8 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. 

Today, our adventure begins when we pick you up from your hotel in Cusco. It will be an early start, as we have plenty of ground to cover before we reach Vilcabamba. We will take the road to the Sacred Valley of the Incas, passing 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.  

Our first stop will be at the archaeological site of Huamanmarca in La Convention Province. Here we will see an important usnu, or ritual platform, and a structure with four double-jamb doorways facing the four cardinal points. We’ll then move on to 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 (mule-handlers) and mules which will accompany us on our trek.  

After lunch, we’ll start our trek. 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. 

 first visiting 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, heading on, we’ll trek to Casapata, arriving around dusk. This is where we’ll set up our camp for the night and enjoy a tasty dinner before going to sleep in this beautifully rugged and remote location.    

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 

Today, our trek begins early in the morning, as we have a lot of trekking ahead of us, on what is probably the hardest day of all. We’ll first climb up through the ravine of the Pumachaka River to the Chupana sector of Vilcabamba, where the river begins. Here we will find sections of an old Inca trail, which we will follow, passing through different ecological zones: Quechua montane valleys, cold and dry Suni, and puna shrublands. Among the diverse local flora, we’ll see plants used to dye textiles produced in the area. After a steady uphill trek, we will arrive at the Pillaujasa mountain pass, from where we’ll have spectacular views of the dramatic Andean landscape.   

Moving on, we’ll follow a trail that descends into the valley of the Racchchaka River, which we’ll follow upstream until we reach Hatunpampa. This is where we’ll camp and have dinner while enjoying spectacular views of the snow-capped Tuytubamba Mountain. 

Hiking Time: 10 hours 

Hiking Distance: 17 km / 10.56 miles 

Lowest Point: 3,060 m / 10,039 ft. 

Highest Point: 4,086 m / 13,406 ft. 

After an early breakfast, we’ll set of on another tough trek through some mountain passes. First we’ll take the path that climbs to the Yanacocha mountain pass, where we’ll walk through a forest of native qeuña and kiswar trees, at about 4,500 m. From the pass, we’ll have wonderful views of the surrounding landscape and across Yanacocha Lake. Next we’ll hike to the Mojon pass, the last high pass on our trek. Standing here on the rugged puna, you’ll get a real sense of how far we have come, leaving modern civilization far behind us.  

We will then descend through the Mutuypata ravine. Here we’ll have lunch and a well-deserved rest, before continuing on to the Saqsarayoq River Valley. We’ll cross the Saqsarayoq and soon arrive at Nogalpampa, where we’ll set up camp and have dinner. 

Hiking Time: 8 hours 

Hiking Distance: 14 km / 8.69 miles 

Lowest Point: 2,788 m/ 9,147 ft 

Highest Point: 4,500 m/ 14,764 ft 

Today, we’ll cover the most distance of any day so far, but now we’ll be at a lower altitude, making things much easier. There are also no more mountain passes to tackle! After breakfast we’ll begin our trek with a downhill hike through a spectacular native forest, heading towards the town of Yanatile. The environment will slowly change as we make our way along the trail, turning from temperature jungle into the coffee and fruit plantations that are typical of this area.  

Once we arrive in Yanatile, we’ll board our waiting minibus for the trip to the hydroelectric station located not far from Aguas Calientes, the town that sits below Machu Picchu. From the hydroelectric station, we’ll hike along a trail parallel to the railway tracks that run to Aguas Calientes. This final stage of our trek is mercifully flat and very pretty. It will take about two hours before we arrive in Aguas Calientes (alternatively, if you’re feeling too tired for more trekking, you can take the train from the hydroelectric station to Aguas Calientes, but it will cost at least $25 for the 45 minutes journey). We’ll spend the night in a hotel in Aguas Calientes, to be ready for the next day and our tour of the magnificent Machu Picchu. 

Hiking Time: 5 hours 

Hiking Distance: 23 km  

Lowest Point: 2,100 m / 6,890 ft. 

Highest Point: 2,788 m / 9,147 ft. 

To best appreciated Machu Picchu, we’ll wake up early in the morning on Day 5 so we can get to the citadel in good time. You’ll have time for breakfast in Aguas Calientes first, and then your guide will pick you up from the hotel at around 5:40 a.m. We’ll then walk to the bus departure point for the short but zigzagging ascent up the road to Machu Picchu.  

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 finish the entirety of 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.