Tours list
Santa Cruz trek. Peru

Santa Cruz trek 

The Santa Cruz - Vaquerнa route is one of the most popular routes in the Cordillera Blanca. It is one of the most impressive routes of the Peruvian Andes.  In  this  circuit  you  will  see  many  representative  mountains  of  the Cordillera Blanca, among them the Artesonraju (Mountain that inspired the cration of the Paramount Picture logo), the Alpamayo (The most beautiful mountain in the world), the Quitaraju, the Paria, the Taulliraju, Huascaran, Huandoy, Chacraraju among others   

  • The route runs all year round!
  • Tour start at any time!
  • Peru - more of our interesting ascents and trekking
  • View our review article on Peru - Read
Article:
272
Country:
Peru
Tour type:
Hiking and trekking
Directions:
Cordillera Blanca, Andes
Complexity:
Easy
Number of participants:
From 2 people
Maximum height:
4770 m
Season:
All year round
Start of the program:
Huaraz (Lima)
Finish program:
Huaraz (Lima)
Duration:
8 days
Price:
600 USD
Count:
Tours dates
  
15.04.202520.10.2025
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DAY 1:
Arrival in Lima at night (sleep in hotel)

DAY 2:
Travel from Lima to Huaraz in the morning by Bus or Plane (sleep in hotel)

DAY 3: Huaraz – Churup Lake (4600 masl) - Huaraz   
We’ll leave from Huaraz city towards east, passing through villages as Unchus and Llupa, up to the place called Pitec (3860 masl), where we have to pay the entrance fee at the Huascaran National Park control post, then start hiking in an ascending path, observing mountains as Huamashraju, Cashan and Shacsha also crop fields can be seen. This place houses a diversity of flora and fauna such as the wild duck, plants with healing properties and quenual tree forests. To reach this lake we have to climb rocks helped by a steady metal rope, ideal for those who love the adventure or take other path less challenging. Churup is a  beautiful  blue  lake  one  of  the  most  frequently  visited,  surrounded  by Ichu grass, Quenual trees, wild flowers, etc. there’s also a smaller lake on the east side  for  those  who  want  to  continue  hiking,  both  lakes  are  right  below  the mountain with the same name, then return to Huaraz city. 

DAY 4: Huaraz - Cashapampa (2900 masl) - Llamacorral (3750 masl). 
We’ll  leave  from  Huaraz  city  by  van  towards  north  of  Callejon  de  Huaylas, passing through cities as Carhuaz, Yungay, and Caraz, following the Rio Santa and observing part of the Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Negra. From Caraz we'll go to the Cashapampa village, where weґll meet the donkey drivers and donkeys, the trekking starts here towards the place called Llamacoral where we’ll camp. About 5 to 6 hours. 

DAY 5: Llamacorral - Taullipampa (4250 masl).
In our second day of trekking weґll pass through the beautiful lakes of Hichic Cocha (small lake) and Hatun Cocha (big lake), then observe mountains such as Aguja (5886 masl), Caraz (6025 masl), Abasraju (5765 masl), Quitaraju (6040 masl),  Alpamayo  (5947  known  as  the  most  beautiful  mountain  in  the  world), then walk towards Taullipampa where weґll camp, from where we can observe other  mountains  as  Rinrijirca  (5810  masl),  Taulliraju  (5830  masl),  Paria (5600 masl) and Artesonraju (6025 masl). About 5 to 6 hours. 

DAY 6: Taullipampa - Punta Union Pass (4750 masl) - Paria Valley
We’ll ascend following the Inca trail towards the Punta Union Pass, from where we have a scenic beauty of mountains as Chacraraju (6112 masl), Piramide de Garcilazo  (5885  masl),  Chopicalqui  (6354  masl),  the  South  peak  (6768 masl) and the North peak (6655 masl) of Huascaran, Artesonraju (6025 masl), Paria (5600  masl),  Quitaraju  (6040  masl),  Santa  cruz  (6259  masl),  Rinrijirca  (5810 masl),  Taulliraju  (5830  masl)  and  Pucaraju  (5090  masl),  then descend  and reach the next campsite in the Paria Valley. About 6 to 7 hours. 

DAY 7: Paria Valley - Vaquerнa (3750 masl) - Portachuelo Pass (4770 masl) – Yuraq corral (3846 masl). 
This  day  we’ll  pass  through  the  Picturesque  village  of  Huaripampa,  from  this place we have the spectacular view of the Southeast face of Chacraraju (6112 masl).  We’ll  also  pass  through the  Yanachaca  village,  and  walk  up  to the Vaqueria  village,  where  our  private  van  will  be  waiting  to  take  us  to  Huaraz. We’ll ascend by van through the Morococha valley, observing the Morocochas lakes, as well as mountains as Chopicalqui (6354 masl) and Yanapaccha (5460 masl),  and  reach  the  Portachuelo  Pass,  from  this  point  we  have  a  wonderful view  of  mountains  as  the  Huandoy  Peaks,  Pisco  (5752  masl),  and  the  North peak  (6655  masl)  and  the  South  peak  (6768 masl)  of  Huascaran,  and  in  the distance  the  Chinancocha  and  Orconcocha  lakes  in  the  Llanganuco  valley. Huaraz city. Hotel. About 7 to 8 hours. 

DAY 8:
Departure from Huaraz  to Lima and Lima - Home. Possible overnight in Lima!!

Note: After the ascent, we are ready to offer you a vacation on the coast of the ocean, lakes and various excursion programs in Peru - Read

Lima - Huaraz (3052 m) - Acclimatization day (Churup Lake, 4450 m) – Huaraz -  Cashapampa (2900 m) - Llamacorral (3750 m) - Taullipampa (4250 m) - Punta Union Pass (4750 m) - Paria Valley - Vaqueria (3750 m) - Portachuelo Pass (4767 m) – Yuraq corral (3846 m) - Huaraz - Lima

The cost of the full package of services -  from 600 USD*

cost for a group of 8 people or more

  Service with tents Service without tents 
Cost per person   650 600

OUR SERVICE

Included:

  • Pick up at Lima Airport (by our personal) and transfer to the bus station or Hotel (taxi service must be paid by client).
  • Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner during the expedition.
  • Private  Transport:  to  different  starting  and  ending  point  of  the expedition.
  • Experienced Climbing Guides certified by the UIAGM/IFMGA or Offical Guides or Trekking Guides certified UIMLA.
  • Cook. 
  • Cook Assistant (from 6 customers), only in the Trekking, in Pisco it will be another porter.
  • Donkey drivers. 
  • Donkies. 
  • Camping  equipment:  Sleeping  tents,  Kitchen  tents,  Dinning  tents, Bathroom tent, Mattress, practical table and chairs, etc. 
  • Kitchen kit: Plates, pots, tea pot, frying pot, spoons, knife, cups, etc. 
  • Huascaran National Park entrance fee.
  • One day hike (Acclimatization day – Churup or Willcacocha lake).
  • PACHAMANCA  the  last  day  of  the  expedition  (typical  food  of  the Peruvian Andes) from company.

Not Included:

  • Taxes
  • Soft and alcoholic drinks. 
  • Personal clothing and equipment. 
  • Travel, personal, and medical insurance.
  • International flight. 
  • Hotel (we can make reservations if clients want it so, extra payment). 
  • Extra charge for luggages. 
  • Laundry. 
  • Reconfirmation of flights. 
  • Food during stay in Huaraz city. 
  • Sleeping bags.
  • Transport from Huaraz to Lima or Lima Huaraz.
  • Mountain equipment (it can be rented in Huaraz city).
  • Tips.

Brief information on the area and route

Peru (Republic of Peru) is a country in South America, on the territory of which the tropical forests of the Amazon and Machu Picchu are located - the ancient Inca city on the top of the Andes mountain range. The area around Machu Picchu, where the Urubamba Valley is located (another name is the Sacred Valley of the Incas), the Inca Trail and the colonial city of Cusco, famous for its archaeological sites. The capital is the city of Lima. The territory of Peru can be divided into three regions, differing in the nature of the terrain, climate, flora and fauna.

  • In the west, along the Pacific coast, stretched a narrow strip of desert coastal plains (Costa). The largest deserts are Atacama and Sechura.
  • East is located the mountain belt of the Andes - Sierra. The highest point is Mount Huascaran (6,768 meters); In total, Peru has more than three dozen mountain peaks with a height of more than 6,000 meters.
  • To the east is the Amazonian lowland (selva) - the territory of tropical rain forests.

Huaraz is a city in Peru, the administrative center of the Ancash department. Located in the valley Callejon de Huaylas, on the river Santa, in the central part of the region, at an altitude of 3000 meters above sea level. The population is 120,000 people, 407 kilometers north of Lima, the Pan-American Highway passes through the city.

Santa Cruz - one of eleven districts of Santa Cruz Province in Peru. Santa Cruz is a mountain in the Cordillera Blanca in the Andes of Peru; in the area of Santa Cruz, Huaylas, Ancash. It has a height of 6259 meters. First ascent: July 20, 1948

Vaqueria is a small village.

Additional Information

  • Children under 14 years old are allowed on the route only when accompanied by adults.
  • The host party has the right to change the route according to weather conditions and group conditions
  • The cost of the voucher does not include: additional excursions, transfers outside the program, environmental fees, etc.
  • It is possible to provide additional services by prior arrangement: additional transfers, personal equipment hire, hotel booking, recreation, etc.

Attention! Don't forget to read our article about outdoor activities in Peru - Read

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