What makes this the Complete Circuit?

It fully encircles the Alpamayo massif, showing the mountain from both the Santa Cruz valley side and the spectacular pyramid face at Cruce Alpamayo, finishing at Laguna Cullicocha.

How many days does it take?

The standard itinerary is 11 days; the same route can be done in 10 or 12 days. For 10 days, omit the optional extra day at Cruce Alpamayo.

Graded medium to hard: several high passes with some long hard days, all above 4000m on unmaintained trails. Good fitness and endurance and full acclimatisation are needed.

Expedition Dossier

Santa Cruz to Alpamayo Complete Circuit — 10 to 12 Days

Starting on the famous Santa Cruz trail, this trek weaves a complete circuit around the Alpamayo massif through the heart of the Cordillera Blanca, crossing a string of high passes and the continental divide into wildly varied valleys.

You see Alpamayo from both sides — the Santa Cruz valley where it is usually climbed, and the spectacular pyramid face from Cruce Alpamayo — before a final night camped at the crystal-blue Laguna Cullicocha.

Duration

10 to 12 Days trekking (11-day itinerary shown)

Grade

Medium to Hard

Highest Point

4860m

Complete circuit · Cordillera Blanca

Both faces of Alpamayo in one circuit

Grade: Medium to Hard
Duration: 10 to 12 days
Highest point: 4860m
Sees Alpamayo from both sides
Above 4000m throughout

Graded medium to hard: you cross several high passes with some long hard days mixed with shorter ones, all at altitude on unmaintained trails. You need good fitness and endurance, full acclimatisation and the ability to hike up to 7 to 8 hours. The reward is the only trek that fully encircles the world’s most beautiful mountain.

Expedition Logistics

Essential Trekking Notes & Rules

Grading

Graded medium to hard: several high passes with some long hard days mixed with shorter ones. The altitude makes it more demanding than a lower trek. You need good fitness and endurance, full acclimatisation, and to hike up to 7 to 8 hour days on uneven, unmaintained dirt trails.

10, 11 or 12 Day Option

The itinerary shown is the 11-day trek; the same route can be done in 10 or 12 days. For the 10-day version, omit the optional extra day at Cruce Alpamayo.

Special Interest — Supporting Local Communities

Starting from Vaquería gives work to donkey drivers from the villages of Colcabamba and Vaquería, who by local rules may only work on treks beginning there. This income is vital to these families and helps them educate their children.

Access Roads

Access roads to and from the trek are generally unpaved mountain roads and can be bumpy, so road travel times are slower than the distance suggests.

Route Progression

High Altitude Tactical Itinerary

Review the route day by day: altitudes, distances and acclimatisation.

Technical Timeline // Day 01

Drive to Cashapampa, hike up the Santa Cruz valley to Llamacorral

Distance

8.5 km

Time Window

5 hours

Max Altitude

3750m

Delta Profile

Physiological & Operational Checkpoint

A demanding first day for those short on fitness or acclimatisation.

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).

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Related routes

More routes in the same spirit — the same range or the same kind of trip. Tap any one for the full itinerary, or write to us and we will tailor your own.