Vilcabamba Trek
Vilcabamba trek takes you the lost city of the Incas, hidden in the midst of the mountain range of Vilcabamba and its tropical cloud forest. The village of Espiritu pampa succeeded the fall of Cusco and became the last governing Inca capital before the Spanish completed their invasion. Be one of the few adventurers in the world to hike this moderate trek and feel the energy of the city of Espiritu pampa. Enjoy many archaeological sites along the way and travel in full contact with the Pachamama (Mother Nature, Quechua language) revealing to you her surrounding snow-peaked mountains and amazing biodiversity.
Overview
Itinerary
- DAY 1: BUS FROM CUSCO TO HUANCACALLE.
- DAY 2: VISIT VITCOS AND HIKE FROM HUANCACALLE TO QOLLPAQ’ASA
- DAY 3: HIKE FROM QOLLPAQ’ASA TO UTUTO.
- DAY 4: HIKE FROM UTUTO TO VISTA ALEGRE.
- DAY 5: HIKE FROM VISTA ALEGRE TO CONCEVIDAYOC.
- DAY 6: HIKE FROM CONCEVIDAYOC TO ESPIRITU PAMPA– CHONTABAMBA.
- DAY 7: HIKE FROM ESPIRITUPAMPA – CHONTABAMBA TO CHIWANKIRI – CUSCO.
6 Breakfasts, 7Lunches, 7 Afternoon Snacks and 6 Dinners. If you have a dietary request such as vegetarian
Itinerary
DAY 1
BUS FROM CUSCO TO HUANCACALLE.
We will pick you up early from your hotel to drive across the Cordillera URUBAMBA towards the valleys and arrive at the starting point of our journey, HUANCACALLE. we will drive towards the summit called the Malaga Pass at 13,800 feet (4,200 meters) where we will appreciate the sacred snow-peak of WAKAY WILKA (La Verónica 19,300 feet, 5,850 meters), From here, we will go downhill towards the town of QUILLABAMBA, known as the “City of the everlasting summer.” Here, we will see a change in vegetation as the weather becomes warmer and more humid. We will then have lunch in QUILLABAMBA and continue our journey by bus to our campsite at HUANCACALLE.
DAY 2
VISIT VITCOS AND HIKE FROM HUANCACALLE TO QOLLPAQ’ASA
After breakfast, we will visit important Inca ritual sites, VITCOS, ROSAPATA and ÑUSTA HISP’ANA. In these places, we will see where local people celebrate INTI RAYMI, the celebration of the sun on June 24, as well as an Incan temple, homes and the place where the Incas conducted water rituals. We will then enjoy the view of the PUMASILLO Mountain. We will then pay our tributes to the important “APUS,” or spirits of the mountain by laying a rock along the path. In the afternoon, we will walk to our campsite called QOLLPAQ’ASA.
DAY 3
HIKE FROM QOLLPAQ’ASA TO UTUTO.
After a nutritious breakfast, we will leisurely hike to our next campsite at UTUTO. We’ll warm up our legs and enjoy the landscapes and tropical vegetation. Have your binoculars and camera ready, as we may see some very colorful neo-tropical birds along the way.
DAY 4:
HIKE FROM UTUTO TO VISTA ALEGRE.
Waking up to the birdsong, we will have a hefty breakfast before hiking downhill through exotic vegetation and steep valleys. We’ll then enjoy a midday bath in the PAMPACONAS River before stopping for lunch. In the afternoon, we will walk to our campsite at VISTA ALEGRE.
DAY 5
HIKE FROM VISTA ALEGRE TO CONCEVIDAYOC.
After an early breakfast, we will hike a short distance before entering the Valley of VILCABAMBA. Here, we will feel the warm weather of the valley and discover its amazing biodiversity. We’ll see the Cocks-of-the-Rock, the national bird of Peru that like to perch at the Q’ASA CROSS. After lunch at TUNKIMAYU, we will continue our hike to reach our campsite at CONCEVIDAYOC.
DAY 6
HIKE FROM CONCEVIDAYOC TO ESPIRITU PAMPA– CHONTABAMBA.
After breakfast, we will hike for 5 hours to ESPIRITUPAMPA. Arriving at the spectacular ESPIRITU PAMPA, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the beauty and the mystery of this fascinating archaeological site with your guide. For a short time, this site was the capital of MANCO INCA. Here, MANCO INCA lost a bloody battle against the Spanish before fleeing to the jungle. After a full tour, we will walk a short distance to our campsite where we will have dinner.
DAY 7
HIKE FROM ESPIRITUPAMPA – CHONTABAMBA TO CHIWANKIRI – CUSCO.
After a refreshing hike through the Cloud Forest filled with breathtaking nature, we will arrive at the CHIWANKIRI village. You will be able to treat yourself to a well-earned cold beer in this traditional jungle farming-village before returning by bus back to Cusco.
Included
Includes:
- Professional English Speaking Tour Guide
- Assistant Tour Guide for groups of 8+
- Chef
- Mules / Porters to carry cooking and camping equipment
- Mules / Personal porter to carry 10kg of your personal effects
- Pick-up from your hotel
- All the Transportations
- 6 Breakfasts, 7Lunches, 7 Afternoon Snacks and 6 Dinners. If you have a dietary request such as vegetarian
- food please let us know.
- Dining tent with tables and chairs
- 4 man tent for every 2 trekkers
- Sleeping mattress
- Oxygen bottle
- First aid kit
- A safe storage room to leave your backpacks.
Not Inclu ded:
Tips for your guide and staff are much appreciated
Option :
for staying an extra night;
At the briefing the day before your trek, we will decide as a group whether we want to stay an extra night in a hostel in Quillabamba. On day 8, we would spend the morning at a recreational park that has soccer fields, a swimming pool, etc. We would then take the 7-8 hour bus to Cusco.
Pictures
Map
Price
Price: US$ 830 per person.
Group Size: 2-8 people
For this Amazing Trek, we will provide you with a duffel bag to put all of your belongings in. By using standardized bags, we will ensure that all of your belongings will fit properly on the horses. The duffel bags easily fit 8 Kilograms /16 pounds per person including your sleeping bags.
However, You will still need to carry your day pack with all of your essentials like water, sunscreen, passport, etc
We offer a discount of US$20 to students with a valid International Student Identity Card (ISIC) and to children under the age of 16 years old. Scanned copies of your ISIC card or child’s passport must be provided at the time of paying the deposit for the trek in order to qualify for the discount. International