Based in Cusco, Peru, Heather is an expert on travel to Peru and South America. Heather writes on tourism, trekking, and social issues in Peru for publications including BBC Travel, Fodor’s Travel, Matador Network, Thrifty Nomads, World Nomads, Frommer's, Flashpack, and more. Heather co-founded the Covid Relief Project with Henry Quintano Loaiza to assist vulnerable families in the Cusco region.
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Duration: Four days
- Distance: 47km
- Max elevation: 4,750 metres
- Start/end point: Cashapampa to Vaquería
- Accommodation: Camping
The Santa Cruz Trek is considered one of the best treks in the Huaraz region, which also makes it the most popular and commercially available.
Trek is a three to four day loop through the Cordillera Blanca mountain range. Approximately 50 km long, the trek usually starts in Cashapampa or Colcabamba. You will be consistently hiking above 4,000 meters and reach a maximum altitude of 4,750 meters while crossing the Punta Union mountain pass on day three.
The route takes you through beautiful high-altitude landscapes, past crystal-clear lakes, and over high passes, with the option to add on a visit to the nearby Laguna 69. From Punta Unión you can see ten of the highest peaks in the Cordillera Blanca, including Alpamayo and Artesonraju.
Need to know
Each hiker must also pay a total of S/65 (~$18 USD) in national park fees in cash. You can pay at the trailhead or give the cash to your guide prior to starting the trek.
Most trekkers start in Cashapampa and hike through to Vaquería, though the trail can also be done in reverse. If you are doing this trek without an agency, it is generally easier to get transportation from Huaraz to Cashapampa and from Vaquería back to Huaraz. Stop by the Casa de Guías for free maps and to learn about the current trail conditions.
Santa Cruz Trek
4 daysFrom $594At a glance
Destinations
Cordillera Blanca
Activity
Adventure, Hiking & TrekkingPhysical Level
StrenuousSeason
May - SeptemberDuration
4 daysRelated Guides
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Santa Cruz trek
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