Vilcabamba Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days / 4 Nights
Places to visit
The Vilcabamba another amazing Trek takes you right off the beaten path to the area of Cusco where the Incas made their last stand. Following the Spanish conquest, the Inca withdrew far into the jungle from where they continued to resist the occupation.
Vilcabamba was the last Inca city and this trek takes you to some of the last domains of this once great empire. With beautiful scenery, Inca sites, and a wide variety of flora and fauna the Vilcabamba Trek is the best optional adventure.
Itinerary
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Day 1: CUSCO – HUANCACALLE – VITCOS
We leave Cusco at 4:00 a.m. in our private bus and pass small villages like Chinchero,
Urubamba, and Ollantaytambo. We’ll make the ascent to a cold place close to the snow
caps, where we’ll see huge stones covered with snow, and then we’ll ascend until Abra
Malaga (4170 m.s.n.m). Then we will descend to La Convencion and pass along Alfamayu,
Amaybamba, Huyro, Huayopata, Quintalpata, arriving to Santa Teresa. After another 2
km, we will find Chaullay (1890 meters), 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). These are good lands for agriculture and
growing fruit. We’ll walk through Naranjal, located 3.5 Km. from Chaullay, and arrive in
Paltaybamba (17 km from Chaullay). The group will rest in Huancacalle around 3:00 pm for
lunch. Just 30 minutes away, we’ll find an archaeological site at Vitcos (Rosaspata), where
we will spend the night. -
Day 2: DAY 2: HUANCACALLE – JASUTINA – RACACHACA
We will start our second day from Huancacalle at 7:00 am. After 4 hours of walking, the
group will arrive at Totora Huayco (1890 m.a.s.l.). We will ascend for 1 hour to Jasutina
Pass, where we’ll stop for lunch. From there, we will descend for 3 hours until Racachaca,
where we will find a nice view of the snow-covered peak of Lasoma and our second
campsite. -
Day 3: DAY 3: RACACHACA – PUMACCASA – ABRA MOJON – MUTUYPATA
The group starts to ascend at 7:00 am from Racachaca to Pumaccasa pass, where we can
see Yanacocha Lagoon. After 20 minutes of walking, we’ll arrive at the Pumaccasa pass.
The snow-covered peak of Pumacillo and Soyroccocha lagoon offer wonderful vistas here.
We’ll descend to Soyrococha lagoon to enjoy lunch and continue to Mojon Pass, thehighest pass in our trek. We’ll see the snowy peaks of Verónica and Salkantay and also
the Huayna Picchu. The group will descend for almost 4 hours until Mutuypata, where
we’ll find the third campsite. -
Day 4: DAY 4: MUTUYPATA – YANATILE – SANTA TERESA – AGUAS CALIENTES
We leave Mutuypata at 7:00 am, descending to the town of Yanatile. Along the way, we
can enjoy the hot waters on the edge of the Sacsara River, and we can also see the flora
and fauna that surround the spectacular Yanatile Valley.
From Yanatile, the group takes local transportation to Santa Teresa (it’s around 40
minutes by bus). When we reach a suspension bridge, we’ll walk for 15 minutes until La
Oroya, and here we’ll take a local bus to Hidroeléctrica de Machu Picchu. where we have
lunch.
Afterward, we’ll continue hiking to Aguas Calientes, where we’ll spend the fourth night in
a nice hotel. -
Day 5: DAY 5: AGUAS CALIENTES – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO
Early in the morning, the group will take the first bus to Machu Picchu, arriving there after
25 minutes. The group will have a guided tour for approximately 2 hours and then free
time to enjoy the citadel. Around 1:00 pm we’ll take the bus to Aguas Calientes, where
we’ll have time for lunch. After that, you will take the train back to Cusco, where our
representative will be waiting for you at the train station. Transfer to the hotel
What’s Included in This Tour?
Include:
- Transportation in and out: Cusco – Huancacalle / Poroy train station – Hotel
- Local transportation: Yanatile – Santa Teresa / La Oroya – Hidroeléctrica
- Train service: Aguas Calientes by bus to Cusco
- Guide: Professional English and Spanish speaking guide; 2 guides for groups over
12 people - Cook: In charge of meal preparation
- Horsemen and horses: Carry tents, cooking equipment and also carry backpacks,sleeping bags, and mattresses (Max. 7 Kgs per person)
- Emergency Horse: Just in case someone needs help
Meals: All - Equipment: tents (2 people in each, 3-person-capacity), sleeping pad, dinner tent,
special biodegradable bathroom tent, kitchen tent, tables and chairs, table
settings, first aid kit, including emergency oxygen bottle. - Hotel in Aguas Calientes
Does Not Include:
- Breakfast the 1st day, usually hotels offer this service
- Sleeping bag
- Lunch
- What you need to bring:
- Personal Sleeping Bag.
- Backpack and daypack.
- Hiking shoes or boots.
- Light clothes.
- Insect repellent.
- Bottle of water.
- Raincoat, hat, sunblock, sunglasses.
- Snacks.
- Camera + Film - Video camera
Optional Extras:
- Sleeping Bag US$25.00
- Walking Pole par US$15.00
- Inflatable Mattress US$25.00
- Single Tent Supplement US$35.00
Extras Not Included (Need to book in Advance):
- Machu Picchu Mountain climbing: USD 25.00
- Huayna Picchu Mountain climbing: USD 25.00
- Vistadome Train Aguas Calientes-Cusco: USD50.00
Pricing
Private Service Prices
- US$ 820 dollars per person (Based 2 & 3 people)
- US$ 795 dollars per person (Based 4 & 5 people)
- US$ 750.00 Dollars per person (up 6 people)
Packing List
What to bring for the Vilcabamba trek 5 Days.
- Original passport (if you have acquired a new one after you made your booking, bring both)
- Down or synthetic feather sleeping bag (can be rented from us)
- Clothes (trekking boots, warm fleece jacket, tops, a few T-shirts, socks, sun hat, thermal underwear, light long pants, gloves, poncho, rain jacket)
- Toiletries (toilet paper, wet wipes, personal towel)
- Sun block, factor 35+ recommended
- Head lamp
- Sunglasses and sun hat
- Camera with spare batteries – batteries run down faster at high altitudes
- Book to read (you will have some time at every camp to read your favorite book)
- Trekking poles (recommended especially for the steep descents, can be rented from us)
- Insect repellent
Vilcabamba Trek to Machu Picchu 5 Days / 4 Nights
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