Santa Cruz and Pisco Climb
The Santa Cruz Trek is one of the most famous routes in Peru’s Cordillera Blanca, known for its stunning valleys, turquoise lakes, and views of iconic peaks like Alpamayo and Artesonraju. Combined with a climb of Pisco Mountain, the journey offers a perfect mix of scenic trekking and a rewarding high-altitude ascent with spectacular panoramic views of the Andes.
Expeditions Details
- Altitude Range: 2,900 / 5,752 m.a.s.l.
- Duration: 7 Days / 6 Nights
- Difficulty: Easy / Moderate
- Season: March / October
- Activity: Nature and Adventure
Itinerary
Day 1 Huaraz / Cashapampa / Ichiccocha Lagoon (3,900 m)
Early departure in a private minivan. We will head north of Huaraz, visiting the typical villages of the Callejón de Huaylas. Then, we will arrive at the town of Cashapampa (approximately 3 hours). Muleteers and donkeys will be waiting for us to transfer our food and equipment. We will begin our hike through a narrow valley, initially very close to the Río Blanco (White River), until we reach our Ichiccocha campsite, at an altitude of 3,900 m (approximately 3/4 hours).
Day 2 Ichiccocha / Arhuaycocha Lagoon / Taullipampa (4,250 m)
This day we will continue our trek, passing by the beautiful Atuncocha and Arhuaycocha lagoons, appreciating the south face of the Alpamayo snow-capped mountain and other surrounding peaks such as Artezonraju, Taulliraju, and Quitaraju. We will then arrive at our campsite in Taullipampa at an altitude of 4,250 m (duration approximately 4-5 hours).
Day 3 Taullipampa / Punta Unión Pass (4,750 m) / Cachinapampa (3,600 m)
After breakfast, we will continue our hike and begin the ascent to Punta Unión Pass (4,750 m), appreciating the peaks of the Cordillera Blanca and the Santa Cruz and Huaripampa valleys. We will then descend to reach our campsite in Cachinapampa, at an altitude of 3,600 m (duration approximately 6-7 hours). (up and down)
Day 4 Cachinapampa / Vaquería Minivan Transfer / Pass (4,765 m) / Cebollapampa
In the morning, we’ll pack our things and walk through the community of Huaripampa until we reach Vaquería (2 hrs). From there, our muleteers bid us farewell and return to Cashapampa, collecting our footprints. We’ll travel by private minivan through the Llanganuco Portachuelo Pass (4,765 m), where we’ll make a short stop to appreciate the impressive panorama of the mountain range and valleys of the Cordillera Blanca. Then, we’ll descend to our campsite in Cebollapampa. Altitude 4,000 m (2 hrs by minivan)
Day 5 Cebollapampa / Pisco Base Camp
In the morning, we will join the muleteers to transport our gear and food to base camp at altitude 4,600 m (+600 m elevation gain) (duration approximately 3/4 hrs)
Day 6 Base Camp / Pisco Summit (5,752 m) / Base Camp
We will leave early in the morning, ascend an easy path, and cross a moraine of dead ice with rocks from the Huando mountain peak. We will take advantage of the weather and the better snow conditions in the morning. We will climb the Southwest route to the Pisco summit (5,752 m). After taking some photographs, we will descend to base camp. Elevation gain: +1,152 m / –1,152 m (approximately 6 hours to ascend) (approximately 4 hours to descend to base camp)
Day 7 Base Camp / Huaraz
Return to Cebollapampa, where the minivan will be waiting for our transfer to Yungay and then to Huaraz. In the evening, we will celebrate our success in the mountains.
Services
Include
- Trekking guide (1)
- Cook (1), muleteer (1)
- Private transportation to the starting point of the trek
- Meals during the expedition (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
- Breakfast: Tea, coffee, milk, snacks, bread, cheese, butter, jam, flatbread, fruit salad, etc.
- Snack: Fresh fruit, chocolate, cookies, fruit, and candy
- Lunch: Vegetable salad, pasta, tuna, Huancaína potatoes, ají de gallina (chicken chili), chicken salpicón (salted chicken), ham.
- Tea Time: Coffee, herbal teas, cookies, fried guacamole, popcorn, etc.
- Dinner: A variety of soups, quinoa, chaufa rice, chicken roll, fried trout, pasta, lomo saltado (fried pork loin).
- Optional vegetarian meal
- Last day (typical Andean food)
- Camping equipment (2-person sleeping tent, dining tent, kitchen and bathroom tent)
- Kitchen logistics equipment (cooking utensils, pots, plates, cutlery, chairs, tables, gas)
- Hot water in the morning for washing hands and face every day
- Boiled water for your bottle every day
- Donkeys for transporting luggage and food (5 kilos of personal equipment for the donkey)
- Emergency horse (1) in case of evacuation
- First aid kit
- Communication radio
- Sleeping mat
- Personalized assistance
Not Include
- Personal clothing for the trek
- Extra food and drinks in the cities
- Travel, accident, and evacuation insurance
- Entrance tickets to Huascarán National Park (S/150.00)
- Sleeping bag (0°C – 20°C) (rental available)
- Tips
FAQ
What to bring
- Bring appropriate clothing for day (hot weather) and night (cold weather)
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Insect repellent
- Swimwear
- Personal hygiene kit
- Hiking boots
- Camera
- Rain jacket
- Water bottle
- Sleeping bag
- Small backpack
- Headlamp (flashlight)
- 10 kilos of luggage per person for the donkeys
