This hike to a high alpine tarn provides one of the most photogenic spots in Parque Nacional Los Glaciares. It's somewhat strenuous (10km and four hours one-way) and best for those in good physical shape. Exercise extra caution in foul weather as trails are very steep.
The trail starts from a yellow-roofed pack station. After about an hour there’s a signed lateral to excellent free backcountry campsites at Laguna Capri. The main trail continues gently through windswept forests and past small lakes, meeting the Lagunas Madre and Hija trail. Carry on through wind-worn ñire (a small, deciduous southern beech species) forest and along boggy terrain to Río Blanco (three hours) and the woodsy, mouse-plagued Campamento Poincenot. The trail splits before Río Blanco to Río Eléctrico. Stay left to reach a climbers’ base camp. Here the trail zigzags steeply up the tarn to the eerily still, glacial Laguna de los Tres, in close view of 3405m Cerro Fitz Roy. Be prepared for high, potentially hazardous winds and allow extra time.
