Alternative Inca trail - Vilcabamba the Last Inca Refuge (Coffee Tour) 6Days
From $700USD
Per Person (All inclusive Door to Door Service)
- Trip manage & run by Expert Local Tour Operator.
- Easy, fast and free Booking guaranteed.
- Personalized service in a Small Group.
- Biking / Driving / Trekking / History
- Unique Costumize Tour Itineraries.
- Best local official Tour Guides & team of the region.
The Vilcabamba Trek takes you right off the beaten path to the area of Cusco where the Incas made their last stand. Following the Spanish conquest the Inca withdrew far in to the jungle from where they continued to resist the occupation. Vilcabamba was the last Inca city and this trek takes you to some of the last domains of this once great empire. With beautiful scenery, Inca sites and a wide variety of flora and fauna the Vilcabamba Trek is a great option if you don’t find a spot for the classic inca trail to Machupichcu.
The Vilcabamba trek to Machu Picchu is a hidden treasure that has yet to be heavily impacted by tourism. The trail is remote, very beautiful and super quiet. Trekkers get to pass through snow-capped mountains on a number of original and well-preserved Inca trails.
The trek is typically completed on a 6-days itinerary, starting the first day with a biking downhill from the Andes to the jungle where you will see a lot of plantations of coffee, banana, orange, mango, etc.
Finally the hiking over the mountains for 4 days looking some beautiful glaciers, lakes and inca sites.
DAY 1:CUSCO-SANTA MARIA (Coffee Tour)- HUANCACALLE
For your Coffee tour in the Jungle the pick up time from your hotel is going to be around 5:00am, after 4 hours approximately enjoying beautiful places along our driving we will arrive to Huayopata.
Arrival at the local farm, where a member of the family will give you the grand tour. They will explain to you the work that is performed on the farm, and show you the range of products that are harvested to support their family. Here, you will also be able to taste the available fruit in season! This locally-owned and run farm is a small one that pertains to a cooperative organization in accordance with fair trade practices, therefore, it has been granted organic certification. During this initial tour of the larger farm and coffee plantation, you will come to truly appreciate all of the hard work and stages that go into preparing a hot coffee!
Lunch on the farm! (Locally prepared family-style dishes). If you would like to try a local specialty meal, guinea pig, for example, we can coordinate with the family ahead of time and pay them directly upon arrival. Additionally, please let us know in advance if you are a vegetarian or have other dietary restrictions.
Interactive demonstration on roasting and grinding the coffee beans, where you will have the opportunity to taste fresh coffee with different ingredients, as well as prepare your own cup of hot coffee.
- Meals: Lunch, Dinner.
- Accommodation:Camping (double occupancy tents )
- Maximum Altitude:3,800m/12,426 ft
- Minimum Altitude:3,350 m/10,954 ft
- Approximate Driving Time:6-7 hours
DAY2: HUANCACALLE-HASUTINA PASS-RACACHACA
Around Huancacalle town there are two archaeological sites Vitcos Rosaspata (3080m) and Nusta Hispana (3050m) that we will visit along our way and your guide is going to explaint to you everything about those places this is going to take 2 hours approx.. After that we will hike up to Pacchac following a forgotten inca trail towards the Azutina Pass (3900msnm) we will hike up for 4 hours aprox from Ñusta Hispana to our lunch place (Pacchac). After our lunch we will continue hiking to the Asutina Pass for 1 hour after that our trail is going down to our second campsite Racachaca (3570 msnm) for 4 hours approx.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
- Accommodation:Camping (double occupancy tents )
- Maximum Altitude:3,800m/12,426 ft
- Minimum Altitude:3,350 m/10,954 ft
- Distance Travelled:15 km approx
- Approximate Walking Time: 8-9 hours
DAY3: RACACHACA – LAGUNA LAZUNA – RACACHACA
After our breakfast we will start our hike to the Lazuna lake for 4 hours approx. where we will enjoy a beautiful landscape with the snow-capped mountain, after enjoying the views of the lake we will have another 2 hours extra of hiking until we reach the snow-capped mountain of Lazuna where we will enjoy the splendor of the snow-capped mountain and where we will have a small snack (box lunch) enjoying the view of that beautiful place, after touring and enjoying the place we will go down the same trail to Raccachaca where is going to be our campsite.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
- Accommodation:Camping (double occupancy tents )
- Maximum Altitude:3,800m/12,426 ft
- Minimum Altitude:3,350 m/10,954 ft
- Distance Travelled:12 km approx
- Approximate Walking Time: 8-9 hours
DAY4: RACACHACA-PUMACCASA-ABRA MOJON-MUTUYPATA
The group starts to ascend at 7:00 am from Racachaca to Pumaccasa pass, where we can see Yanacocha Lagoon. After 20 minutes of walking we’ll arrive at Pumaccasa pass. The snow-covered peak of Pumacillo and
Soyroccocha lagoon offer great and wonderful vistas here. We’ll descend to Soyrococha lagoon to enjoy lunch and continue on to Mojon Pass, the highest pass in our trek. We’ll see the snowy peaks of Verónica and Salkantay and also the Huayna Picchu. The group will descend for almost 4 hours until Mutuypata, where we’ll find the third campsite.
- Meals: Lunch, Dinner.
- Accommodation:Camping (double occupancy tents )
- Maximum Altitude:3,800m/12,426 ft
- Minimum Altitude:3,350 m/10,954 ft
- Distance Travelled:16 km approx
- Approximate Walking Time:6-7 hours
DAY5: MUTUYPATA-YANATILE-SANTA TERESA-AGUAS CALIENTES
We leave from Mutuypata at 7:00 am, descending to the end of the route where our van is going to wait for us then we will drive to Yanatile town for 40 minutes approx.. Along the way, we can enjoy the hot waters on the edge of the Sacsara River, and we can also see the flora and fauna that surround the spectacular Yanatile Valley. We will still driving from Yanatile to Santa Teresa town(it’s around 40 minutes by bus). We will stop there for few minutes to buy water or some snack after that we will drive from Santa teresa to Hidroeléctrica for 30 minutes approx. Where we have lunch. Afterwards, we’ll continue hikking to Aguas Calientes for 3 hours, where we’ll spend the night in a nice hotel.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
- Accommodation: Hotel
- Maximum Altitude:3,800m/12,426 ft
- Minimum Altitude:1,800 m/5,954 ft
- Distance Walking:2 km approx then driving
- Approximate Walking Time:4-5 hours
DAY6: MACHUPICCHU-CUSCO
Early in the morning the group will take the first bus to Machu Picchu, arriving there after 25 minutes. The group will have a guided tour for approximately 2 hours and then free time to enjoy the citadel. Around 1:00 pm we’ll take the bus to Aguas Calientes, where we’ll have time for lunch. After that, you will take the train back to Cusco, where our representative will be waiting for you at the train station. Transfer to the hotel.
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation:Not Included,
- Maximum Altitude:2,700 m / 8,856 ft
- Minimum Altitude:2,400 m / 7,872 ft
WHAT IS INCLUDED
- Information meeting in your hotel with your tour guide 1 or 2 days before the start of the trek
- Transport from your hotel in Cusco to the village of Huancacalle
- Coffee tour
- Transport from Yanatile to Hidroelectrica
- Tourist train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo and bus to Cusco
- Family hostel in Huancacalle
- Hotel in Aguas Calientes
- Entrance to the archaeological site of Machu Picchu
- Bilingual Spanish-English professional guide
- Camping equipment
- Food during the excursion (breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack / vegetarian option on request).
- A cook and an assistant
- Muleteers for all our camping equipment and personal belongings of the customers (maximum of 6 kilos per person)
- A first aid kit, oxygen
- Cold boiled water during the all trek.
NOT INCLUDED
- Breakfast of the 1st day and lunch of the last day in Aguas Calientes
- Bus from Aguas Calientes to Machupicchu
- Sleeping bag (If you do not have one, you can rent one in Cusco).
- Tips
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
“Please read carefully the following information; it will help you answer all of your questions about our services and the Vilcabamba treks”
THE BRIEFING
It will take place the night before the trekking departure at 6pm in your hotel
CAN I STORE MY LUGGAGE AT YOUR OFFICE:
Of course! During your hike to Machu Picchu your main luggage can be store at our office or at your hotel, both are for free. Please don´t pack everything, just pack the things that you will need for your hike.
HOW TO BOOK THE VILCABAMBA TREKS TO MACHU PICCHU?
FIRST, to book your Vilcabamba treks, we need you to fill out our booking form by clicking on BOOK NOW on our homepage or click here the link BOOK NOW.
Please be ready with the following information (FROM EACH PARTICIPANT in your group), following this information:
Personal information (your full name, exactly as on your passport):
Gender
Passport number
D.OB. (dd / mm / yyyy)
Nationality
SECOND, we require a deposit of 50% of the payment per person in order to organize your hike to vilcabamba
MAY I CHANGE THE DEPARTURE DATE ?
Fortunately the answer is “Yes”. Please let us know in advance if you want to change your departure date at least 1 month in advance.
*** If you cancel your Vilcambamba treks to Machu Picchu 3 weeks before, the deposit is not refundable at all!
WHAT ABOUT ALTITUDE SICKNESS?
In general if you have regular exercise and spend a couple of days in Cusco, or in the Sacred Valley for acclimatisation to the altitude, you may be fine.
The recommended medicine for altitude sickness is WATER, COCA TEA and OXYGEN IF NEEDED; our guides are trained to treat you for Altitude Sickness.
We offer the Cusco City Tour or Sacred Valley Tour that you can book while you are acclimatizing. Check out our Day Tours
ARE WE DROPPED AT OUR HOTEL AFTER OUR HIKE?
Absolutely! Included in our packages is dropping you off at your hotel on the return from your trek or tour. If you have booked your hotel in the Sacred Valley like Ollantaytambo or Urubamba, we will drop you there too!
If you spend the night at Ollantaytambo before the trek, we will pick you up there.
WHAT TO BRING:
- Backpack with rain shelter.
- Sleeping back.
- Clothing for warm and cold climate like a waterproof jacket.
- Rain pants and lightweight pants.
- Trekking shoes.
- Slippers or sandals (for showers and hot springs).
- Woolen or synthetic socksand a sweater.
- Long- and short-sleeved polo’s/T-Shirts.
- Rainponcho cold and sun hat.
- Sunscreen, insect repellent, disinfecting alcohol and gel, water bottle and sterilizing tablets, toiletries and toilet paper.
- Camera (wrapped in plastic bag), a flash light and batteries.
- Some snacks like chocolate bars and dry fruit.
- Extra money in soles (s/ 400.00 soles) emergency case and tips.
- Since the weather can be very cold and mostly, your clothes – once gotten wet – won’t dry at night. So take some
- clothes to change.