The Santa Cruz Trek is the classic four-day circuit in the Cordillera Blanca and one of South America's finest mountain walks. The route loops through the Quebrada Santa Cruz and Quebrada Huaripampa valleys, crossing the Punta Union pass at 4,750 metres and passing beneath some of the region's most spectacular peaks. Campsites at Llamacorral and Taullipampa give you close views of Alpamayo and Chopicalqui.
Most trekkers do it anticlockwise, starting from Cashapampa and finishing at Vaqueria, or vice versa. The trail is well-marked and can be done without a guide, though an arriero (mule driver) is useful for carrying equipment and knowing the route in poor weather. Allow four days for a comfortable pace; fit trekkers sometimes compress it into three. Altitude acclimatisation in Huaraz for at least two days before starting is essential — the pass at Punta Union is no joke for anyone arriving fresh from sea level.