Taullipampa (Peru)

Taullipampa is one of the places you can camp at, either before or after you pass the high point of the trek – the Punta Union pass – depending on which direction you've chosen to do the walk in. Note: there are two main starting points for the trek, namely the village of Cashapampa at one end and the village of Vaqueria at the other. I personally prefer starting from the former (I've done this walk several times now). The downside of choosing this option, however, is that if you're not doing it through a tour operator, it may prove more difficult to find a bus to bring you back, especially out of season.

Though the Santa Cruz trek is extremely popular and gets very busy, it still remains a wonderful option for both novice and experienced hikers looking for a quick way to explore the Cordillera Blanca range when visiting Peru. And anyway, there tend to be far fewer tourists around Cusco and Arequipa, so you won't actually be walking in close proximity to other hikers all the time. There are, of course, plenty of choices when it comes to places to camp. However, Taullipampa campsite is particularly impressive due to the unique views it offers of the massive Tawllirahu and Artesonraju peaks. The downside is that the high altitude can cause headaches. One way of remedying this is to fill your drink containers with coca tea, which is said to be highly effective. I'm personally not a fan as I don't like the taste. However, it did work for quite a few of my walking companions (whether this is down to a placebo effect or not is something of a moot point!).