Vilcabamba Peru Trek to Machu Picchu
Vilcabamba Peru Trek to Machu Picchu is an off the beaten track adventure and the best alternative to the Classic Inca Trail. On this exclusive five days Vilcabamba trek from the City of Cusco, you will be visiting the lost Inca city of Vilcabamba Espiritu Pampa, the last refuge of Incas and continue to the iconic lost city of Incas, Machu Picchu.
Accompanied by a local guide, you will be visiting Inca ruins of Vilcabamba. On Spanish conquest, the Incas took refuge in Vilcabamba. Manco Inca announced Vilcabamba – Espiritu Pampa as the capital of Neo Inca state in 1539.
In 1572, the Spanish rulers conquered Espiritu Pampa and took over the whole of the Inca empire. In 1911, renowned American explorer, Hiram Bingham discovered Machu Picchu while he was looking for Vilcabamba. Hiram Bingham ruled out that Machu Picchu and Vilcabamba were the same.
However in 1964, Gene Savoy discovered the city while exploring Southern Peru. His discovery disproved Bingham’s notion that Vilcabamba and Machu Picchu were the same place
Why Peruvian Highland Trek?
Peruvian Highland Trek is a fully locally owned tour operating company based in Cusco. We are licensed Vilcabamba Peru Trek operators. All our tour guides are locals. They have an extensive knowledge about trekking and local culture.
Please take a moment to check out our reviews on Tripadvisor.
Itinerary
DAY 1: CUSCO – HUANCACALLE – VITCOS
At 0400 AM, we will be picking you up from your hotel in Cusco. We will be passing through the Sacred Valley of Incas. From here, we will be driving up the hill to Abra Malaga Pass at 4170 metres above sea level.
We will then descend to La Convencion and pass along Alfamayu, Amaybamba, Huyro, Huayopata, Quintalpata, arriving at Santa Maria .
After driving for another two kilometres, we will reach Chaullay (1890 meters). This is the point where both the Urubamba River and Vilcabamba River come together.
From this point we have to ascend and pass through Lucuma (the main village of Vilcabamba). We will be hiking through Naranjal and reach Paltaybamba (17 km from Chaullay).
We will reach Huancacalle at around 1:00 pm for lunch. After lunch, we will give you a guided tour of Vitcos, Rosaspata and Nustahispana (White Rock).
We will be camping at the archaeological site of Vitcos for the night. L/D
DAY 2: HUANCACALLE – JASUTINA – RACACHACA
We will start our second day from Huancacalle at 7:00 am. After 4 hours of walking, we will arrive at Totora Huayco (1890 m.a.s.l.). From here, we will ascend for an hour to Jasutina Pass. Here we will be stopping for lunch.
After lunch, we will descend for 3 hours until Racachaca. Here we will find a nice view of the snow-covered peak of Lasoma and our second campsite.
B/L/D
DAY 3: RACACHACA – PUMACCASA – ABRA MOJON – MUTUYPATA
We will start the day with an uphill hike from Racachaca to Pumaccasa pass. On our way, you will be able to see Yanacocha Lagoon.
After 20 minutes of hiking, we will be reaching Pumaccasa pass. The snow-covered peak of Pumacillo and Soyroccocha lagoon offer great and wonderful vistas here.
From here, we will descend to Soyrococha lagoon to enjoy lunch and continue on to Mojon Pass, the highest pass in our trek.
You will get a spectacular view of the snow capped peaks of Verónica and Salkantay and also Huayna Picchu Mountain. We will then descend for almost 4 hours to Mutuypata. We will be camping here for the night.
B /L/D
DAY 4: MUTUYPATA – YANATILE – SANTA TERESA – AGUAS CALIENTES
At 0700 AM, we will be leaving the campsite. We will begin by descending to the town of Yanatile. Along the way, you will be able to enjoy the hot waters on the edge of the Sacsara River.
Here you will also get to see the flora and fauna that surround the spectacular Yanatile Valley.
From Yanatile, we will take the local transportation to Santa Teresa (it’s around 40 minutes by bus). When we reach a suspension bridge. From the other side of the bridge, we will be hiking for 15 minutes to La Oroya.
We will be taking a local bus to Hidroeléctrica. Here we will be stopping for lunch.
After lunch, we’ll continue hiking to Aguas Calientes, where we’ll spend the fourth night in a nice hotel.
B/L/D
DAY 5: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO
At early in the morning, as you will be leaving the hotel for the tour, the receptionist will be handing you over a snack box. You will then be taking the bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu. It is a 25 minutes drive up the hill.
Once at the entrance of the citadel, your guide will be assisting you in clearing the security control and to enter the citadel. We will then give you a detailed two hours guided tour of Machu Picchu citadel.
After the tour, you will have some free time to explore the citadel on your own. Alternatively, if you have booked in advance, you can hike the Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu mountains.
Optionally, you can even hike to the Sungate or Intipunku. You won’t need to book it in advance. This offers a spectacular view of the citadel. Only those on Inca Trail to Machu Picchu enjoy the view at the first light of the sun.
After the tour, you will be taking the bus back to Aguas Calientes town. Here you will have some free time to stop for lunch (not included).
We will then take the train back to Ollantaytambo from Aguas Calientes. Here, our representative will be meeting you and will be driving you back to the city of Cusco. You will be reaching Cusco by 09:00 PM.
Includes
Vilcabamba Peru Trek Includes:
- Transport: Cusco – Huancacalle
- Local transport : Yanatile – Santa Teresa – Hidroeléctrica
- Train Ticket : Aguas Calientes – Ollantaytambo
- Guide: Professional English and Spanish
- Cook: In charge of meal preparation
- Horsemen and horses: Carry tents, cooking equipment and also carry backpacks, sleeping bags and mattresses (Max. 5 kilos)
- Meals: 4 Breakfasts/ Lunches/4 Dinners/ 4 Snacks
- Equipment: tents (2 people in each, Therm-a-rest sleeping pad, dinner tent, special biodegradable bathroom tent, kitchen tent, tables and chairs, table settings, first aid kit, including
- emergency oxygen bottle.
Not Include
Vilcabamba Peru Trek Does Not Include:
- Breakfast the 1st day, usually hotels offer this service
- Sleeping bag
- Last lunch
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