Fitz Roy or Cerro Torre: Which Hike?
Fitz Roy vs Cerro Torre from El Chaltén: Laguna de los Tres (25 km, 8 to 9 hours, a steep last climb) against Laguna Torre (18 km, 3 to 4 hours each way, little climbing), with the park's figures and the guided options.
Choose Fitz Roy if you want the famous view and can handle a long day with a very steep end; choose Cerro Torre if you want an easier walk up a valley to a glacial lagoon. The national park puts Laguna de los Tres, under Fitz Roy, at 25 km and 8 to 9 hours there and back, medium-high difficulty. Laguna Torre is 18 km there and back, 3 to 4 hours each way, with far less climbing on the park leaflet. With two days in El Chaltén, do both.
Side by side
| Laguna de los Tres (Fitz Roy) | Laguna Torre (Cerro Torre) | |
|---|---|---|
| Park activities page | 25 km in total, 8 to 9 hours, medium-high | 18 km there and back, 3 to 4 hours each way |
| Park leaflet, one way from the trailhead | 10 km, about 5 hours, 750 m in its height column | 10 km, 3:30, 250 m |
| The climb | A very steep last climb above the Poincenot camp | 250 m in the leaflet’s height column |
| The peak | Fitz Roy, 3,405 m | Cerro Torre, 3,102 m |
| At the end | The nearest view of the Fitz Roy range | A view of the glacier and the lagoon |
| Camp on the way | Poincenot | De Agostini |
Sources: APN activities page and the park’s North Zone trail leaflet (English edition, 2024), read November 2026; peak heights from the leaflet’s map.
The two sources count Laguna Torre a little differently (18 km in total on the activities page, 10 km one way on the leaflet), but they agree on the shape: a long walk with little climbing. Laguna de los Tres asks for three times the height.
Linking the two
The Madre e Hija trail joins the two valleys. The leaflet says to work out the time from the village to the forks: 7 km on the Fitz Roy trail and 5.5 km on the Torre trail. Over two days, or with a night at a camp, you can walk one valley in and the other out.
Which is easier?
Laguna Torre, on the park’s own figures. If you are unsure about the steep last hour to Laguna de los Tres, Laguna Capri on the Fitz Roy trail is another easier choice: 4 km and 1:45 from the trailhead on the leaflet, with the Fitz Roy skyline across the water.
Going with a guide
The guided hikes sold for the Fitz Roy side go to Laguna de los Tres, from El Calafate or from El Chaltén.
The calendar is Azul Latina Travel’s guided day from El Calafate, from US$395 a person (checked November 2026), at least two per booking and non-refundable. From El Chaltén, Say Hueque Travel’s trek to Laguna de los Tres is from US$198 a person (checked November 2026), all sales final. Guided Fitz Roy hikes compares them all.
More from El Calafate and El Chaltén
Tours around Fitz Roy with Open Dates
Hikes, day trips and private days in the north of the park with live availability. What is included and the cancellation terms show before you book.
The Fitz Roy Side with a Guide
Azul Latina Travel's guided day from El Calafate to Laguna de los Tres: two guides, a packed lunch and crampons if needed. At least two per booking; non-refundable. The park fee is extra.
Check dates