Trekking the Andes

A popular backpacking circuit in Peru includes the Santa Cruz trek. It took the 8 of us 4 days and we summited to the Punta Union pass, just shy of 5000 meters. The hike is nestled in the mountainous region of Peru's Cordilleras Blanca where there are calm topaz lakes huddled below 22 different peaks that are all over 6000 meters high. This mountain range is the highest in the world outside the Himalayas. We loved seeing the picture perfect Artesonraju (the mountain that is in Paramount Pictures live-action logo) looming over Andean villages.



We were so proud of the kids being able to tackle a high altitude hike (and the truth is, they managed the altitude, the physical demands of the climb, and the rocky terrain of the hike better than we did). We also spent a day slightly miserable with some unknown insect bites (Quinn called them 'land sharks') that ravaged our ankles and made our hands swell (swell so much that I had to loosen my watch strap by 3 notches).

Although it was a challenge and some very long days of trekking (up to 9 hours per day), we loved the jaw dropping scenery. The trail was approximately 46 kilometers long and we passed by icy waterfalls and lakes, mossy meadows and beautiful Peruvian valleys. The hike definitely deserves the reputation of being the hike with the best Andean views in Peru.

The 8 of us joined up with 3 French folks and 2 hilarious German fellows and between the 13 of us, we had our own guide, cook and donkey leader. Apart from our kids, the real stars on this trip were the donkeys, about 7 of them hauled all of our tents, food, propane, and sleeping bags up and down some very tricky terrain with about 35 kilos strapped to their backs.





Personally, the Santa Cruz was a real highlight for Greg and I. I had many moments of gratitude along the hike that we could do something like this as a family and that we are all healthy and fit enough to take something like this on (although I must admit that I questioned if I might be getting too old to enjoy using a rented sleeping bag and therma-rests that have so many holes that they don't even blow up....)