Itinerary

1. Day 1: Huaraz - Churup Lake

   • Go on a full-day hiking tour from Huaraz to Pitec. 

   • Enjoy for a couple of hours and then take the same path to return to Huaraz.

2. Day 2: Lake 69 - Full Day Hiking Acclimatizing

   • Enjoy an early morning breakfast at your hotel in Huaraz. 

   • Then, get picked up around 5 am and drive to the hike's starting point at Cebollapampa. It will take three hours approximately. 

   • Begin on a moderate slope for about 4 hours before reaching Lake 69. When you get to lake 69, you will have enough time to discover its beauty for many unforgettable pictures. 

   • Come back on the same trail to Cebollapampa, where the bus will be waiting for you. 

   • Transfer to Vaqueria trailhead for your next day's trek.

   Relax at a nice hotel at the mountain base, dinner and overnight.

3. Day 3: Vaqueria 3700masl – Paria 3850masl

   • Start the Santa Cruz Trek after breakfast.

   • Follow Peru trekking guide through the small village of Huaripampa, equipped with our day pack and box lunch.

   • Register at the control room of the National Park. From here, you have an incredible view of Pucaraju (5,025 m). In the tent have a hot cup of tea to warm up.

   From Huaraz to Vaqueria 121 km, approx 5 hours driving on a non-paved trail, Highest Pass: Portachuelo Llangnauco.

   From Vaqueria to Paria campsite 13 km – about 5 hours walking.

4. Day 4: Paria 3750masl – Punta Union Pass 4,750 meters (15,580 ft) – Taullipampa 4200masl

   • Have breakfast around 6:15 am. Meanwhile, the tents are taken down. 

   • Head in the direction of the Santa Cruz Trek's highest point, the Punta Union pass at 4,750m. The beginning of the trek is easy, but then the hardest part of the trek starts up the steep pass. Slowly and with little steps, make your way up over huge rocks, and it is a strenuous and challenging hike. 

   • Reach the pass almost 7 hours after leaving the campsite.

   • Enjoy the fantastic views of the Santa Cruz Valley to the west and the views of the Huaripampa Valley to the east. Looking at the Santa Cruz Valley, you can admire the peak of Taulliraju (5,830m) with its glacial lake on the right-hand side. 

   • See the mountains Paria (5,720m) and Artesonraju (6,025m) on the left-hand side. Far away in the distance, you see the blue water of Lake Jatuncocha in the Santa Cruz Canyon. In good weather conditions, you can already see all of Santa Cruz Canyon with the mountains Alpamayo (5,947m), Artesonraju, Taulliraju, Rinrihircas, Chacraraju, Chopicalqui and Pucahircas. 

   • Go down to the next camp, Taullipampa (4,250m). 

   • Enjoy dinner with the crew.

   Walking distance of about 16 km.

   About 8 or 9 hours walking.

5. Day 5: Taullipampa 4200masl – Llamacorral 3760masl

   • After breakfast, leave Camp Taullipampa and have a pleasant and much easier way up to a viewpoint where you can have a great view of Paria and Artesonraju. 

   • Continue further to Laguna Jatuncocha. The blue water is so fascinating, and enjoy a snack break with the view of the valley. 

   • Make your way down into the Santa Cruz Canon and pass the beautiful Lake Jatuncocha. 

   • Cross the Llamacorral campsite (3,760m).

6. Day 6: Llamacorral - Cashapampa 2900masl - Huaraz 3100masl

   • Make your way through different vegetation on a slow way down to the final destination Cashapampa. Come across cactuses.

   • Move along the Santa Cruz River and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere in the valley.

   • Around 12:00 pm approx, arrive in the village of Cashapampa.

   Walking distance: about 5km easy walk.

   About 2 or 3 hours with rests.

7. Day 7: Wilcacocha Half Day Trekking - Rest day in Huaraz

   • Huillcacocha lies at 3600m and has plenty of wild ducks and hummingbirds. The stunning view of the amazing Cordillera Blanca is extremely impressive for its wide display of snowcapped peaks and magnificent landscapes. Complete the hiking circuit at the lake and get picked up by your mountain tour guide to go to the public minivans station (private groups – private car).

   • Drive to Chiwipampa along 10km of a paved highway to the south side of Huaraz. 

   • Cross the Santa River by the small bridge in the direction of Santa Cruz Village where you will start hiking up to the Huillcacocha Lake. The short trek is a moderated ascent up a local trail for about an hour. During your hike, you will meet local people still wearing their traditional colourful Andean clothes. 

   • Pass by typical adobe houses, whilst taking the opportunity to appreciate the farming fields and observe the products they farm such as wheat, barley, oats, corn and potatoes. 

   • Arrive at the lake and be surprised by the wonderful views of the Cordillera Blanca and the notoriously impressive Huascaran massif (the highest peak in the Cordillera Blanca - 6768 masl). There is an alternative trail to cross to the north side towards the cordillera Negra and get to the Huascar village. Here, a car will take you back to Huaraz. You can thus avoid the same trail on your way back to Huaraz, or you can come back to Huaraz the same way if you prefer.

8. Day 8: Huaraz – Llamac – Cuartelhuain 5 hours by Car – High Pass Conococha (L/d)

   • Pack your bags to leave Huaraz and head towards Llamac (3350 m). 

   • Cross wild paramo (puna) by Conococha pass 4500m, passing the southernmost peaks of the Cordillera Blanca. The Huayhuash range, contains, in a single cluster, seven of the highest and most dramatic summits in Peru. Behold these peaks on your descent to the small town of Llamac. 

   • Continue going up through the Pocpa valley. On the way, there’s a typical peasant town called Pocpa. It is the last town in this valley where you can buy some soda and other drinks.  

   • Arrive at Pallca to have lunch. Half an hour from here is your campsite, Matacancha - 4100 masl. From here, appreciate the Ninashanca Mountain - 5607 masl and Rondoy - 5870 masl. 

   Overnight camping at Cuartelhuain (4200 masl).

9. Day 9: Cuartelhuain – Mitucocha

   • Start the trek after breakfast, at 8 am. This time it’s going to be a bit difficult because the climb to the pass will take you about 2 or 3 hours. 

   • From the pass, first, go down and then ascend for approx 30 minutes. Have lunch after the small climb.

   • Take the alternative trail to reach the campsite early. On this route, you will get to appreciate the Andean rabbits called Vizcachas. 

   • Arrive at the campsite and go fishing at the lake while the cook prepares the dinner. You will camp at 4170 masl.

10. Day 10: Mitucocha – Carhuacocha (B/L/D)

    • Start the trek at 8 am.

    • After 3 hours of walking, reach the pass where you will have lunch. Enjoy the hike's sights of Yerupaja, Jirishanca, and Siula peaks.

    • Reach the campsite around 3 - 4 pm. Set up camp on a special site facing a lake.

11. Day 11: Caruacocha – Huayhuash (B/L/D)

    • Start the trek at 8 AM.

    • Reach an easy trail to Carnicero Pass after around an hour. 

    • After the pass, choose a scenic place to have lunch next to the Carnicero lakes. From here, a few kilometres going down, you will arrive at the campsite (4350 masl).

12. Day 12: Huayhuash – Viconga (B/L/D)

    • Take the easy hike up to Portachuelo de Huayhuash Pass. 

    • From here, descend to the campsite in Viconga to have lunch.

    • Go to the hot springs on a 20-minute walk down from the campsite. Those who don’t want to go to the hot springs will have a free afternoon at the campsite (4390 masl).

13. Day 13: Viconga – Guanacpatay (B/L/D)

    • Go on a moderate hike up to the highest pass of the whole trip (approximately 3 hours). On this pass, you will get very close to Cuyoc Mountain. 

    • Descend to Guanacpatay valley via a dusty and rocky path to have lunch. 

    • Reach a beautiful field full of grass to walk, where you will have lunch. 

    • After a few hours of walking, you will reach the campsite in the peaceful Valley of Guanacpatay at 4150 masl.

14. Gay 14: Guanacpatay – Huayllapa or Huatiac (B/L/D)

    • Climb roughly two hours to San Antonio Pass. 

    • From this point, you have a great view of the southwest Cordillera Huayhuash, looking at the mountains Sarapo, Siula Grande, Yerupaja, Carnicero, Los Juraos and Trapecio.

    • Descend to Juraro lake for lunch with your mountain tour guide.

    • Continue to Huayllapa, a small isolated peasant village at 3700 masl. Here, at small Andean shops, you can buy soda drinks, beers, and other necessities. 

    • Overnight in Huyallapa 3490m, or continue hiking up for about 3 hours to get to the next campsite of Huatiac. Here we will camp at 4250 masl.

15. Day 15: Huatiac – Cashpapampa (B/L/D)

    • You will have about 3 hours to go up to the Tapush pass 4800 masl. 

    • Then tale the easy trail down and arrive at the campsite early afternoon.

    Spend the rest of the day relaxing at the campsite.

16. Day 16: Cashpapampa – Jahuacocha (B/L/D)

    • Hike up to the Yaucha Pass (4800 masl). Stay here for two hours.

    • Continue going down along the Huacrish ravine for approx three or four hours, and you will be surprised by a beautiful panoramic landscape. The Jahuacocha lake is the base of the mountains Jirishanca, Yerupaja, and Rondoy.

    • Then at the camp, you will find a typical mountain hut for sheep-herders, and the owner will receive you with a gentle smile and offer you the cool beer and soda water.

    Sleep in the sheep shed for the night.

17. Day 17: Jahuacocha - Llamac – Huaraz (B/L)

    • Go up on an easy walk to the Pampallamac, where you will leave Huayhuash Mountains. A few meters down, you will have lunch. 

    • Proceed to Llamac town and arrive around 1-2 pm

    • Leave Llamac town, driving down along the Llamac river until Timpoc, where the Llamac and the Pacllon rivers join.

    • Start going up to Chiquian along the Ainin river. 

    • Arrive at Chiquian. Take a walk around the village. 

    • Continue to Huaraz on a 3-hour drive. Reach the hotel in Huaraz.