{"id":1349,"date":"2024-10-26T09:49:43","date_gmt":"2024-10-26T09:49:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peruvianandes.com\/home\/?page_id=1349"},"modified":"2025-11-23T21:10:35","modified_gmt":"2025-11-23T21:10:35","slug":"santa-cruz-ulta-trek","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/peruvianandes.com\/home\/treks\/cordillera-blanca\/santa-cruz-ulta-trek\/","title":{"rendered":"Santa Cruz Ulta (6 – 7 Days)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Santa Cruz Ulta Trek: The \"Ultimate\" Panoramas of the Andes<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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The classic Santa Cruz trek is famous for a reason, but the Santa Cruz Ulta Trek<\/b> takes the experience to a whole new level. By changing the final two days of the standard itinerary, this route transforms a great trek into a world-class expedition.<\/p>

Instead of descending into the dusty canyon of Cashapampa, we divert towards the dramatic Punta Yanayacu Pass (4,850m)<\/b>. This “secret exit” grants you the single most impressive close-up view of Nevado Huascar\u00e1n (6768m)<\/b> and Chopicalqui<\/b> available on any trekking route. It is slightly more challenging, far less crowded, and infinitely more rewarding.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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This is an awesome, medium-length trek in the Cordillera Blanca range, whose popularity is due to several spectacular mountain panoramas, views of crystal-blue lakes and the challenge posed by two high passes: Punta Union (4750m) and Punta Yanayacu (4850m), not to mention our last, breathtaking high camp on the Avalancha plateau.\u00a0 <\/span>This trek offers an amazing variety of scenery and hiking.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Why Choose the Ulta Route vs. The Classic?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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While the classic route ends with a long descent, the Ulta route keeps you high in the alpine zone for longer.<\/p>

  • The Yanayacu Pass:<\/b> The highlight of this trek. Standing on this pass, you are surrounded by a 360-degree amphitheater of glaciers, including Contrahierbas and the Ulta glacier.<\/p><\/li>

  • Escape the Crowds:<\/b> The classic Santa Cruz can get busy. Once we divert towards Ulta, we often have the mountains entirely to ourselves.<\/p><\/li>

  • Photography:<\/b> If your goal is to photograph the big giants like Huascar\u00e1n South, this is the route for you. The angle from the Ulta Valley is simply unmatched.<\/p><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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    A Challenge for True Adventurers<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    The Santa Cruz Ulta Trek is graded as Moderate to Hard<\/b>. It involves an extra high pass compared to the classic version.<\/p>

    You need to be well-acclimatized, as we will cross two passes over 4,700m: the famous Punta Union (4,750m)<\/b> and the spectacular Punta Yanayacu (4,850m)<\/b>. The reward for this extra effort is a descent through the pristine Ulta Valley, a place of jagged granite walls and hanging glaciers that feels like the Patagonia of Peru.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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    \"Hiker<\/figure><\/div>
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    Note 1: Grading <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    We grade the trek as moderate to hard because, although the hiking is not technically difficult, the high altitude makes the hiking harder than on a similar trek at lower altitude. You do need to have a good level of fitness and be able to hike sustained uphills of up to 3 hours to the passes, and also be able to manage long descents from those passes.<\/p>

    Most trekking options in the Cordillera Blanca should be considered to be physically demanding owing to the altitude (you are above 4000m for the duration of the treks) and the mountainous nature of the terrain. Trails on this trek are in some places steep \u2013 both ascending and descending and can be slippery & uneven in places.\u00a0 <\/span>If you do not think you can enjoy this type of trekking, let us know and we can suggest some easier options<\/p>

    There is a long descent down from the final pass on the final day of trekking. The descent is steep on shingle scree for about 30m which can be slippery for those not accustomed to this type of trail. The rest of the descent is long (can take two to 2.5 hours to get down) and is at times on an uneven trail with some stepping down required. Good knees and \/ or trekking poles are suggested<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Our 7 day Santa Cruz trek was amazing. Perfect length \u2013 lots of variety in terrain & views. Challenging but not too hard.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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    Audrey & Jane<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    from Canada who did the trek<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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    Note 2 <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Although the Santa Cruz trek route is located within the Huascaran National Park, local communities retain the traditional rights to graze farm animals that they have had for generations before the National Park was created. There are some farm animals (cattle, sheep, horses) along the trekking route, included surprisingly at the top of the high passes<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    The Santa Cruz Ulta trek will always be a very special memory for me. Extremely well organised, incredible scenery, delicious and nutritious meals in a specially prepared mess tent every evening. All the staff were friendly and efficient and we were blessed with beautiful weather. To be high in an Andes makes you feel like you can touch the sky. Photos will never be able to do it justice.\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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    Janine<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    from New Zealand<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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    Itinerary<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Day A: <\/b>Arrive Huaraz
    Day B & C:\u00a0<\/b>Huaraz \/ Acclimatisation days with day hike (two days \u2013 3 nights minimum is highly recommended for acclimatisation)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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