Vilcabamba was dominated by Manco Inca and his successors after the Spanish invasion. There were several administrative centers built in honor of the emperors of the last Incas dynasty, from Manco Inca to Tupac Amaru. They created a neo-imperial state in order to preserve religious and astronomical knowledge while respecting the knowledge and traditions of other pre-Incan cultures.
The territory of Vilcabamba is located northwest of the city of Cusco, in the province of Convención, in the eastern cordillera of the Andes. It has a chain of snow-capped peaks and mountains with high tropical forests where ecosystems constantly vary, passing through the high Andean plains drowned in an infinite forest of clouds.
Day 1: Cusco - Ollantaytambo - Malaga Pass - Chaullay - Vilcabamba (Huancacalle)
Day 2: Vilcabamba - Vitcos Rosaspata - Abra Pumachaca or Azutina - Raacachaca
Day 3: Raccachaca - HatúnPampa - Mojon Pass - Laccococha
Day 4: Laccococha - Mutuypata - Yanatile - Hidroeléctrica - Aguas Calientes
Day 5: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cusco
Day 01: Cusco - Ollantaytambo - Malaga Pass - Chaullay - Vilcabamba (Huancacalle)
Our day will start early in the morning. We will go by bus to the northwest of Cusco and we will pass villages like Chinchero (3760m) and Ollantaytambo (2800m), located in a very fertile area where corn is grown. Then, the trail will take us to the highest point of the region: the Malaga Pass (4400m). During our descent through the Amaybamba Valley, we will enjoy the superb view of snow-capped mountains and cloud forests. We will then pass the Col de Chaullay (1200m) and we will head to Huancacalle (3000m), where we will spend the night in a local hotel.
Travel time: 8 hours
Walking time:
Climate: cold and warm during the day
Altitude difference: Cusco (3400 m) - Ollantaytambo (2800 m) - Malaga pass (4400 m) - Chaullay (2950 m) - Vilcabamba (Huancacalle, 3000 m)
Day 02: Vilcabamba - Vitcos Rosaspata - Abra Pumachaca or Azutina - Raccachaca
During this day, we will visit the archaeological sites of Vitcos Rosasapata (3080m) and Ñustahispana (3050m). Our tour will take us through beautiful vegetation to the mountain passes Pumachaca (3900m) and Azutina (4000m). We will spend the night in our camp, mounted in the community of Raccachaca (3700m).
Walking time: 8 hours
Climate: temperate and cold with mosquitoes
Altitude difference: Vilcabamba (3000 m) - Vitcos Rosaspata (3080 m) - Abra Pumachaca (3900 m) / Azutina (4000 m) - Racachaca (3700 m)
Day 03: Raccachaca - HatúnPampa - Mojon Pass - Laccococha
During the day, some locals will tell us the traditions and customs of their region. Then we will pass Yanacocha passes (4420m), Tullu Tacana (4500m) and Mojon (4500m). From here we will have a great view of the Salkantay mountain. After lunch, we will go down to Laccococha (3600m), our place of encampment.
Walking time: 7 hours
Climate: cold
Elevation gain: Raccachaca (3700 m) - Hatún Pampa (4000 m) - Col Mojon (4500 m) - Laccococha (3600 m)
Day 04: Laccococha - Mutuypata - Yanatile - Hidroeléctrica - Aguas Calientes
Our day will begin with a breakfast with a magnificent view of the mountains. While crossing Mutuypata forest (3250m), we will admire the vegetation of the region. We will also see coffee plantations and tropical fruits. In the small village of Yanatile (2200m), we will take a bus to Hydroelectrica, then we will take a train to Aguas Calientes, where we will spend the night in a hotel.
Walking time: 7 hours
Climate: cold and hot with mosquitoes
Elevation gain: Laccococha (3600 m) - Mutuypata (3250 m) - Yanatile (2200 m) - Hidroeléctrica (1950 m) - Aguas Calientes (2005 m)
Day 05: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cusco
We will leave the hotel after breakfast at 5:30 and we will ride to Machu Picchu (2400m) by tourist bus. We will arrive at the citadel around 06:00. After a guided tour of the archaeological site (including information about life and culture of the Incas), you will have time to explore Machu Picchu at your own pace, as well as the Huayna Picchu if you wish. We will leave Aguas Calientes by train at 14h55 or 18h20, until Ollantaytambo, then a bus will take you to your hotel in Cusco. While waiting for the train,
Transport time: 4h30
Visiting time: 2 hours
Warm climate
Altitude difference: Aguas Calientes (2005 m) - Machu Picchu (2400 m) - Cusco (3400 m)
