The Santa Cruz Trek in Peru
James Bustamante is Native to New York but born to Peruvian parents. He has been traveling throughout Latin America since early 2003 and finally made his home in Peru. James has made his way by eating and traveling through almost every country in Central and South America.
Last Updated on September 13, 2021 by James Bustamante
The Santa Cruz Trek in Peru can be more specifically found near Huaraz between the Cordillera Blanca and Andes mountain ranges. The majority of hiking enthusiasts are attracted to the trails that lead to Machu Picchu and will simply overlook this challenging and incredibly beautiful route.
The Santa Cruz Trek in Peru will take you through pathways that focus on the valleys of the Cordillera Blanca, enchanting, turquoise-colored lakes, and panoramic views of the landscape. A major feature of hiking in this part of Peru is the solitude of the trek, you will have little to no crowds in the trek. Some excursions don’t see another person for almost 4 days. This is vastly different from the equally amazing Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu.
Santa Cruz Trek Facts
- Hike Duration: 3-4 days
- Max Elevation: 15,583 feet (4750 meters)
- Total Distance: 31 miles (50 km)
- Best Time to Hike: May – September
- Difficulty: Moderate
When Is The Best Time to Take The Santa Cruz Trek?
The trek can be taken all year for the most part, except on certain months when the most intense rains persist. The absolute best time of the year to take the Santa Cruz Trek is between May and August during the dry weather period. If you decide to take the Santa Cruz trek outside of the dry season you will see a lot fewer people on the route, however, the weather might be inconsistent at times.
The Peruvian highlands have changing weather conditions at all times, in particular during the wet season. Since this is a hike that can be done either with an operator or on your own, it is best to monitor weather conditions at all times.
How Difficult is The Santa Cruz Trek in Peru?
It can be quite complex to put a difficulty rating on certain hikes, a lot of it depends on your personal hiking experience and overall physical fitness. We also take into account the fact that you will be hiking for 6-8 hours each day and carry a pack that has supplies for 4 days.
The guide will have a donkey come along to bring a log of the stuff needed for the 4 days though. The Santa Cruz Trek in Peru is a moderately difficult hike when you bring all of these factors into account.
Training For The Santa Cruz Trek
It is always highly recommended to train for any type of high elevation hike. We have a great post that specifies how to train for Machu Picchu and hikes leading to Inca city that would also apply to the Santa Cruz Trek. Basically, you should take 30-60 days to train for any sort of hike. Putting on a backpack with around 20lbs of weight and doing some air squats and lunges will be a big help to build lower body strength.
Some weight training will help even further so adding some pressing and pulling movements will help build your upper body. Jogging is also a good addition to your training regime. Your heart will be pumping much more rapidly in high elevation, training for some cardiovascular endurance will be very beneficial.
How to Get to The Santa Cruz Trek?
There are 2 easy options to get to Huaraz, by land or by air. Most people will arrive in Peru via the Jorge Chavez International airport in Lima. At this very airport, you can book a domestic flight to Huaraz. The flight is very quick, it will take around an hour and fifteen minutes to fully complete. The cost for the flight is anywhere from $65-$150 depending on which month you are planning to travel.
The second option is to take a bus to Huaraz from Lima. This will take anywhere from 8-10 hours to complete so it is a relatively quick “interstate” bus ride. The bus will have a cost of $20-$40 depending on the sea you select at the time of purchase.
Buses will be double-decker with fully reclinable seats so prices can vary depending on how comfortable you want to be. Oltursa and Cruz del Sur are 2 trustworthy bus companies that have regular trips to Huaraz. Once in Huaraz, we can head to the trek starting point a day or two after you have acclimated.
Accommodations in Huaraz
We recommend spending at least 2 nights in Huaraz preceding the Santa Cruz trek in order to properly acclimate. There are plenty of hotels, hostels and guest houses in all price ranges near and within Huaraz. There are really good places to stay a walking distance from the Huaraz center. Some people prefer to stay further out of the town and only come in to do some shopping or to get together with a tour operator.
All accommodation establishments will be happy to store your belongings while taking the Santa Cruz trek. Once you return you can check back in to get some rest and freshen up before starting new plans the following day.
How Much Does The Santa Cruz Trek Cost?
The Santa Cruz Trek will have a cost of $400 and you can expect good camping equipment, expert guides, good food, and superb service. Hiking in this part of Peru will be much cheaper than hiking to Machu Picchu no matter which way you look at it. So if you are looking for a great hike with lower overall costs the Santa Cruz trek definitely delivers.
The cost will in most cases include the fee to the Huascaran National Park. Some operators might be a little sneaky and not include fees in the pricing so make sure you ask about it before making a commitment. The fees are an important part of the economic landscape of the region. They help in keeping the trails clean and pay the park rangers salaries.
We usually recommend bringing some extra cash along after the hike is finished. Most trekkers will be rather hungry after all of the hiking is done and the cash will come in handy to buy some treats for the ride back to Huaraz.
The extra cash will also come in handy in case you want to tip the porters, guides cooks, and donkey handlers. This is Peru so there is no set tipping rate, we however recommend 10%. The trekking staff will divide the amount among themselves.
Santa Cruz Trek Trails
The Santa Cruz Trek has two well-known starting points to start the hike. Both routes will have you ending at the same place so it just depends on what you want to see over the course of the 4 days. The most frequented starting point would have to be the one that starts at Vaqueria which is situated at 12,139 feet (3,700 meters) above sea level and has the benefit of being closer to the summit. This means that the elevation gain or “hiking upwards” is not as much compared to the alternative route which starts at a lower elevation.
The second option is to start the hike at a lower elevation in Cashapampa. The benefit is that the hike will start at a lower altitude and will increase gradually as you progress on the trail. This also means that the hike will be much more difficult over the course of the first day because you are starting at a lower elevation of 9,514 feet (2,900 meters) above sea level.
Both routes will have you passing over the highest elevation point called “Punto Union) on day three of the hike. So which starting point is best? It really depends on how acclimated you are before the start of the Santa Cruz Trek. If you’ve had time to acclimate, at least 2 days, you can go ahead and start in Vaqueria. If you have not had enough time to acclimate or at least feel like you still need an extra day to acclimate, I would choose the Cashapampa starting point.
There are some important landmarks that you should not miss regardless of which starting point you choose. Don’t miss the chance to visit Laguna Arhueycocha, it can take some extra hiking to reach it but the rewards are simply amazing. The lake has turquoise-colored waters that are fed from the massive nearby glaciers. You’ve already trekked this far, a couple of hours of extra activity will be well worth it.
Water During the Santa Cruz Trek
This is a subject we deal with in all of our treks. How do you get drinking water during the Santa Cruz Trek (or any other multi-day hike)?
The answer is quite simple. There are plenty of water sources along the trail, our porters and guides will treat it by boiling and purifying it every day. Normally trekking companies will provide fresh drinking water every single day while on the route. It is always recommended to take a couple of 1-liter water bottles to fill up in the morning and at each rest stop.
Operators will also provide hot water to have coca tea, coffee, or any other infusion. The coca tea is especially helpful with elevation sickness and works quite well.
If you want to bring along your own water purification method we suggest something easy to use like the SteriPEN Ultra that purifies the water without the use of harsh chemicals. I’ve personally used this while on long hikes and can’t imagine going on a trek without it. There are also water purification tablets that you can purchase just about anywhere in Huaraz.
Food On The Trek
The trekking company will provide all the meals necessary to complete the hike. In addition, there will always be daily snacks provided to have while trekking. Hot beverages like tea, coffee or plain hot water are also available at campsites.
The meals will be full 3 – 4 course meals that include items like soups, pasta, proteins, and even desserts. The reason for having such full meals while on the trek is not really to “wow” trekkers with Peruvian culinary skills, although that is a side effect. The main reason is to provide as many calories as possible. There will be plenty of hiking and you will burn anywhere from 3,000 – 5,000 calories over the course of a day due to the elevation.
The trekking company will provide stools, tables, and tents to enjoy your daily meals.
Cleaning Up During The Trek
Hiking and camping in the Peruvian wilderness is the very definition of “roughing it”. Operators will provide the necessary hot water to freshen up every day however it is a pretty good idea to bring body wipes or baby wipes. There is nothing like a good, hot, shower but body wipes will be the next best thing. Needless to say, at the end of the 4 days, you will be more than happy to see the shower back at the hotel.
Using The Restroom During the Trek
The Santa Cruz Trek operator will set up a small tent where they have put together a small temporary toilet. Depending on the tour company, the toiler within the small tend might just be a dugout hole or a hole with a chemical wash. Either one will ensure that human waste is handled correctly.
The operator will provide toilet paper for when you need it but it is always a good idea to have your own roll in your daypack.
Conclusion
The Santa Cruz Trek in Peru is one of the most beautiful hikes you can take in the Cordillera Blanca, near Huascaran Mountain. It offers a different experience altogether than the more well-known hikes in southern Peru, like the Salkantay trek or the classic Inca trail to Machu Picchu. The landscape is different and the surrounding communities also offer another style of cultural experience.
