- 4 days (3 nights camping)
- 4,750 m
- Challenging
Multi-day treks in the Cordillera Blanca and Huayhuash
Five high-mountain treks with nights in a tent, from 4 to 12 days.
From Huaraz we run five multi-day treks: the Santa Cruz trek (4 days, over Punta Unión pass at 4,750 m / 15,580 ft), the Cashapampa–Ulta trek (6 days, up to 4,850 m), the Alpamayo trek (10 or 12 days, over passes up to 4,800 m) and the Huayhuash circuit, in 8 days via Trapecio pass or in 12 days as the full loop over Cuyoc pass at 5,000 m (16,400 ft). All of them leave Huaraz by private bus and are best done in the dry season, from May to September.
Read more
On every trek you hike with a guide, a cook, and arrieros (muleteers) whose pack animals carry the camp. The Cordillera Blanca treks (Santa Cruz, Cashapampa–Ulta and Alpamayo) run through Huascarán National Park and require the 4-to-30-day SERNANP ticket; Huayhuash lies outside the park, and you pay community fees along the trail.
Our treks
Each trek page has a day-by-day itinerary with passes and campsites, what is included, what to bring and FAQs.
- 6 days (5 nights camping)
- 4,850 m
- Challenging
- 8 days (7 nights camping)
- 4,800 m
- Very challenging
- 10 or 12 days
- 4,800 m
- Very challenging
- 12 days (11 nights camping)
- 5,000 m
- Very challenging
More information
Quick comparison
Duration, maximum altitude and difficulty of each trek. Below, how to choose based on your time and experience.
| Tour | Type | Duration | Hike | Max. altitude | Difficulty | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz Trek | Trek | 4 days (3 nights camping) | — | 4,750 m | Challenging | Ask for price |
| Cashapampa–Ulta Trek | Trek | 6 days (5 nights camping) | — | 4,850 m | Challenging | Ask for price |
| 8-Day Huayhuash Trek | Trek | 8 days (7 nights camping) | — | 4,800 m | Very challenging | Ask for price |
| Alpamayo Trek | Trek | 10 or 12 days | — | 4,800 m | Very challenging | Ask for price |
| 12-Day Huayhuash Trek | Trek | 12 days (11 nights camping) | about 130 km | 5,000 m | Very challenging | Ask for price |
Which trek should you choose?
All five are high-mountain treks with nights in a tent and support from arrieros. What changes is the number of days, the height of the highest pass and the pace:
| Trek | Days | Highest pass | Level | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | 4 | Punta Unión, 4,750 m | Challenging | Your first multi-day trek, or a short stay in Huaraz |
| Cashapampa–Ulta | 6 | Punta Yanayacu, 4,850 m | Challenging (moderate to hard) | Hikers with some altitude experience who want more than Santa Cruz, or a warm-up for a climb |
| Huayhuash, 8 days | 8 | Siula, 4,800 m (Diablo Mudo, 5,223 m, optional) | Very demanding | Hikers who want Huayhuash in fewer days and can handle long days |
| Alpamayo | 10 or 12 | Caracara, 4,800 m | Very demanding | Experienced trekkers who want to cross the Cordillera Blanca with Alpamayo in view |
| Huayhuash, 12 days | 12 | Cuyoc, 5,000 m (Diablo Mudo, 5,223 m, optional) | Very demanding | Experienced trekkers who want the full loop around the range, with two rest days |
The Cordillera Blanca treks run through Huascarán National Park: 4-to-30-day ticket, S/ 150 at the general rate and S/ 75 for Peruvian adults (SERNANP, 2026). Huayhuash is a reserved zone (Ministerial Resolution 1173-2002-AG): there is no park ticket, but each community charges a fee at its campsites.
Sources: pass altitudes, our agency itineraries; park fees, SERNANP (2026); reserved zone, Ministerial Resolution 1173-2002-AG.
Season: when to trek in Huaraz
SERNANP recommends visiting Huascarán National Park from May to October: the dry season runs from May to September or October, and the rainy season from October to April. For Huayhuash, just to the south, we recommend the same months.
The dry season brings more clear days and dry passes, but very cold nights at the high camps. In the rainy season expect mud, possible snow on the passes and fewer views.
Fitness and acclimatization
Santa Cruz and Cashapampa–Ulta are challenging; Alpamayo and both Huayhuash treks are very demanding. None of them involves technical climbing, but all of them call for good fitness and tolerance for cold; for the optional Diablo Mudo summit on Huayhuash, we confirm the gear when you book. Train in the weeks before with long hikes with plenty of elevation gain.
For Santa Cruz, arrive in Huaraz at least 2 or 3 days early; for the others, 3 or 4 days, because the first night is already above 4,000 m. Do day hikes first, such as Laguna Churup and Laguna 69. The CDC notes that initial acclimatization takes 3 to 5 days. The full plan is in our Huaraz acclimatization guide.
Trekking in Huaraz: FAQ
How many days are the treks from Huaraz?
Ours take 4 to 12 days: Santa Cruz, 4; Cashapampa–Ulta, 6; Huayhuash, 8 or 12; and Alpamayo, 10 or 12.
Which trek is best for beginners?
The Santa Cruz trek: 4 days and a single high pass, Punta Unión (4,750 m). The altitude makes it challenging, but it is the shortest and most accessible of our treks.
Which is harder, Huayhuash or Alpamayo?
Both are very demanding. The 12-day Huayhuash circuit reaches 5,000 m at Cuyoc pass; the Alpamayo trek crosses seven or eight passes between 4,360 and 4,800 m in 10 or 12 days. On both, altitude and cold nights are what weigh the most.
When is the best time to trek in Huaraz?
From May to September, in the dry season. SERNANP recommends visiting Huascarán National Park from May to October; from October to April it rains.
How many days should I acclimatize before a trek?
For Santa Cruz, at least 2 or 3 days in Huaraz and one day hike; for the other treks, 3 or 4 days and two day hikes. The CDC notes that initial acclimatization takes 3 to 5 days and that, above 2,750 m (9,000 ft), your sleeping altitude should not rise by more than about 500 m (1,600 ft) per day.
Are there entrance fees on the treks?
On Santa Cruz, Cashapampa–Ulta and Alpamayo, yes: the 4-to-30-day Huascarán National Park ticket costs S/ 150 at the general rate (SERNANP, 2026). Huayhuash is not in the park; instead, each community along the route charges its own fee at its campsites.
What is included on a trek?
Our treks include bus transport from Huaraz, a guide, a cook, arrieros with pack animals and camping equipment. Each trek page has the details, and we confirm them when you book.