Vilcabamba Trek 5 Days / 4 Nights

Itinerary:

Pre-trek briefing:

You will have a thorough briefing with your guide 1 or 2 days before your Vilcabamba Trek 5 Days 4 Nights. Your guide will meet you at our office in Cusco and you can take this opportunity to ask questions and make any final preparations.

Day 1: Cusco – Huancacalle – Casapata

We will leave very early in the morning, taking the road to the Sacred Valley. Passing the town of Ollantaytambo, we head towards the Abra Málaga (mountain pass) which we cross, and then descend through the Puna towards the high jungle.

Our first stop is at the inca site of Huamanmarca, where there is an important Usnu or ritual platform and a precinct with four double jamb doorways facing the four cardinal points.

We will continue to the settlement of Santa María, where we can rest for a few minutes, to then continue on to Huancacalle village, the village where we will leave our motorized transport. The journey is long; but the reward is the solitude we enjoy as tourism is not very developed in this area. Here we meet our arrieros (mule-handlers) and mules which will accompany us on our walk. We have lunch.

After a short break, we begin our walk to visit the Rosaspata – Vitcos sector of the Vilcabamba Site, including a tour of the famous Ñusta Hispana. It is suspected that the tomb of the rebel leader Manco Inka II can be found in this area of the Vilcabamba cordillera. We will also see the famous white rock.

By dusk we arrive at Casapata, which will be our campsite, where we enjoy our dinner and rest.

• Meals: lunch and dinner.
• Maximum Altitude: 3060 masl / 10039 ft.
• Minimum Altitude: 2950 masl / 9678 ft.
• Distance Travelled: 5 km / 3.10 ml.
• Approximate Walking Time: 3 hrs.

Day 2: Casapata – Azuntina Pass-  Hatumpampa

We leave early in the morning, climbing up through the ravine of the Pumachaka river to the Chupana sector where this river begins. Here we find segments of Inca Trail which we will follow. We can observe local flora, which is used to dye textiles produced in the area.

We walk through Quechua, Suni and Puna ecological levels. When we arrive at the Pillaujasa mountain pass, we can see the Azuntina pass nearby, in the middle of an Andean landscape worthy of a postcard.

We begin the trail which descends to the valley of the Raccachaca river and following the river upstream, we arrive at Hatunpampa, where we will camp and enjoy a beautiful view of the Tuytubamba snow-capped peak.

• Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Maximum Altitude: 4086 masl / 13406 ft.
• Minimum Altitude: 3060 masl / 10039 ft.
• Distance Travelled: 17 km / 10.56 ml.
• Approximate Walking Time: 8 hrs.

Day 3: Hatumpampa – Mojon Pass – Mutuypata

We take the path which climbs to the Yanacocha mountain pass, finding a forest of native trees (Qeuña y Kiswar) at over 4500 masl. At the pass itself, we will enjoy a view of the Yanacocha lake, and then begin our walk to the Mojon pass, the last high pass on our Vilcabamba Trek 5 Days 4 Nights. The landscape of the Puna reminds us of how far we are from civilisation.

We descend through the Mutuypata ravine, where we have lunch, and after a rest we continue to the valley of the Saqsarayoq river which we will cross to reach Nogalpampa, where we set up camp.

• Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Maximum Altitude: 4500 masl / 14764 ft.
• Minimum Altitude: 2788 masl / 9147 ft.
• Distance Travelled: 14 km / 8.69 ml.
• Approximate Walking Time: 8 hrs.

Day 4: Mutuypata – Yanatile – Hidroelectrica – Aguas Calientes

We resume our walk downhill through a spectacular native forest, towards the town of Yanatile. Here we take our transport to the train station at the Hidroelectrica (hydro-electric plant), where we will board the train which will take us to the town of Aguas Calientes. Overnight in a hotel.

• Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Maximum Altitude: 2788 masl / 9147 ft.
• Minimum Altitude: 2100 masl / 6890 ft.
• Distance Travelled: 13 km / 8 ml.
• Approximate Walking Time: 5 hrs.

Day 5: Aguas Calientes – Machu Picchu – Ollantaytambo – Cusco.

On our last day, you will get up very early to visit one of the 7 wonders of the World – ¨Machu Picchu¨. At 5:30 am. We will go directly to the line to wait for the first buses to Machu Picchu.

We will arrive at the gate when the sky lights up and ascend to the top of Machu Picchu, while taking in the impressive views of the city. On a clear morning, the sunrise over Machu Picchu is magnificent; This moment is unforgettable.

Our tour guide will take you on a 2-3 hour guided tour, where we will visit the Sun Temple, Royal palace, Main Temple, Three Windows Temple and Sun Dial. It will be an unforgettable experience.

If you have booked Wayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain, you will need to coordinate with your guide for Machu Picchu visiting depending on your scheduled time to the mountain, for people not hiking any of the mountains there are some other optional activities on your own ( not included in the price).

Train back to Cusco: In the afternoon you will return to the train station in Aguas Calientes for the trip back to Ollantaytambo. Upon your arrival to train station you will be transferred by car to your hotel in Cusco.

• Meals: Breakfast.
• Lowest Elevation: 2,040 m/ 6,691 ft.
• Highest Elevation: 2,440 m/ 8,052 ft.