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Trekking Santa Cruz classic 2025
The most popular trekking route in the Andes.
This very popular trek ascends the Santa Cruz Valley and crosses the Punta Union pass at 4750m, below spectacular peaks of the Cordillera Blanca and skirting turquoise glacial lakes. Beautiful Andean wildflowers are prolific during the trekking season.
- Start: 7:00am in Huaraz.
- Finish: 15:00 aprox. in Huaraz.
- Best season from April to October
DIFFICULTY
Moderate, up to 5 - 7 hours physical activity each day
GUARANTEED SERVICE
We will fulfill everything we offered you, there is nothing hidden, no surprises.
DURATION
4 days 3 nights
Best season: May to October
BILINGUAL GUIDED
All guided tours in Spanish and English. Groups could be mixed.
Program details
Day 01: Huaraz – Vaqueria – Paria (3800 m)
Duration: 4.5 hours (by car) 4 – 5 hours (hiking)
- Pick up at your hotel in Huaraz.
- Drive along the Callejon de Huaylas Valley until Yungay.
- From Yungay we will take a road to the east, we will pass near the Llanganuco lagoons and we will make a brief stop at the viewpoint before crossing the Portachuelo pass.
- There are opportunities for photo stops along the way.
- Vaqueria village is the start point for hike to descend for about 1 hour and then we will ascend in a zig zag next to the town called Huaripampa, which is a town with very typical people who are dedicated to agriculture and livestock. Possibly our muleteer is from this town.
- Camping at Paria (3800 m), inside the Huascaran National Park .
Day 02: Paria – Punta Union Pass (4750 m) – Taullipampa (4250 m).
Duration: 7 – 8 hours approx.
- This day will be the hardest, since we will ascend to the highest point of the route (Punta Union pass 4750 mts).
- We ascend steadily for about 4 hours on a good trail to the Punta Union Pass 4750m.
- We can feel the effects of the altitude as we reach the pass.
- From the pass we have very close views of the big mountains of the Cordillera Blanca.
- After we will have a short descent passing close to Laguna Taullicocha and then into the Santa Cruz ravine.
- Camping in Taullipampa (4250m), surrounded by many peaks such as Paria, Artseonraju, Rinrijirca, Quitaraju and Alpamayo.
Day 03: Taullipampa – Jatuncocha – Llamacorral (3750 m).
Duration: 5 – 6 hours
- Today is an easier hike, first we will go to viewpoint of Alpamayo mountain. We will also have the option of going to the base camp and the Arhuaycocha lagoon located just below Pucajirca south.
- This day it is generally flat and we descend through the Santa Cruz valley, later we will pass near the Jatuncocha lagoon, one of the largest lagoon during this trek.
- Camping in Llamacorral.
Day 04: Llamacorral – Cashapampa (2900 m) – Huaraz (3100 m)
Duration: 3 hours (hiking) 3 hours (by car)
- An easy walk down the Quebrada Santa Cruz. Descent through a flat path that then turns vertical in a zig zag through a narrow canyon.
- Then suddenly we leave the canyon and find extensive fields with crops of cereals and legumes and later we will reach the town of Cashapampa, where the end of the walk is. Here we say goodbye to our muleteers and our transportation will bring us back to Huaraz.
- Get to Huaraz, end of the service.
What’s included?
Services included in the prices:
- Pre-departure briefing: You will meet your guide and group in our office for an orientation before your trek. The meeting will be at the afternoon before the trip begins.
- Transport: You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning and will travel by private transportation to the starting point of the trek.
- Experienced Guide: English speaking, professionally educated, and official tour guide. Your guide will explain the culture and surroundings along the entire route! He or she will keep you safe, sound, and comfortable on your trek so that you can enjoy your time worry-free!
- All camping & cooking equipment (sleeping, Dining and kitchen tents, tables, chairs, and cooking equipment (all carried by the donkeys).
- Cargo Mules: For to carry the all camping equipment and your allowance of personal baggage (6 kgs/13.2 lbs).
- Trekking Cook: A chef specialized in cooking on the trail, with an assistant (if the group is more than 8 people), will prepare all of your delicious meals along the journey to replenish your energy. You will never go hungry!.
- Meals: 3 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 3 Dinners (Vegetarian or special menus are available at no extra cost).
- Wake up tea: Every morning at the campsite, you will woken up with a cup of coca tea! Our staff will bring the tea to your tent so that you will be warmed from inside out before you start your day.
- Tea time daily: Every afternoon before dinner, the cook will provide popcorn, biscuits, coffee, hot chocolate, teas, hot water, etc. After a long day of hiking, you will not have to wait until dinner to relax, warm up, and enjoy a bite to eat!
- Snacks on the trail daily: Our snacks consist of local fruits, biscuits, chocolate, caramels, etc. We will give this snack to you at the beginning of each day in your cloth bag.
- Medical kit: Our crew will bring a first-aid kit, including emergency oxygen bottle.
- Transport: Private transport from end of trek to your hotel in Huaraz.
Not included:
- Hotel accommodations for specified time in Lima and Huaraz.
- Entrance fee to Huascaran National Park.
- Sleeping Bags: Considered a personal equipment, but you can rent one from our company if you do not have your own. Our sleeping bags are effective and durable to protect from temperatures as low as -10ºC. They are mummy form and include a sleeping liner. The bags are cleaned after every use and have a maximum usage of 30 trips.
- Walking Sticks: You can rent a set from our company if you would like.
- Day 1 breakfast and last day dinner in Huaraz city.
- Travel, Personal, and/or medical insurance
- Personal clothing and gear
- Tips for our staff: Please note that our agency staff is well paid so please feel free to tip or not as you wish.
- Additional expenses as a result of leaving the tour early or additional expenses as a result of an emergency rescue or evacuation.
- Additional costs or delays out of control of the management (landscape, bad weather condition, itinerary modification due to a safety concern, illness, change of government policy, political instability/strike, etc.)
Prices according to number of people Please contact us for more information.
GROUP DEPARTURE PRICE:
*Special price USD 320 for bookings until end of March 2024
Group of 8 people max. (Price per person) | From: US$ 350 |
- If you book in advance we find the other participants for the date you choice. (Group Service considerate from 5 to 8 participants) We open a new group minimum base on 2.
PRIVATE SERVICE (Exclusive):
Price per person
| 01 person | US $ 950 |
| 02 people | US $ 535 |
| 04 people | US $ 415 |
| 06 people | US $ 365 |
- If you want to take this PRIVATE SERVICE, you can book up to a week before your date.
- If you are a group of friends or family of 4 people or more, we recommend that you try to organize your experience in PRIVATE SERVICE.
Group departures programed:
Check here: GROUP DEPARTURES 2024
FAQs?
How many days do I need to aclimate in Huaraz BEFORE THE TREK?
It is very important to be well acclimated to the altitude before exerting yourself on a trek. We do recommend that you arrive to Huaraz at least 2 or 3 days before the trek starts to help you become acclimatized and avoid possible problems with altitude sickness while on the trek.
We can organize day hikes & other tours around Huaraz for your acclimatization:
- Laguna Willcacocha Trek – Half Day Tour
- Laguna 69 trek – Full Day Tour
- Laguna Churup trek – Full Day Tour
If you have already been in another area of Peru at high altitude before arriving in Huaraz, we still recommend you have a complete day in Huaraz to rest, recover from your travel, and enjoy the sights and sounds of Huaraz before departing for the trek.
Hotels, bus before/after trek?
We can also organize transfers, hotels in Huaraz or other cities, packages in the rest of the country etc. If you would prefer more services, from the airport in Lima for example or a complete Peru travel package, please let us know.
Can you accommodate food sensitivities?
Our cooks are used to dealing with vegetarians. However, other clients and staff may have a conventional diet. Meals are prepared in the same tent and scents of meals can not be avoided. if you do not want to eat your meal in the same tent with clients having a conventional diet, please inquire about a private tour.
How to book the Santa Cruz Trek?
FIRST: To make a booking, please email us to check availability and receive customized booking form.
All customers or leader of grup will need to fill out a Passenger details form. Please be ready with the following information:
- Personal information (Full name, exactly as on your passport):
- Gender and passport number
- Nationality and date of birth
- Dietary requirements and medical conditions (alergies)
SECOND: We require a deposit of 50% per person in order to purchase a permit for the Huascaran National Park 4 days. You can make your deposit by Paypal, VISA/Mastercard/Dinners or another cards (payment link) or Wester Union (request our data). All subject to transfer fee
Important for group departures!
- If you book in advance we find the other participants for the date you choice. (Group Service considerate from 5 to 8 participants) We open a new group minimum base on 2.
- For booking validation you should deposit a 50% of total price, and rest 50% you pay when you arrive to Peru or Huaraz.
- Dear visitors you should know that our company is available to provide wherever information regarding our trip, for detailed information you should request us and we will reply as soon as possible, because we have an expert guide available.
- Our trek rates can change according the book time or number of participants, contact with us for more information please.
Information for a better experience during the trek
Packing list for trekking in Perú
During the treks in Cordilleras Huayhuash or Blanca you will fill your backpack just enough. Clothes, sleeping bag, accessories depending of the tour duration.
Altitude sickness in Perú? Travel tips
It is important to know what precautions to take before traveling to the Andes of Peru, also because of its geography, Soroche is a possibility.
