Experience the power of Peru's Cordillera Blanca on this 8-day guided trekking adventure
Imagine yourself trekking in Peru’s stunning Cordillera Blanca. This trekking tour takes you through the Santa Cruz Valley north of Huaraz, and is perfect for travellers who want a shorter tour that still has spectacular scenery. If you want to see some of the best trekking in Peru, you’ll love the Santa Cruz Trek Tour in Parque Nacional Huascarán.
On this guided Santa Cruz trek in Cordillera Blanca, you will immerse yourself in the nature and culture of the Santa Cruz and Ulta valleys in the Peruvian Andes on this eight-day guided trek. Challenge yourself to climb to new heights which will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains.
Follow the trail through native plants, trees, and grasslands. You will even have the opportunity to visit traditional Quechua villages to experience a taste of daily life for these native people. Spend each night camped under the stars and wake up to inspiring mountain views. This guided trek in Peru is truly an unforgettable experience.
Since most of the Santa Cruz Trek Tour in Peru is above 3,000m in elevation, it is important to spend a few days prior to the Santa Cruz Ulta trek getting acclimated to the altitude. A 3-4 day acclimatization hike in the vicinity of Huaraz is strongly recommended.
Cordillera Blanca
The Cordillera Blanca - “white range” in English - is a rugged mountain range in Peru that forms a part of the much larger Andes Mountain range. Extending over 200km, the Cordillera Blanca contains a number of peaks that eclipse 6,000m in height, including the tallest mountain in Peru, Huascarán (6,768m). Anyone setting out on the Santa Cruz Trek will be thrust into the impressive landscape of the Cordillera Blanca, witnessing dramatic mountain peaks, pristine lakes, and countless glaciers.
Highlights of the Santa Cruz Trek Tour
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Santa Cruz Trekking Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival day in Huaraz
Arrive in Huarez and check into your guesthouse. Enjoy exploring Huarez on foot as you get used to the altitude.
If you are coming from a lower elevation, it is strongly recommended to spend 2-3 days acclimatizing to the altitude, and you can book a 3-day acclimatization tour during the booking process, or you can plan your acclimatization before the trip on your own. The optional acclimatization tour you can book takes you out to some of the most beautiful hikes around Huarez.
You can also arrange bus travel from Lima to Huarez in the booking process.
Overnight Location: Morales Guesthouse
Distance: None
Meals:None
Day 2 Transfer to Cashapampa and hike to Llamacorral
Meet your transfer vehicle at your hotel for a 3.5 hour transfer to Cashapampa (2,900 m / 9,514 ft), a town just outside Huascarán National Park. The village of Cashapampa is the starting point for your Cordillera Blanca trek. A horseman and pack animals will meet you there, and after you have transferred your luggage, you will start the hike. Enjoy the trail as it wanders through native trees of the Andes in the Santa Cruz Valley. After about 4 hours of hiking, you will reach the Llamacorral campsite (3,760 m / 12,335 ft) which is your home for the night.
Overnight Location: Camping at Llamacorral (3,760m)
Distance: 3.5 hours driving, 4 hours hiking, 860 m ascent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 Trek to Taullipampa
After breakfast, continue your trek along the trail through the Santa Cruz Valley. Along the way, you will see beautiful lakes including Ichiq Cocha (“small lake”) and Hatun Cocha (“big lake”). You will also enjoy a spectacular view of snow-capped peaks as you hike through the Cordillera Blanca, surrounded by native Andean flora. Continue hiking for about 5 hours until you reach tonight’s campsite at Taullipampa (4,200 m / 13,780 ft).
Overnight Location: Camping at Taullipampa (4,200m)
Distance: 5 hours, 440 m ascent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 Trek to Huaripampa Valley via Punta Union Pass
Climb to new heights today! After breakfast, hike for about 3 hours up to the Punta Union Pass (4,750 m / 15,584 ft), which is one of the highest points on this tour. From this overlook, you can see a fantastic Cordillera Blanca vista, including the Taulliraju, Rinrihirka, and Paria peaks. Rest, take pictures and enjoy the view before continuing the trek for about 3 hours down to the campsite in the Huaripampa Valley (3,850 m / 12,631 ft).
Overnight Location: Camping at Huaripampa Valley (3,850m)
Distance: 6 hrs, 550 m ascent, 900 m descent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 Trek to Molinopampa via Colcabamba and Chalhua
Today is a wonderful day as you get to experience Andean village life. Begin today with a 2.5 hour hike down to Colcabamba (3,300 m / 10,826 ft) and visit the village of Huaripampa along the way. Continue walking through the Keshu Valley where you will visit the Quechua village of Chalhua. In Chalhua, you have the opportunity to meet with local residents, see their farms, and watch them perform daily activities. Keep your camera ready for this unique experience! Then, continue hiking for about 3 hours until you reach Molinopampa (3,600 m / 11,811 ft) where you will set camp for the night.
Overnight Location: Camping at Molinopampa (3,600m)
Distance: 5.5 hrs, 300 m ascent, 550 m descent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 Trek to Avalancha
Today’s hike is about 5 hours of climbing from Molinopampa up to Avalancha (4,500 m / 14,763 ft). The trail leads you through grasslands and fields of crops grown by the local people of the Keshu Valley. Throughout the hike, you will have inspiring vistas of the Contrahierbas mountains before you. When you reach Avalancha, at the base of the Contrahierbas mountains, you will stop to camp for the night.
Overnight Location: Camping at Avalancha
Distance: 5 hrs, 900 m ascent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 Trek to Ulta Valley via Yanayacu Pass, then transfer to Huaraz
Get an early start on this last day of your Cordillera Blanca trekking tour. First, you have a 3.5 hour trek that takes you up to Yanayacu Pass (4,830 m / 15,846 ft) which is the highest point of your tour. From this overlook, take in the breathtaking sight of snow-capped peaks, including Huascaran, Chopicalqui, Contrahierbas, and Ulta. Pause to rest and take pictures of this viewpoint before continuing with a 3-hour hike down into the Ulta Valley (4,300 m / 14,107 ft). Here, a car will be waiting to take you back to Huaraz, with a stop in the traditional village of Shilla along the way.
Overnight Location: Morales Guesthouse, Huaraz
Distance: 6.5 hours, 330 m ascent, 530 m descent
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 8 Departure
Today you’ll depart Huarez. Many guests take a bus back to Lima, though some stay on to complete another trek in the Huayhuash.
Overnight location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Dates and prices of Santa Cruz Trekking tour
This trekking tour in Peru is always run as a custom tour for you and your group and the price depends on the group size. Please contact us with your preferred starting date and group size so we can help you make incredible memories on this private group tour. This guided Santa Cruz trekking tour is typically run from April through September.
The prices below are per person, sharing a double or a triple room:
- Guided groups of 4: $1,295 USD per person
Please note that the pricing might change depending on the size of your group
Important: Please note that this tour is subject to non-standard cancellation terms:
- Cancelling 46 or more days out: Your deposit of 30% of the total trip cost will be forfeited.
- Cancelling 31 to 45 days out: Your deposit and any monies paid up to 50% of the total trip cost will be forfeited.
- Cancelling less than 30 days out: No Refund
Accommodation on Santa Cruz Trek Tour
You will be staying in a guesthouse / Inn in Huarez at the start and end of this tour. In between, you will be pitching camp at various scenic spots along the Santa Cruz trek. These camp sites allow you to enjoy spectacular views of the Cordillera Blanca and sleep under the stars. Camping allows you to enjoy the natural surroundings around you, as well as enjoy staying on the trail itself along the way.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
You can pay a supplement to have private rooms in hotels. Solo travelers not wishing to pay extra will be matched with another solo traveler or added as a third person in another room.
Hotels on Standard Tour
Morales Guest House ★★★
This pleasant hotel is located is a popular base pre and post-trekking. Located a 5-10 minute walk to the central plaza, this hotel has wonderful views of the Cordillera Blanca.
Camping in Cordillera Blanca ★
You will be pitching camp at scenic spots along the Alpamayo Trek. Your campsites are owned by the rural communities in the Cordillera Blanca, and your staying there provides valuable revenue.
Morales Guest House ★★★
This pleasant hotel is located is a popular base pre and post-trekking. Located a 5-10 minute walk to the central plaza, this hotel has wonderful views of the Cordillera Blanca.
What’s included in the Santa Cruz Trek Tour
Meals
7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners
Accommodations
Accommodations along the trekking tour are included, as are accommodations in Huaraz before and after the trekking tour.
Transportation during the tour
This tour includes transportation at the beginning and end of the trek to and from Huaraz. You can also arrange transport from Lima to Huaraz (8 hour bus trip) during the booking process.
Also Included
- English-speaking guide throughout the trip
- Hotel taxes and service charges in Huaraz
- Camp cook
- Horseman, pack animals, and emergency horse
- Camping equipment for collective use (sleeping tents, kitchen tent, dinning tent, bathroom tent, mattress, table and chairs)
- Kitchen Service (all the crockery)
- Celebration Meal
- Park fee entrances
- First Aid Kit
- Luggage porterage using donkeys and/or horses
- All logistics
Not included
- Anything not listed as included
- Flights to Peru
- Transit to Huarez. First class bus ticket (bed seat) from Lima to Huaraz: $30 USD per person. Transfer from the airport to the bus station in Lima: $9 USD-$15 USD per person, depending on group size.
- Personal trekking gear
- Any food or beverages not listed
- Personal clothing and equipment
- Incidental personal expenditures, including any travel insurance, emergency evacuations and medical expenditures
- Travel, personal, and medical insurance
Optional Extras
- Bus Transfer from Lima
- Additional night in Huaraz
- 3 day, 2 Night Pre-trip Acclimatization hikes in Huaraz
Frequently Asked Questions about Santa Cruz Trek Tour
Go2Andes is a family-operated tour operator whose owners were raised in a small Peruvian village called Llamac, located in the iconic Cordillera Huayhuash in the Andes.
Nearly all of Go2Andes’ guides are from the villages of the Cordillera Blanca and the Cordillera Huayhuash, and they use this deep familiarity to their advantage.
Go2Andes has led clients from over 30 different countries and they aim to become friends with each client before returning them home.
Learn MoreSanta Cruz Trek Tour Map
Click map for a larger version
Is this tour for me?
This Santa Cruz Trek Tour is rated as a 5 out of 5 for difficulty, largely due to the altitude of this circuit. Acclimatization to the altitude prior to the start of the tour is recommended.
Local Guide
Ask a Question
Christian is incredibly familiar with the intricacies of creating an unforgettable adventure tour and never gets tired of leading new groups on their adventures. He’s particularly fond of the mountains and loves trekking tours.
- Q: What is your favourite trip to do and why?
- A: I consider the Cordillera Huayhuash to be my favourite, because it is the place where I was born. When I accompany groups there I love to show off its beauty, and it is considered by some guides to be among the 10 best hikes in the world.
- Q: What is an experience that anyone visiting Peru should have?
- A: Visit an archeological site (Machu Picchu, Caral, or Chavin de Huantar), take a trekking circuit in the Cordillera Blanca or Huayhuash, and eat traditional dishes (pachamanca, ceviche, or picante de cuy).
- Q: What has been the most challenging adventure you’ve had?
- A: Climbing a snow-covered peak of 6000m.