Active Peru: The Santa Cruz Trek

Day 1

Arrive in Lima and transfer to hotel in the Miraflores district.

You will be met at the airport and escorted to your hotel in the cliff-side Pacific residential and commercial district of Miraflores. The half-hour drive to the hotel through Lima’s outskirts encapsulates the invigorating buzz of a modern-day Latin American capital.

Stay at - El Tambo Hotel

Day 2

Fly to Huaraz and transfer onwards to Caraz

Transfer back to the airport and fly north to Anta, near Huaraz, before continuing by land to Caraz, high in the Andes mountains. Travel along a paved road which climbs through increasingly fertile valleys speckled with rural settlements: then the snow-capped peaks loom ahead.

The Cordillera Blanca is known for its plunging valleys, dotted with glaciers and gemstone blue and minty green glacial lakes. Human activity is represented by tiny pockets of agriculture and isolated indian villages, dwarfed by the grandeur and scale of the scenery. This is a wild, uncompromising landscape, its harshness mitigated by the friendliness of its people.

Caraz (2,285m), famous for its bees and honey production, is a pretty little town of low whitewashed houses which has a colonial plaza peppered with palm trees and flowers. It is one of the main bases for trekking in the area.

Stay at - Santa Cruz Lodge

Day 3

Tzactza Community and Pamacocha Lagoon

This is the first of two days to acclimatise to altitude and stretch your legs in preparation for the trekking to come. Today you have a three-hour hike passing through the vibrant Tzactza community, where you can experience the local culture and learn about ancestral traditions. Continue your journey to visit the stunning Pamacocha Lagoon (3,350 m), surrounded by majestic mountains. Once at the lagoon, you will have the chance to partake in activities such as kayaking or paddleboarding, or simply enjoy bird and wildlife watching.

Stay at - Santa Cruz Lodge

Day 4

Day at leisure to acclimatise.

Today you have a day at leisure acclimatising to the altitude in this delightful region. There’s a range of walks and other activities which can be arranged for you locally.

Stay at - Santa Cruz Lodge

Day 5

Santa Cruz Trek.

The Santa Cruz Trek is a full-service trek in the Cordillera Blanca. The four-day guided trek along the Santa Cruz Valley covers 40km of striking, ever-changing terrain. Be prepared to walk between 5km and 12km per day (5-7 hours walking): there’s a lot of ascending and descending over this relatively short distance. Lunches will be packed and evening meals will be cooked for you, while your luggage will be transported from camp to camp. In the evenings you camp in large tents. Bear in mind that you’ll overnight at up to an altitude of 4,200m. This is a private service: just you and your guides and porters.

Depart Caraz in the morning and drive for an hour to reach Cashapampa where the trail begins. Meet up with the mule drivers and their animals to begin the ascent. Hike up the Santa Cruz gorge. After a steady climb, the track opens out into an area of meadow with views of the snow-capped peaks of Aguja and Caraz. It’s a steady hot and dusty climb to reach the Paccharuri waterfall, then from here gently up to the campsite at Llamacorral (3,850m). Approximate trekking time 4-5 hours.

Day 6

Hiking the Santa Cruz Trek, camp.

Today is a full day of hiking and wonderful vistas. The day breaks with the day’s destination silhouetted in the distance, Mount Taulliraju. Climb steadily upwards as glaciated peaks tower above on both sides and the track passes two glittering emerald lakes: Ichiccocha and Jatuncocha. Camp at Taullipampa (4,200m) at the foot of the impressive Mount Taulliraju.

Day 7

Hiking the Santa Cruz Trek, camp.

The trail ascends towards Punta Union pass (about 2-3 hours’ walk) the highest point on the trek at 4,750m. This old trail was heavily used in both pre-conquest and colonial times as a route for transporting goods from the eastern side of the Andes to the main valley. As you approach the pass you get amazing panoramic views down the Santa Cruz Valley to the west, and views of the Huaripampa Valley to the east. Descend for lunch, and continue along the green Huaripampa Valley. Camp in the vicinity of Paria or Tuctu, 3,750m, in the heart of Huascarán National Park.

Day 8

Finish the hike and transfer to Huaraz

Descend to Colcabamba before the final ascent to the camp in the small village of Vaqueira (3,700m). Walk uphill towards Portachuelo Pass (4,767m), which enjoys splendid mountain views. There are also splendid vistas of the beautiful Llanganuco lakes. Road transport later picks you up and drives you to Huaraz.

Day 9

Full day excursion to Chavin

Enjoy a full day tour that takes you to Chavín de Huántar, a UNESCO World Heritage Trust site situated approximately 110 km from Huaraz. The Chavín culture is considered the oldest major Peruvian culture and one of the most artistically advanced. Its influence began to be felt from approximately 800 B.C. when this complex was founded. The site comprises of a complex of terraces, squares, walls and columns adorned with the ornate sculptures of symbolic figures for which the Chavín are famous.

The main temple includes the 13m high Castillo built above a large sunken square with a remarkable system of drainage channels. Within the temple is a complex of underground tunnels constructed on several levels and thanks to a notable feat of 3000-year-old engineering, surprisingly well ventilated. At their heart the astonishing Lanzón de Chavín – a four-metre high, dagger-like rock stuck in the ground at the intersection of four narrow passageways. After visiting the site, continue to the museum to aid your understanding of the history and importance of the region, before heading back to Huaraz.

Day 10

Transfer to airport for international flight home via Lima.

Transfer back to the airport and either fly back to Lima for an onward flight home, or continue your adventures elsewhere.