The Santa Cruz Trek is one of the most popular and scenic hiking routes in the Cordillera Blanca, located in the heart of Huascaran National Park in northern Peru. This classic multi-day trek connects the Santa Cruz Valley with the beautiful Llanganuco Valley, offering trekkers an unforgettable journey through dramatic Andean landscapes.
During the trek, hikers pass through lush valleys, crystal-clear rivers, and breathtaking alpine scenery surrounded by some of the highest peaks in Peru, including Alpamayo, Artesonraju, and Taulliraju. One of the highlights of the trek is crossing the spectacular Punta Unión Pass at 4,750 meters (15,584 ft), where trekkers are rewarded with panoramic views of the surrounding snow-capped mountains.
Along the route, trekkers camp in stunning locations such as Paria, Taullipampa, and Llamacorral, surrounded by towering peaks, glaciers, and turquoise lakes. The Santa Cruz Trek is ideal for adventure travelers seeking an incredible trekking experience in the Peruvian Andes while exploring one of the most beautiful mountain regions in South America.
We start the day at 5am we go to the town of VAQUERIA 3700 masl, but before we
will make a stop at one of the most beautiful lagoons of the white mountain range called
LAGUNA LLANGANUCO at this point we will have a good time to have breakfast then we
continue with the mobility to the town of VAQUERIA 3700 masl place where we leave the car
we start the walk for 12 km to the first camp called PARIA 3870 meters above sea level will be
our first camp
We start the day at 5.30 am with a coca tea in the tents to wake up after that we have some time to be able to organize our backpacks and have breakfast 6.30 am approximately we start the hike to the second camp called TAULLIPAMPA 4250 meters above sea level but before we will cross the highest point of our walk PUNTA UNION 4750 meters above sea level it is one of the most beautiful points of the hike point from where you can see the mountains It is the highest mountain range in the Cordillera Blanca, with the HUASCARAN at 6768 meters above sea level and the ALPAMAYO at 5945 meters above sea level, considered the most beautiful mountain in the world
Then we continue the hike to the TAULLIPAMPA camp it will be a total of 12 km
we start the day at 5.30 am we go to the third camp called LLAMACORRAL 3700 meters above sea level but before we will make a visit to the viewpoint of the Alpamayo and the ARHUAYCOCHA lagoon 4400 meters above sea level approximately one of the most beautiful days and also the longest we will walk in total 22 km
It will be a short day 9 km we head to the village of CASHAPAMPA 2900 meters above sea level Arriving at the village it is optional to go to the thermal baths in the area Place where we end the trek and we will take the transport to the city of HUARAZ approximately 3100 meters above sea level, where we will be arriving at 3 pm
