Trek to Lake Palcacocha via Santa Cruz Village
Drive to Chiwipampa along 10 km of paved highway on the south side of Huaraz.
Cross the Santa River by a small bridge in the direction of Santa Cruz Village, where the hike up to Lake Palcacocha begins. The short trek follows a local trail with a moderate ascent for about an hour.
During the hike, meet local people wearing their traditional colourful Andean clothes. Pass their typical adobe houses while appreciating the farming fields and observing crops such as wheat, barley, oats, corn, potatoes, and other products unknown in many other parts of the world.
Once you arrive at the lake, enjoy beautiful views of the Cordillera Blanca and the notoriously impressive Huascaran Massif, the highest peak in the Cordillera Blanca at 6768 masl.
There is an alternative trail that crosses to the north side toward the Cordillera Negra and continues to Huascar village.
Your car will wait here for the return to Huaraz. This allows you to avoid retracing the same trail, or you can return to Huaraz the same way if you prefer.
After this one-day hike to Huillcacocha or Palcacocha, you may stay on for further challenges in the Cordillera Blanca or Huayhuash, whether for longer treks or climbing.
