Santa Cruz Trek

Santa Cruz is the trek people mean when they say they walked the Cordillera Blanca: about fifty kilometres over three to four days, most often started at Cashapampa above Caraz and finished at Vaquería on the Llanganuco road, though many walk it the other way to get the climbing done first. The route follows the Santa Cruz valley past Laguna Ichiccocha and Jatuncocha, camps at Taullipampa under Taulliraju, and crosses Punta Unión at 4,750 metres - a notch in a rock wall that opens abruptly onto the whole eastern side of the range, with Taulliraju directly opposite and the Quitaracsa valley below. Alpamayo and Artesonraju are visible on side trips. It can be done with mules and a cook through Huaraz agencies or self-supported, but it is high throughout, camps sit above 4,000 metres, and the pass is a serious day.

What you actually see

• Punta Unión - the 4,750-metre notch and the view that opens at it.
• Taulliraju - the peak above the Taullipampa camp.
• The valley lakes - Ichiccocha and Jatuncocha on the Santa Cruz side.
• The traverse - about fifty kilometres crossing the range end to end.

When to go

May to September, the dry season. Four days, though strong walkers do it in three. Registration with the park is required, and agencies in Huaraz arrange mules and guides.

Honest expectations

Camps above 4,000 metres and a pass at 4,750 - proper acclimatisation is essential and altitude sickness ends trips regularly. Nights are well below freezing. The route is popular and camps are busy in July and August. Donkey traffic churns the trail to mud after rain.

Nearby

Caraz and Cashapampa are at the west end; Llanganuco and Yungay at the east.