an in-house pub that serves good food, and even a travel agency.

POSADA Y CABANAS EL BARRANCO – It has good rooms as well as fully equipped bungalows, and it’s minutes from the town center.

CHALTEN SUITES HOTEL – It has beautiful large rooms and offers a scrumptious breakfast.

ESTANCIA LA QUINTA – This is an excellent option if you don’t mind staying out of town. It’s a 55-minute walk to the center of El Chalten or an easy 7-minute car ride. The rooms are plain but cozy, the area is as quiet as it gets, and the owner is a real star.

Other useful information

Like for any other trip, if you plan to hike around Mount Fitz Roy make sure to get a good travel insurance. Click here for good insurance deals.

Have you been to El Chalten and have you done the Cerro Fitz Roy hike? If so, do share any other useful tips and recommendations!

Further Readings

Traveling to Argentina? You may want to read these posts!

• 15 Amazing National Parks In Argentina
• 32 Unmissable Things To Do In Buenos Aires
• 11 Fantastic Day Trips From Buenos Aires
• A Complete Guide To Where To Stay In Buenos Aires
• Top 13 Things To Do In Rosario Argentina: An Insider’s Guide!
• The Best Argentine Movies
• 25 Delicious Argentina Food To Try

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