Overview & Highlights
This is a beautiful trek for experienced walkers among the spiky, ice-tipped Andean peaks and turquoise glacial lakes of the Cordillera Blanca in northern Peru. A very different landscape from the harsh mountains around Cusco.
- Caraz: Guided excursion to Lake Parón
This is an awe-inspiring holiday designed for experienced mountain or hill walkers who want to experience the beauty and solitude of the landscapes covered by one of Peru’s many and various Andean treks. You travel inland from the desert coast north of Lima to a dazzling white, snow-crested range of jagged mountains: the Cordillera Blanca.
You start with a couple of days to acclimatise among ice-blue lakes in the deeply glaciated scenery around the attractive little town of Caraz before setting off on the Santa Cruz Trek, which takes you through some of the most spectacular scenery in the Cordillera Blanca, Peru's premier trekking region.
The region is defined by its plunging valleys, dotted with glaciers and gemstone blue and minty green glacial lakes. Human activity is represented by tiny pockets of agriculture and isolated indian villages, dwarfed by the grandeur and scale of the scenery. This is a wild, uncompromising landscape, its harshness mitigated by the friendliness of its people.
Outline itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Lima and transfer to hotel in the Miraflores district.
Day 2
Transfer to the bus station, public coach to Caraz in the Andes.
Day 3
Full-day trip to Lake Parón to acclimatise with some gentle walking.
Day 4
Day at leisure to acclimatise.
Day 5
Santa Cruz Trek.
Day 6
Hiking the Santa Cruz Trek, camp.
Day 7
Hiking the Santa Cruz Trek, camp.
Day 8
Return to Caraz.
Day 9
Public coach to Lima.
Day 10
Transfer to airport for international flight. UK clients arrive home the following day.
What our clients say
97% of our clients rated their experience with us as Excellent or Good.
What a fabulous trip - we were very well looked after all the way and our guide was wonderful - we could not praise him more highly. He made sure we had enough money wherever we went, changing money when needed, showing us the best places to get a taste of whichever town, city, or countryside we were visiting, giving us agreat introduction to local culture and customs, ensuring our safety always. The places we visited were amazing - and very different from one another , so the tour together gave us a real insight into the diversity exisiting in the areas we touched. The tour was action packed, but necessary to see so much in so short a time - a truly wonderful introduction to a part of Chile and a taste of Argentina.
CW, Ilkley
Tailor made holiday
Our specialists have been expertly crafting award-winning tailor-made holidays to Latin America for 40 years. We would be delighted to create a truly personalised trip which perfectly matches your wishes and requirements.
Ben Line - Travel Consultant
Ben fell in love with Latin America on a six month backpacking trip from Colombia to Mexico in 1995. Since then he has explored most of South America, including living in Peru for a year. He is now Manager of the Tailor-made Department.
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