VILCABAMBA TO ESPIRITUPAMPA (7 days)

Discover Espiritupampa, the lost city of the Incas, hidden in the midst of the mountain range of Vilcabamba and its lush tropical cloud forest. Espiritupampa succeeded the fall of Cusco and became the last governing Inca capital before the Spanish completed their invasion. Be one of the few adventurers around the world to hike this moderate to difficult trek and feel the energy of the city of Espiritupampa. Enjoy the many archaeological sites along the way and travel in full contact with the Pachamama (Mother Nature in the Quechua language) revealing to you its surrounding snow-peaked mountains and amazing biodiversity. For your convenience, we will bring horses on the trek to carry equipment. We will also provide you with top quality camping equipment and balanced and healthy meals. This is a 7-day expedition that will take you to the limits of the unexplored realm of the Incas.

Trip Itinerary:

DAY 1: BUS FROM CUSCO TO HUANCACALLE  We will pick you up early from your hotel to drive across the Cordillera URUBAMBA towards the valleys of HUYRO and MARANURA and arrive at the starting point of our journey, HUANCACALLE. Leaving the Sacred Valley at OLLANTAYTAMBO, we will drive towards the summit called the Malaga Pass at 13,800 feet (4,200 meters) where we will appreciate the sacred snow-peak of WAKAY WILKA (La Verónica 19,300 feet, 5,850 meters), nick-named by the locals as the "Sacred Tears of Fertility.” From here, we will go downhill towards the town of QUILLABAMBA, known as the "City of the everlasting summer." Here, we will see a change in vegetation as the weather becomes warmer and more humid. We will then have lunch in QUILLABAMBA and continue our journey by bus to our campsite at HUANCACALLE.

DAY 2: VISIT VITCOS AND HIKE FROM HUANCACALLE TO QOLLPAQ'ASA After breakfast, we will visit important Inca ritual sites, VITCOS, ROSAPATA and  ÑUSTA HISP'ANA. In these places, we will see where local people celebrate INTI RAYMI, the celebration of the sun on June 24, as well as an Incan temple, homes and the place where the Incas conducted water rituals. We will then enjoy the view of the PUMASILLO Mountain and the PUCYURA hill. We will then pay our tributes to the important "APUS," or spirits of the mountain by laying a rock along the path. In the afternoon, we will walk to our campsite called QOLLPAQ'ASA.

DAY 3: HIKE FROM QOLLPAQ'ASA TO UTUTO After a nutritious breakfast, we will leisurely hike to our next campsite at UTUTO. We’ll warm up our legs and enjoy the landscapes and tropical vegetation. Have your binoculars and camera ready, as we may see some very colorful neo-tropical birds along the way.

DAY 4: HIKE FROM UTUTO TO VISTA ALEGRE Waking up to the birds’ calls, we will have a hefty breakfast before hiking downhill through exotic vegetation and steep valleys. We’ll then enjoy a midday bath in the PAMPACONAS River before stopping for lunch. In the afternoon, we will walk to our campsite at VISTA ALEGRE.

DAY 5: HIKE FROM VISTA ALEGRE TO CONCEVIDAYOC After an early breakfast, we will hike a short distance before entering the Valley of VILCABAMBA. Here, we will feel the warm weather of the valley and discover its amazing biodiversity. We’ll see the Cocks-of-the-Rock, the national bird of Peru that like to perch at the Q'ASA CROSS. After lunch at TUNKIMAYU, we will continue our hike to reach our campsite at CONCEVIDAYOC.

DAY 6: HIKE FROM CONCEVIDAYOC TO ESPIRITUPAMPA – CHONTABAMBA After breakfast, we will hike for 5 hours to ESPIRITUPAMPA. Arriving at the spectacular ESPIRITUPAMPA, you'll have plenty of time to enjoy the beauty and the mystery of this fascinating archaeological site with your guide. For a short time, this site was the capital of MANCO INCA. Here, MANCO INCA lost a bloody battle against the Spanish before fleeing to the jungle. After a full tour, we will walk a short distance to our campsite where we will have dinner.

DAY 7: HIKE FROM ESPIRITUPAMPA - CHONTABAMBA TO CHIWANKIRI After a refreshing hike through the Cloud Forest filled with breathtaking nature, we will arrive at the CHIWANKIRI village. You will be able to treat yourself to a well-earned cold beer in this traditional jungle farming-village before returning in bus back to Cusco.

Our Service Includes:
·   Private Transport from CUSCO to HUANCACALLE.
·   Meals: 7 breakfasts / 7 lunches / 6 dinners.
·   Camping equipment: 2-person tents (single supplement of $30 – explained below) sleeping pad, all cooking equipment and food.
·   Communal dining tent, cooking tent, bathroom tent
·  Trained chef
·   Horses for carrying the backpacks and all heavy gear
·   English-speaking professional tour guide.

Additional Optional Services that are included:

Not Included:
·   dinner on the last day
·   Sleeping bag.
·   Tips for your guide and staff are much appreciated

Option for staying an extra night:
      At the briefing the day before your trek, we will decide as a group whether we want to stay an extra night in a hostel in Quillabamba. On day 8, we would spend the morning at a recreational park that has soccer fields, a swimming pool, etc. We would then take the 7-8 hour bus to Cusco.