Santa Cruz – Ulta Trek & Pisco Climb — 10 Days

We drive the Callejón de Huaylas to Caraz and up to Cashapampa (2900m), with a first view of Nevado Santa Cruz. A steady ascent follows the river through a steep, hot gorge before the valley opens to puna grassland and camp at Llamacorral (3750m).

An easier day mostly flat past Lagunas Ichiccocha and Jatuncocha, with a final uphill hour to Taullipampa (4250m) below Taulliraju. An optional side trip climbs towards Alpamayo Base Camp and Laguna Arhuaycocha for closer views of Alpamayo, Artesonraju and Quitaraju.

A steady 2½ to 3 hour climb to Punta Unión (4750m) on the continental divide, with views of Rinrijirca, Pucajirca, Artesonraju and Taulliraju, then a long descent into the Quebrada Huaripampa to camp in the secluded Quebrada Paria (3900m).

An easy walk through the farming settlements of Huaripampa and Colcabamba, then a road section climbing to Challhua before traversing to camp at Molino Pampa (3600m) in the narrow Quebrada Keshu.

A short but dramatic day of swift height gain up the Keshu valley through ancient quenual forest to moraine-enclosed glacial lakes, then a steepening zig-zag to the spectacular Avalancha camp (4650m), opposite the avalanche-prone glaciers of Contrahierbas (6037m).

A traverse and ascent to the knife-edge Punta Yanayacu (4850m), where condors nest, with close views of Chopicalqui and Contrahierbas, then a steep descent into the Cancahua valley and a long descent through quenual forest to the Ulta valley and our vehicle to Huaraz.

We drive down the Callejón de Huaylas to Yungay and up into the Huascarán National Park past the Llanganuco lakes to Cebollapampa (3850m, 2½ hours). Our gear is loaded onto donkeys and we climb a good path for 2½ hours to Pisco Base Camp (4650m), where a refugio sells hot food.

A short but challenging day climbing to Morena Camp (4900m) over loose ground and large moraine rocks. Donkeys cannot follow, so you carry your personal climbing gear; porters carry tents, food and ropes. A steep climb over the moraine wall and a tricky descent precede mixed path and scrambling.

Summit day on Pisco — about 5 hours up for sunrise (a 60° 30m slope guards the summit), with vast views of Huascarán, Chopicalqui, Huandoy, Chacraraju and Artesonraju, then descent to Base Camp.

Either descend to Cebollapampa (1½ to 2 hours) and drive back to Huaraz, or take the option to traverse around Pisco to the jewel-blue Laguna 69 below great views of Huandoy, Huascarán and Chopicalqui, then descend to Cebollapampa and drive to Huaraz.