Santa Cruz 4-day hiking trip in Cordillera Blanca

Duration: 4 1/2 hours (by car), 4 - 5 hours (trek)

We will pick you up at your hotel in Huaraz at 6:00am then we will travel through the Callejon de Huaylas valley to Yungay. Here we will take the detour to the east side to enter the Huascaran National Park. On the way we will pass by the Llanganuco Lagoons where the vehicle will stop to take some pictures.

Later we will have another stop at the Portachuelo viewpoint before crossing the pass. After a long descent we will arrive to Vaqueria, where our muleteers are waiting for us and they will load their donkeys, while you put on your hats and sunscreen, take some water and ready for our first day of trekking.

Today we hike to Paria camp (3800 m), in approximately 4-5 hours, arriving at the camping area around 4 to 5 pm. By now we reach our campsite, but the donkeys and muleteers have overtaken us because they are fast and strong, and have set up camp where tea and mate is waiting for us.

Duration: 7 hours approx.

From Paria we walk a long zig zag trail for approximately 4 hours to the highest point of the entire trek called Punta Union at 4,750 meters above sea level. The views of the valleys from up there are spectacular. After taking pictures and a short break, we descend to our next camp called Taullipampa (4,250 m) which is located in a strategic point surrounded by mountains like Taulliraju, Artesonraju, Alpamayo, Pukajirca south.

Duration: 5 hours approx.

The third day of our hike is purely easy, as we follow a horizontal trail to the viewpoint of the Alpamayo Mountain, here after a short rest and take many pictures we have the option to go to the base camp and even to a lagoon called Arhuaycocha which is located just below the Pukajirca massif. Then we will descend along the ravine and pass by the Jatuncocha lagoon which is the largest of the Santa Cruz trek.

Later we will arrive at our campsite in Llamacorral at 3 pm approx.

Duration: 3 hours (trekking), 3 hours (car)

The fourth and last day we walk only 2.5 to 3 hours to the village called Cashapampa. On the way we will see many houses of the farmers and the village, many children playing around. Animals often cross our path and claim their right of way. In about 10 AM we take our private transport to Huaraz. Arrival in Huaraz.