Santa Cruz-Ulta Description
The trek begins in Cashapampa, a pleasant village about a three-hour drive from Huaraz and ends in the dramatic Ulta Valley. The route follows the Santa Cruz, Huaripampa, Ulta Chico, and Ulta valleys crossing two high and very scenic passes. The environment is a quite varied and attractive combination of lakes, grassland, queñual forest, and high passes with good opportunities to observe wildflowers and birdlife. The campsites are pleasant and attractive. One has a panoramic view of Taulliraju, which is a legendary peak among alpinists. We also pass through traditional villages and agricultural zones where people live in a manner long forgotten in a large part of the world. If you have never before done a high-mountain trek this might be a good one to start with. Please contact us directly (lostcitytreks@gmail.com) for a detailed itinerary of this trek.
Santa Cruz Trek Notes
• Trek Length: 6 days (5 nights)
• Difficulty: Moderate- Expect to walk from 6 to 8 hours every day
• Best time of the year: April-September
• Altitude: 2900m to 4900m
• This trek has a few options: We can do it as a Lima to Lima trek where we arrange hotels, transportation, and acclimatization days or as only the trek from Huaraz to Huaraz. We also do the traditional four-day version of the trek.
• The Santa Cruz is also great for bird-watching.
FOR PRICES AND FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT US: lostcitytreks@gmail.com
Basic Santa Cruz Trek Includes:
• English speaking guide with Wilderness First Responder certification
• All food during trek (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks)
• Park entrance fees
• Professional mountain cook and all cooking gear
• Tents (two and three person)
• Inflatable sleeping pads
• Dining tent with chairs, table, and eating utensils
• Burros and burro drivers for equipment
• Emergency horse
• Extensive first aid kit
• Emergency satellite messager
• Transportation to and from trek (Huaraz to Huaraz)
Does not include:
• Sleeping bag or any other personal camping/trekking items (see packing list)- We can arrange the rental of various items if you need them.
• Any extra costs incurred in an early departure from the trek or evacuation
• Food, hotel, or transportation before or after the trek in Huaraz or Lima
• Anything else not listed above in the "includes" section
IMPORTANT GENERAL TREKKING INFORMATION
(including acclimatization tips)