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Santa Cruz Trek

Santa Cruz Trek — the trail guide

The Santa Cruz Trek is a 46.4 km trek in Peru, typically walked in 3–4 days, with 2507 m of total ascent. It rates Hard on our published rubric (54 m of gain per km, topping out at 4756 m). Its operating periods and current access must be checked with the linked route authorities; historical climate averages cannot establish whether the route is open or passable.

A roughly 47 km traverse of Huascarán National Park between Cashapampa and Vaquería, passing the Santa Cruz and Huaripampa valleys and crossing Punta Unión at 4,750 m.

Quick facts

Distance46.4 km
Total ascent2507 m
Typical duration3–4 days
Difficulty (computed)Hard
Steepness54 m gain per km
High point4756 m
CountryPeru
RegionPeru

Difficulty is computed from gain-per-km and maximum altitude on a published rubric, identically for every trail in the catalogue — so an "Hard" here means the same thing everywhere on DirtbagMaps.

Official planning information

Elevation profile

Low point 2914 m · high point 4756 m · 2507 m total ascent over 46.4 km.

Historical climate normals — month by month

ERA5 reanalysis averages (2015–2024) for the trail area, referenced to approximately 4213 m elevation. These are gridded historical estimates, not observations from every stage and not a forecast. They cannot show current snowpack, river levels, fire restrictions, closures or whether a pass is safe.

MonthAvg highAvg lowAvg precip
Jan10°223 mm
Feb10°211 mm
Mar10°268 mm
Apr10°141 mm
May10°79 mm
Jun10°33 mm
Jul11°23 mm
Aug11°33 mm
Sep11°97 mm
Oct10°161 mm
Nov10°167 mm
Dec10°235 mm

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Santa Cruz Trek?

The Santa Cruz Trek is 46.4 km, and most hikers complete it in 3–4 days. Total elevation gain is 2507 m.

How difficult is the Santa Cruz Trek?

It rates Hard on DirtbagMaps' computed rubric: 54 m of climbing per km walked with a high point of 4756 m. The rubric classifies every trail from gain-per-km and maximum altitude, so ratings are comparable across the whole catalogue.

What season and condition information is available for the Santa Cruz Trek?

PROMPERÚ suggested season: May–October; SERNANP rainy season: October–April. PROMPERÚ’s official guide, updated in November 2019, suggests May–October. SERNANP identifies October–April as the rainy season, so October is shown as an overlap rather than an unqualified planning month. This note was reviewed 30 Jul 2026 and is not live status; re-check the linked authorities before booking and departure.

Where is the Santa Cruz Trek?

In Peru. The route starts near -8.912, -77.620 — the interactive 3D map above shows the full line, and the planner splits it into daily stages.

Can I get the GPX and plan daily stages?

Yes. Open the trail in the DirtbagMaps planner to drag the elevation profile into daily stages, see huts and accommodation along the corridor, and export a per-day GPX for your watch or GPS.

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