12 Day Vilcabamba Trek to Machu Picchu

After breakfast, enjoy a free day to explore Cusco at your ease. The capital city of the Inca Empire is now the undisputed archaeological capital of the Americas, as well as the continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city. You may visit the local archaeological sites of Saqsaywaman, Tambomachay and Qenqo or you can take part in a Peruvian cooking class or chocolate making class, depending on how you want to spend your free day. We can help arrange and suggest all activities available in this incredible imperial City. 

From your hotel, we’ll head to the famous Sacred Valley of the Incas. Our first stop is Pisac, founded during Colonial times; you will be able to appreciate the mixture of tradition. Here you will have the opportunity to test your bartering skills, interact with the local craftsmen and purchase hand-made souvenirs.  After exploring the indigenous community and all it has to offer, we will head off to the Potato Park! Meet the local community, learn about the unique process of potato cultivation, and see the beautiful flora and fauna of Peru! Travel to the Chawaytire community and have a tasty local lunch made from local products and the native potatoes you have learned so much about with the Qachum Waqchi. Return to the Pisac community. 

Afterwards, it’s time to visit Ollantaytambo. The narrow streets along with their canals have not changed much from the time of the Inca Empire. Afterward transfer to Hotel in Ollantaytambo. 

It will be an early start, as we have plenty of ground to cover before we reach the Vilcabamba region. We will take the road from the town of Ollantaytambo before rising up over a mountain pass called the Abra Málaga. We’ll then descend through the puna towards the high jungle and the Vilcabamba area.  

We’ll head for the settlement of Santa María in the Vilcabamba Valley, where we can have a short rest before continuing on to Huancacalle. Here we will leave our motorized transport and meet our arrieros (muleteers) and mules who will accompany us on our trek. 

Setting off on foot, we first visit the Rosaspata-Vitcos sector of the Vilcabamba Archaeological Park. Vitcos was a preferred residence of Inca nobles and a ceremonial center of the Neo-Inca State. Even after they moved their capital to Vilcabamba (Espiritu Pampa), the Inca nobility still spent time at Vitcos, which had a better climate. We will explore one of the most famous features at Vitcos, the Ñusta Hispana, discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911. We will also see an intriguing carved rock at the site, known as the Yurac Rumi (White Rock). Some archaeologists suspect that the tomb of Manco Inca might be located in this part of the Vilcabamba region.  

We’ll then return to our campsite for the night and enjoy a tasty dinner before going to sleep in this beautifully rustic and remote location. Our specialized chefs not only produce the most delicious food but also use locally sourced ingredients from the nearby villages so that we are directly contributing to the areas where we trek. 

Hiking Time: 2.5 hours 

Hiking Distance: 5 km  

Lowest Point: 2,950 m / 9, 678 ft 

Highest Point: 3,060 m / 10, 039 ft 

After an early breakfast we’ll head off along segments of an old Inca Trail, which we will follow through some magical landscapes. We’ll pass through different ecological zones: Quechua mountain valleys, cold and dry Suni and puna shrub lands. Among the diverse local flora, we’ll see plants used to dye textiles produced in the area.  

We’ll have a short break and then continue our ascent to the Choquetacarpo Pass, which sits at about 4,600 m. Here we will have beautiful views of Choquetacarpo and other snow-capped peaks. Afterwards, we will continue down a trail that descends to the Lazuna Pampa, where we will set up our camp and enjoy our dinner. 

Hiking Time: 10 hours 

Hiking Distance: 18 km / 11.18 miles 

Lowest Point: 3,060 m / 10,039 ft 

Highest Point: 4,086 m / 13,406 ft 

Today begins with an energizing breakfast, and then we continue our adventure by first visiting the Quellccamachay cave. Heading on, we will continue up and down through cloud forests at around 3,300 m (10,827 ft), finally arriving in the traditional village of Yanama, where we can get a glimpse of Andean life and experience its colourful customs. This is where we’ll have dinner and stay for the night. 

Hiking Time: 8 hours 

Hiking Distance: 14 km / 8.69 miles 

Lowest Point: 2,788 m/ 9,147 ft 

Highest Point: 3,375 m/ 11,072 ft 

Today offers a break from trekking as we travel on horseback (although you can still walk some sections if you like). We’ll leave Yanama after breakfast and ride back out of the valley as we head up to the highest pass on the trek, at 4,840 m (15,879 ft). As we make our way to the pass, the scenery will shift from the lush valley to high puna, a region of rugged highland grasslands. Once we reach the pass, we’ll have fantastic views of the surrounding mountain ranges including the mighty Salkantay, which rises to 6,270 m.  

Once we’ve conquered the pass, we’ll begin our descent down the other side. The route will take us back down to warmer climates, and the trail will eventually converge with the Salkantay Trek at Colcapampa, at 2,900 m (9,514 ft). Here we will set up our camp, have dinner and spend the night. 

Hiking Time: 5 hours 

Hiking Distance: 23 km /  

Lowest Point: 2,900 m / 9,514 ft 

Highest Point: 4,840 m / 15,879 ft 

Today, much of our trekking takes us through a region of jungle known as the “ceja de selva” or the eyebrow of the jungle, that lies between the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. We’ll cross the Lluskamayo River and find ourselves in a world of waterfalls, tropical fruits and colorful birds. If we’re lucky, we might even see a cock of the rock, Peru’s national bird. The temperature will be much warmer here, and the various waterfalls and creeks provide plenty of opportunities to cool down with a refreshing splash in their crystalline waters.  

We’ll stop for lunch and then continue trekking for three more hours, until we reach our last campsite at the village of La Playa, at 2,500 m (8,202 ft). At La Playa you’ll have plenty of free time to relax, try the local coffee and enjoy the nearby hot springs: the perfect way to soothe your aching muscles! Later we’ll have dinner and then turn in for the night, relaxed and ready for our next day of trekking. 

Hiking Time: 5 hours 

Hiking Distance: 12 km / 7,45 miles 

Lowest Point: 2,400 m / 7,874 ft 

Highest Point: 2,900 m / 9,514 ft 

Today we head towards Llactapata. It will be a steady three-hour climb, passing through the coffee, banana and avocado plantations, and as we ascend, we’ll have wonderful views of the Santa Teresa Valley below us. Eventually, we’ll reach Llactapata, an impressive Inca ruin that may have served as an important resting place and roadside shrine on the journey to Machu Picchu, which it is connected to, via the Inca Trail. From here we get our very first glimpse of our final destination: Machu Picchu in the distance, an inspiring sight indeed! We’ll have plenty of time here to explore Llactapata and enjoy the spectacular views. This is where we’ll spend the night.   

Hiking Time: 4 hours 

Hiking Distance: 7 km / 7,45 miles 

Lowest Point: 2,400 m / 7,874 ft 

Highest Point: 2,800 m / 9,186 ft 

Note: From this point on, it is necessary for each passenger to carry their personal equipment. 

We’ll be covering lot of ground today, but the trekking is easy, especially now that we’re at a lower altitude. After breakfast, we will hike downhill for about two hours towards the Hidroelectrica (Hydroelectric Station), a well-known landmark along various routes to Machu Picchu. We’ll then continue for about 1.5 hours along an easy route to Mandor, where we’ll have a delicious lunch and spend the night at the wonderful Jardines de Mandor – Gea Lodge, where you’ll have a standard room with private bathroom.  

Here you’ll be able to have an excellent rest – and a hot shower – in preparation for our final day and our visit to the magnificent Machu Picchu. 

Optional: Train Hydroelectric to Aguas Calientes - $ 40 per person 

Hiking Time: 5 hours 

Hiking Distance: 23 /  

Lowest Point: 2,100 m / 6,890 ft 

Highest Point: 2,788 m / 9,147 ft 

We will wake up early for breakfast and your guide will meet you at around 5:40 a.m. for the short walk to the gates of Machu Picchu. From here we can watch the sun rise over the famous Inca citadel.   

We’ll then pass through the gates into the Machu Picchu archaeological site. Here you’ll begin your guided walking tour with an experienced and highly knowledgeable guide. Our tour of Machu Picchu will last about two hours, and will take you to all the most famous and most spectacular parts of the extensive archaeological complex. These include the House of the Guardian, the Intihuatana, the Temple of the Sun, the Sacred Plaza and other key locations. And as we walk around, we’ll have spectacular views of the agriculture terraces of Machu Picchu and across to the surrounding mountains and plunging gorges. After the guided tour you’ll have time to explore Machu Picchu as you please, perhaps walking to some less visited parts such as the Inca Bridge. 

Once we’ve finished our tour of Machu Picchu, we’ll take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes where you can relax and have lunch (not included) before we board the train back to Poroy and Cusco. Upon arrival at the station, we’ll be waiting to take you back to your hotel in Cusco, where you’ll end your incredible Vilcabamba trek to Machu Picchu. 

After breakfast enjoy your last day at leisure before transferring to the airport for your return flight home via Lima.