Trek Lake 69 – Santa Cruz

DAY 1: Huaraz at (3100m) – Caraz at (2200m) – Cashapampa village at (2970m) – camp Llamacoral at (3760m). (Trek time: 4 hours (walk up) / driving time: 3 hours).

Departure from Huaraz at 7.00 am, we will drive to the north side of Huaraz along Callejon de Huaylas on paved road until Caraz at 2200m, then we will deviate to the north – east on dirt road until Cashapampa village at 2970m. From this point we will start walking up along narrow Santa Cruz valley with sparkling waterfalls, groves & high land bushes and trees until reach a wide meadow, where is located our campsite with spectacular view to the background about mount Taulliraju. Overnight camp at Llamacoral.

DAY 2: Llamacoral at (3760m) – Arhueycocha Lake at (4450m) – Taullipampa camp at (4250m). (time: 8 hours (walk up &walk down).

After breakfast, we will start walking up on grass meadow, passing beautiful mountain lakes of Ichiccocha and Jatuncocha , continue hiking up on the Santa Cruz valley until Quisuar, after that we will walk up on steep hill, but the trail winds up on sig sag until Alpamayo viewpoint above Arhuaycocha gorge, and Arhuaycocha lake at 4450m, where we will relax and enjoy the splendid summit views of the majestic mountains of Alpamayo, and another peaks, after a break we will come back on the same route up until Alpamayo view point, from it the route bring us to isolated Taullipampa campsite, where we will enjoy lovely sunset. Overnight camp at Taullipampa.

DAY 3: Taullipampa at (4250m) – Punta Union pass at (4750m) – Paria camp at (3870m). (Trek time: 7 hours (walk up & walk down).

After our breakfast we will start walking up toward Punta union, which is the highest point of this trek, on pass we will enjoy berth taken & panoramic views surrounded by huge mountains as: mount Taulliraju, Artezonraju, Pucajircas and other peaks, turquoise lakes, we after crossing the pass we will descend on slope and rocky trail toward huaripampa valley, watching small glacier lakes, waterfalls & high land groves and trees, mount Huascaran, which are garnishing our trail until our campsite at Cachinapampa on Huaripampa valley.Overnight camp at Paria.

DAY 4: Cachinapampa at (3700m) – Vaqueria village at (3700m) –  Yurak Corral camp at (3900m).(Trek time: 4 hours (walk down & walk up)/ driving time: 2 hours).

After our breakfast at 7:00 am, we will start walking down on pleasant flat valley with some sections of Quenual & Quisuar forest, the trail is almost easy until reach Huaripampa village, after that we will start climbing up until Vaqueria village at 3700m, where we will take a transport to move Cebollapampa, on the pass of Portachuelo ageing we will enjoy amazing view about, deep valleys, lakes, huge peaks, then we will continue driving until Yurakcorral camp.

DAY 05: Yurak Corral – Lake 69 – Huaraz. Yurak Corral camp at (3900m)  Lake 69 4,580m).(Trek time:  06 – 07 hours (walk down & walk up)/ driving time: 3 hours).

this is one of the best way to complete a trek in the cordillera Blanca. we will start as earliest as possible the idea to combine these two hikes is to avoid the crow doing the day hike to Lake 69. starting 06:00 am we will reach the lake in about 3.5 hours and enjoy alone only for our group the entire lake. finally return 2.5 hours to teh camp have lunch and take the transport to Huaraz. walking 6 to 7 hours 3 hours transport.