Private Guided Treks · Cordillera Blanca

Santa Cruz Classic Trek

Hike the most popular trekking circuit in Peru’s Cordillera Blanca Mountain Range, Huascaran National Park. Our Santa Cruz Trek is one of the most popular and famous circuits in the Cordillera Blanca and it can be done between three to four days. It heads up the spectacular Quebrada Huaripampa Valley through little villages, native Quenual forest, crosses the

The Journey

Trip Overview

Natural History
The valleys are great places to observe native Andean alpine flora, especially the many wildflowers that bloom during the trekking season, including buttercups, ranunculus, lupines and several species of orchids. Many encrustations of deep-red bromeliads can be seen along the track, sprouting from boulders and on rock faces.
Fauna includes few llamas, mountain caracaras, falcons, Andean geese and ducks, hawks, hummingbirds, American kestrels, puna ibis, Andean swifts, Andean foxes and mountain vizcachas.

Duration: 4 Day Trek
Format: Private
Activity: Private Guided Treks
Grade: Moderate
Distance: 50 km
Maximum altitude: 4,750 m
Season: May to September

Service

What’s Included

Professional English Speaking Mountain Guide

Professional Cook

Donkeys and donkey driver

Meals: Breakfast, Snacks, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Dinner during the trek

Tents: 4 season tent (3 person tent for 2 people), dining tent with tables and chairs, kitchen tent and toilet tent

Foam & air mattress

First Aid Kit

All cooking equipment, plates, cups, utensils etc.

Private transport

Entrance Fee to Huascaran National Park

Each participant is allowed to bring 6kg to be loaded on the donkeys

Service

What’s Not Included

Sleeping bag

Personal gear

Any hire of gear

Guide & transport for acclimatization hikes

Travel Insurance

Gratuities

Preparation

What to Bring

We will provide a full gear list info upon booking the trek.

Logistics

Pickup and Drop-off

We will collect and return you to any hotel located within Huaraz City.

Day by Day

Itinerary

1 DayHuaraz – Llanganuco Lakes – Portachuelo Pass – Vaqueria – Paria

You are picked up at your accommodation and begin the journey with a spectacular scenic drive along the Callejon de Huaylas Valley and then into the Huascaran National Park, past the turquoise Llanganuco Lakes and over Portachuelo de Llanganuco Pass 4785m and then down to Vaqueria (3700m) which is the starting point of the trek 4 hours drive. There are opportunities for photo stops along the way. From Vaqueria our equipment is loaded onto the donkeys and we have a 5 hours hike on a gradually rising path to our campsite in the Paria Valley 3890m. Today we will have the opportunity to see local shepherds and farmers working on the fields using traditional methods.

2 DayParia – Paso Punta Union Pass – Taullipampa

Today is a demanding day. We ascend gradually for about 4 hours and then we make a steep ascend for one hour to the pass Punta Union at 4750m. From the pass, we have very close views of the big mountains of the Cordillera Blanca such as Nevado Taulliraju, Pucajirca, Rinrijirca, Artesonraju and many others and fantastic views down into the Santa Cruz Valley. From the pass, we descend to our camp at Taullipampa 4250m. 7 to 8 hours walk.

Day 3Taullipampa – Alpamayo Lookout – Llamacorral

Today we can do a side trip up to a viewpoint in the Quebrada Arhuaycocha valley, from where there are great views of Nevado Alpamayo, Quitaraju and Artesonraju mountains. We then have a long descend along the Santa Cruz valley passing a big lake to our last campsite at Llamacorral 3750m. 6 to 7 hours hike.

4 DayLlamacorral – Cashapampa – Huaraz

We walk down Quebrada Santa Cruz Valley to the village of Cashapampa at 2900m and then drive back to Huaraz. 3 hours walk and 3 hours drive.