Santa Cruz Trek

The Santa Cruz Trek is Peru's most accessible high-mountain multi-day walk — a 50 km, 4-day point-to-point across the Cordillera Blanca, the highest tropical mountain range on Earth. It crosses the Punta Unión pass at 4,750 m beneath the south face of Alpamayo (the perfect Toblerone-shaped peak voted "world's most beautiful mountain" by a 1966 German Alpine Club survey) and serves as both a destination in its own right and the canonical warm-up trek before the longer Huayhuash Circuit.

The trek is walked east-to-west to keep the gradual climb to Punta Unión as an ascent — the western descent into Cashapampa is steep and faster done downhill. Day 1 walks from Vaquería through Huaripampa village to the first camp at Paria, with views of Taulliraju across the valley. Day 2 is the pass day: a 750 m climb to Punta Unión with a side-trip viewpoint of Alpamayo's south face from the Mirador, then a descent to Taullipampa. Day 3 traces the Santa Cruz valley west past Lago Jatuncocha to Llamacorral, with the imposing wall of Caraz rising 2,000 m on the south side of the valley. Day 4 descends through the Santa Cruz canyon to Cashapampa village and the collective taxi back to Huaraz.

The walking season is May to September; the rest of the year sees serious rain and snow on the pass. Most trekkers go with a Huaraz operator ($200–400 for the 4-day all-inclusive with mules, cook, and guide); independent trekking is straightforward as the trail is well marked and water plentiful. Entry to Huascarán National Park is required (around 65 soles for the 4-day pass). Acclimatise in Huaraz (3,050 m) for at least 2 nights before starting, ideally with a day hike to Laguna 69 to test your tolerance at 4,600 m. The trek is non-technical but altitude is real — Punta Unión is higher than Mont Blanc, and most first-timers feel the thin air on day 2.