Classic Santa Cruz Trek 4D/3N

Day 1: Huaraz – Cashapampa  – LLamacorral

After the breakfast in your hotel our Inkaland Treks’ team pick you up then drive in our private bus north from Huaraz to the village of Cashapampa, approximately a 3 hour drive which is the trail head and starting point of our Santa Cruz trek. In Cashapampa we meet our arrieros who load all of our equipment onto our donkeys. After hiking through the Santa Cruz Valley for approximately 5 to 6 hours, we reach our first overnight camp at Llamacorral situated at an altitude of 12,467 ft / 3800 m.

Meals Included: L-D.

Day 2: Llamacorral – Taullipampa

Your second day on the trail is pleasant and enjoyable. After breakfast we start our hike passing beside the beautiful glaciated lakes of Ichiccocha (small lake) and Jatuncocha (big lake). Cocha means lake in Quechua. We continue hiking up the valley filled with Lupine plants and surrounded on both sides with very high, beautiful, Andean white-capped peaks until we reach the switch back trail which ascends up to Alpamayo Base Camp. We’ll ascend for approximately 45 min – 1 hour to get to the view point where you’ll relax and enjoy the splendid summit views of the majestic mountains of Alpamayo, Quitaraju, Artesonraju, Paron and Aguja. After enjoying these awesome views, we then descend down hill for about 1½ hours to our second overnight camp at Taullipampa 13,944 ft / 4250 m. Alternatively, if you choose the one additional day of the 5 day trek, we would leave your visit to Alpamayo Base camp for the next half day hike and then this second day hike would be straight to camp.

Meals Included: B-L-D.

Day 3: Taullipampa – Paria Valley

This day we reach the highest elevation during our trek. After leaving our Taullipampa camp at 13,944 ft / 4250 m we make a gradual ascend for about 2 ½ to 3 hours until we reach the Punta Union pass at 4750 where we enjoy the magnificent panoramic views of the mountain landscape, turquoise lakes and experience the Andean fresh air at this high altitude. From our panoramic vantage point we will now cross over from the Santa Cruz valley and descend into the rich lush Paria Valley for approximately 4 hours to our last overnight camp at Paria 12,467 ft / 3800 m.

Alternatively, If you choose the 5 day trek, we can either spend this third day resting or visit the spectacular views from  Cerro Centillo or choose do a half day hike to Arhuey cocha at Arhuey Valley where the Alpamayo base camp is located.

Meals Included: B-L-D

Day 4: Paria –  Vaquería –  Huaraz

The last day of your trek we hike down at a relaxed pace for approximately 3 hours as we soon pass directly through the village of Huaripampa where we have the opportunity to meet the local, friendly Quecha people, take memorable photos of their traditional houses their farmland and colorful garments. We continue on out last segment of our trek ascending up the side of a ridge to the settlement of Vaqueria where our private bus awaits us to transport us to the breath-taking views of the Portachuelo Pass, From this vantage point, you’ll capture spectacular panoramic views of Mt. Huascarán, Huandoy, Pisco and Chacraraju. We then descend down the amazing 32 switch-back mountain pass road into to Llanganuco valley then finally returning you to your Huaraz hotel after an approximately 5 hour drive.

Meals Included: B-L