Hua-04 : Santa Cruz Trek - Andean Splendor

» Walking time: 4 to 5 hours approx.

» Campsite: Llamacorral (3750 m)

Departure 7:00am in private vehicle, we will move to the Valley from the Callejón de Huaylas passing through the provinces of Tarica, Marcara, Carhuaz, Yungay and Caraz (2290m.) (3 hours approx.), point from where We will begin our walk through a valley flanked by walls of rock covered by unique vegetation, with a warm climate.

As you ascend through the valley it widens showing us the incredible mountainous landscape with unique species of flora and fauna, to reach the Llamacorral camp (3760m.), where we will spend the night.

» Walking time: 5 to 6 hours approx.

» Campsite: Taullipampa (4250m)

Start of the day with breakfast at 7:00am then we continue through the Valley of Santa Cruz passing through the Ichiccocha lagoons (3735m), Hatuncocha (3880m) (small lagoon and large lagoon).

Continuing along a long path until reaching the Alpamayo crossing, from where we will ascend to the Arhuaycocha valley, where we will visit the Alpamayo Base Camp (4330m) and the Arhuaycocha Lagoon (4500m), where we will get wonderful views around this point  to the snow-capped mountains of Caraz, Quitaraju, Artesonraju, Alpamayo

Then we descend towards the Taullipampa camp 

» Walking time: 7 to 8 hours approx.

» Campsite: Cachinapampa (3750m)

We will start the day with breakfast at 7:00am then we ascend a well-marked zig zag path.

It is the most difficult day since the walk is ascending to the Punta Unión pass 4750m.From there, the maximum height of the trekking, we can have panoramic views of the Cordillera Blanca mountains like Artesón, Quitaraju, Santa Cruz, Pucajirca,Taulliraju, etc., from the pass we will begin to descend to the Huaripampa valley to the Paria camp (3870m), continue for one hour further to the Cachinapampa camp (optional).

»Walking time: 2 to 3 hours approx.

Breakfast at 7:00am, a short day of walking where we will descend along a local road, passing through the Huaripampa valley, observing rustic constructions based on mud, stone, local people, children who came to the road to ask for candy, chocolates, etc.

We will have a short walk to Vaquería where our transport awaits us for the transfer to Huaraz.