How to get there?

Trujillo to Huaraz by Bus

The website for buying tickets with Linea:

https://www.linea.pe/ 

Our experience:

• Comfort Level: Linea is not as luxurious as Cruz del Sur, with very limited leg space.

• Journey Difficulty: The ride was long and slow, worsened by the altitude and winding roads.

• Altitude Effects: We felt the effects of the high altitude, and another couple on the bus even started throwing up. If you're prone to motion sickness, bring medication!

Arriving in Huaraz

We decided to stay in Huaraz for a few days before trekking to rest and acclimatise. Huaraz is a well-known tourist destination and felt very safe, however, this also makes it more expensive. Despite some negative reviews in other blogs, we actually enjoyed it! The food scene is great, especially if you’re craving Italian. The only thing: the constant honking from taxi drivers drove us insane!

We stayed at Amazing Huaraz:

• Price: ~14 dollars per night

• Location: Quite far from the centre (though with aggressive stray dogs in the area).

• Hospitality: The hosts were absent the first day so make sure you send them a message before arrival.

Acclimatisation Hike: Laguna Churup

Before tackling the Santa Cruz Trek, we did a day hike to Laguna Churup to adjust to the altitude. It is definitely advised to at least do one trek at high altitude before doing the Santa Cruz Trek. Do not underestimate the altitude! This trek was perfect for us as a day hike as it is closer and cheaper than Laguna 69 (which requires a 3-hour bus ride each way), and it is much less touristy.

Getting to the Trailhead (Pitec)

The Hike

• Distance: ~6.5 km round trip

• Time: We spent 2.15h on the ascend and 1.5h on the way back down. 

• Elevation: The lake sits at 4,450m, so expect a tough climb!

• Difficulty: Brutal from the start. The altitude and steep ascent made it extremely challenging.

• Entrance Fee: Paid at a hut on the way up for Huascarán National Park

  • 1 day: 30 soles

  • 3 days: 60 soles

  • 4-30 days: 150 soles

  • Tip: If you’re also doing the Santa Cruz Trek, ask for a 3-day ticket at the hut (you can already get it for a certain date) + 1 extra day for the Churup hike (they allowed this for us!).

The first 3 km to the lake are entirely uphill, and some sections require rock climbing using handrails, which was very tricky and slippery. The first and final stretches are the hardest. Right before arriving at the lake, you have to climb a very steep rock. 

If you don't want to deal with the handrails going back down (which I'd totally understand), there is an alternative route. It is a bit longer, but definitely worth not sliding all the way back down.

We used the following GPX:

https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/laguna-churup-peru-3020205 

Getting Back to Huaraz

Colectivos leave Pitec again between 1pm and 4pm. The driver lets you know how much time you have, and try to adhere to this.

Our return bus left early at 1:00 PM because the other hikers from our bus were faster than us! Luckily, another colectivo from the same company was still waiting for other hikers that left later in Huaraz, and we were able to catch this ride at 2:00 PM.

Alternative Transport:

• There should be another colectivo around 3-4 PM.

• If you miss all buses: Walk 1 hour to Llupa and catch a colectivo from there. Buses pass here every hour.

Final Thoughts

• Laguna Churup is a challenging but rewarding hike, ideal for getting used to the altitude.

• Be mindful of colectivo schedules and go as early as possible for the best experience at the lake without too many tourists!

• Leaving at 7 AM was the best decision for us as we had the lake to ourselves for lunch.

• The hike is really difficult and might not be suitable for beginner hikers.