Duration: 5 days/4 nights
Our 5D/4N Vilcabamba trek to Machu Picchu trek offers an amazing combination of important Inca ruins and diverse natural scenery through remote areas. Highlights include the experience of hiking along original Inca roads, historically significant ruins, and passing just below tropical glaciers. Vilcabamba is historically significant as the capital of the Incas after the Spanish Conquest. This route includes tours of Vitcos, the residence of the last Inca ruler, and Ñusta Hispana, a ceremonial plaza home to an amazing intricately carved boulder.
As with all Ayni Peru travel, our Vilcabamba trek – Machu Picchu route can be customized or combined with tours in Cusco and beyond. Please CONTACT US for custom itineraries, quotes and questions.
We will pick you up at your hotel early in the morning for travel to Huancacalle, the trek departure point. We will pass through Ollantaytambo before continuing on to Abra Malaga, then continue on to Huancacalle. We will break for lunch before setting out on the trail. The first stop are the ruins of Vitcos and Ñusta Hispana. We will tour these impressive and interesting ruins, then hike along an original Inca trail. After approximately two hours we will stop for the night at our campsite.
Duration: 3 hours/ 6 Km
After an early breakfast we begin our day by walking on an impressive Inca trail. After 4 hours of walking, we will arrive at Totora Huayco at 1890 msnm. We will ascend for one hour to Jasutina Pass, where we will stop for lunch and a break. We can observe a variety of stunning snow capped mountains from our lunch spot. From there, we will descend for 3 hours to Racachaca, where we’ll make our second campsite and enjoy a great view of Lasoma peak.
Duration:7 hours / 12 Km
Today we will climb three passes, then proceed to a steep descent to our campsite. Be prepared for a beautiful and challenging day! From our campsite at Racachaca we will climb for two and a half hours to Yanococha Pass before reaching Yanacocha Lake. From there we will climb the second pass at Tullutacanca and continue on for about two hours along high alpine lakes and medows to the final pass, Abra Mojon. From Abra Mojon, we descend around an hour more before breaking for lunch. From there, Mutuypata is two hours of continuing descent. We will stop here and camp for the evening.
Duration: 9 hours/14 Km
In the morning we walk approximately three hours through increasingly warm and lush surroundings. The trail is primarily gentle descent or even, and we will pass through small coffee, yucca and granadilla farms. Our transportation will be waiting for us outside of the town of Yanatile, where we will travel to Santa Teresa for lunch. If there is time, we can visit the Cocalmayo hot springs before walking another two hours to Aguas Calientes. We will spend the night in a hostal in Aguas Calientes before touring Machu Picchu the following morning.
Duration: 5 hours/10 Km
After an early breakfast, we will depart for majestic Machu Picchu! The bus trip takes about 20 minutes, and you have the option of hiking up as well (1.5 hours). Our goal is to get to Machu Picchu as early as possible, because at this time the site is less crowded, and we will have the best chance to enjoy its beauty, mystery, and magic in peace. You will take a guided tour for about 2.5 hours, and then you will have free time to explore the site on your own. There is also time to climb Huayna Picchu and get the best views of Machu Picchu from above, or you may choose to visit the Temple of the Moon, which is located behind Huayna Picchu. After a later lunch, we will board our return train toward Cusco. Our driver will meet us at the train station for transfer to your Cusco hotel.
Duration: Dependent on choice of itinerary and pace.
Ayni Peru offers the option to upgrade your trek for $29.00 per person, per trek day. Our upgrade adds a bit more comfort each night, with a larger tent with a higher ceiling (so most people can stand fully upright), extra thick air mattress,-15C sleeping bag , a pair of walking poles, solar-powered lantern in your tent, and wine served each night with dinner.
