Laguna Capri from El Calafate: the Picnic Hike
Laguna Capri as a day trip from El Calafate: Info de Ushuaia's guided picnic hike hour by hour (about 13 hours door to door), what is included, who it suits, and the other guided Capri treks.
From El Calafate, Laguna Capri is a 13-hour day: about 220 km of paved road each way (APN) around a hike of about four hours and an hour’s picnic at the lake. Info de Ushuaia’s guided picnic hike does it with transport, a nature guide, trekking poles, a poncho and the picnic, from US$130 a person (checked November 2026), free cancellation up to 24 hours before. It suits fit adults and teenagers from 12 who want the Fitz Roy view without the long Laguna de los Tres climb.
The calendar shows the price for your date and the days the hike runs, about three in four.
The day, hour by hour
| Stage | Time |
|---|---|
| Pickup at your accommodation in El Calafate, then the bus | 45 minutes |
| Scenic drive along Lago Argentino | 1.5 hours |
| Parador La Leona: photo stop, visit and a short guided tour | 25 minutes |
| Bus to El Chaltén | 2 hours |
| Briefing in El Chaltén | 15 minutes |
| Guided hike up to Laguna Capri | About 2 hours |
| Picnic at the Laguna Capri viewpoint | 1 hour |
| Guided hike back down | About 2 hours |
| Bus back to El Calafate | 2.5 hours |
The order can change with the day’s arrangements. The stop in El Chaltén is only for the briefing and getting ready: there is no time to explore the village.
What is included, and what is not
Included: round-trip transport from El Calafate, a nature guide, the Patagonian picnic (an artisan sandwich, local chocolate, a hot drink and a bottle of water), trekking poles, an emergency poncho and passenger insurance. Not included: the national park entrance and your hiking gear. Waterproof shoes and clothes can be rented in El Calafate the day before. There are several picnic options; tell Info de Ushuaia your choice in advance, since bookings made less than 24 hours ahead get the traditional one.
The park pass is ARS 50,000 on the general rate from 1 June 2026, sold online only and paid by card for the El Chaltén portals (APN tariffs, read November 2026).
Who it suits
The hike is moderate, about 8 km with about 400 m of climbing, and the minimum age is 12. It is not for people over 70, anyone with low fitness, back, heart or breathing problems, recent surgery or reduced mobility. Wear hiking shoes and layered, waterproof clothes; the weather can change quickly, and the hike usually goes ahead except in extreme conditions.
What the reviews say
Of 38 reviews, read on 11 November 2026, 35 give four or five stars. The three lower ones are worth knowing. One (October 2026) found almost six hours of driving long for the walk, and Fitz Roy was in cloud. One (March 2026) says the hike was cancelled the day before for too few people, with a full-day trip offered instead. The long drive is the price of doing Capri from El Calafate; a night in El Chaltén is the alternative.
Other guided Capri treks
El Chaltén: Capri Hike with Guide and Patagonian Picnic from El Calafate
Info de Ushuaia: transport, a nature guide, an hour's picnic at the lake, trekking poles and a poncho. Minimum age 12; free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check dates →El Chaltén: Fitz Roy & Laguna Capri Trek from El Calafate
ModoPata Turismo: transfer from El Calafate, a local guide from El Chaltén, ages 10 to 65; food not included; runs in all weather. No reviews yet.
See the trek →El Chaltén/Calafate: Laguna Capri Trek with Local Guide
On Patagonia Adventures: a licensed mountain guide and a boxed lunch, a full day from El Calafate (08:00 to 20:00) or half a day from El Chaltén. No reviews yet.
See the trek →Prices, ratings and review counts from the listings (GetYourGuide checked November 2026). Operators price by date and season, so treat the figures as the shape of the market, not a quote.
Azul Latina Travel also sells a full-day winter trek to Laguna Capri with crampons and a box lunch, from US$315 a person (checked November 2026). It runs on even-numbered days from September to April and on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from May to August, needs at least four people to run (with a full refund if that minimum is not met), and is otherwise non-refundable.
Around El Chaltén
More Days Out in El Chaltén with Open Dates
Hikes and day trips in the north of the park with live availability. What each includes and its cancellation terms show before you book.
Book the Picnic Hike
Info de Ushuaia's day from El Calafate: transport, a nature guide, about 8 km on foot and a picnic facing Fitz Roy. Minimum age 12; the park entrance is extra. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check dates