Safe Water

Water is not a major problem on Santa Cruz. There is no shortage of agua, but you must treat by:

• boiling (10 minutes minimum)
• chemical disinfection
• filter
• purifify

We prefer a quality ceramic filter, but weight is a consideration.

water is plentiful

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Be Prepared

The high pass may force the most fit hiker to turn back due to weather or altitude sickness.

Have a back-up plan in case you need to evacuate.

You must be prepared mentally & physically. You must haul the right gear <checklist>.

You must be informed. Do your homework. Take notes from — or print — sections of this website. Get your hands on a copy of Lonely Planet Trekking in the Central Andes or another up-to-date hiking guidebook.

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First Aid Kit

Prepare for the worst! You need a far better First Aid kit than usual on Santa Cruz as you may find no one else to care for you.

Someone in your group should be qualified to administer First Aid. This is a serious responsibility.

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Hiking Technique

• Be cautious. A minor injury could ruin this once-in-a-lifetime adventure
• Avoid the strain of big lunge step-ups, and the impact of big drop step-downs, whenever possible.
• Step OVER a rock or obstacle to a foot placement of similar height to your back foot when you can.
• Zigzag on steep sections. Many small steps are better than taking one big step up or down.
• To assist with a big step-ups (when unavoidable) push down on your knee with your hand as you extend that leg
• Take many short rests. Do not exhaust yourself at altitude.

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Earthquakes? Floods?

It didn’t worry us on Santa Cruz.

But this region is disaster prone:

• 1941 - flood killed 5000 in Huaraz
• 1962 - town of Ranrahirca destroyed by avalanche
• 1979 - earthquake destroyed most of Huaraz

The 1979 tremor caused 70,000 deaths, the most tragic earthquake in the history of the Western hemisphere. Yungay was completely buried. Huaraz is still rebuilding.

Caraz was the only major town not damaged in 1979