Expedition Vilcabamba Espiritupampa 8d/7n

 “LOST CAPITAL OF THE INCAS”

 Introduction

 The last refuge of the Inkas

Vilcabamba means Sacred Valley.The name comes from an Inka dialect called Quechua. It is composed of two words: Huilco, meaning "sacred" or "god" and Bamba meaning "valley"; hence,"valley of god" or "Sacred Valley".This trek to the last stronghold of the Incas, at the end of "a road going nowhere" is a unique experience.

Day 1: Cusco / Chaullay / Wankakalli

We will pick you up from your hotel and travel to Wankakalli by private bus, passing through Ollantaytambo and the Malaga mountain pass (4,200 meters/13,780 feet above sea level) and then entering the Huyro and Maranura valleys. After passing through Chaullay, we will arrive at Wankakalli in the afternoon and make camp for the night.

1. Meals provided: Lunch And dinner .
2. Estimated bus time:  7 hours

Day 2: Wankakalli / vitcus / Ñusta hisp´anan / Qollpaq'asa

we will begin our journey, trekking to the archaeological center of Rosaspata / Vitcos. From Wankakalli, we will have an excellent view of the snow-covered peaks of Pumasillo, and as we trek around the perimeter of Wankakalli, we will visit the Ñusta Hisp'anan stone. In both places we will enjoy an awesome panoramic view of the countryside. Later, we will move on to the Qollpaq'asa campsite.

1. Meals provided: Breakfast ,lunch And dinner .
2. Estimated walking time: 6- 7 hours

Day 3: Qollpaq'asa / Ututo

We’ll head over to the area of Maukachaka continuing the route and passing by Pampaconas, descending to we reach the Ututo where we’ll set camp,here we’ll hace the oportunity of fishing

1. Meals provided: Breakfast ,lunch And dinner .
2. Estimated walking time: 6 hours

Day 4: Ututo / Vista alegre

We will have a downhill hike on Day 4, and after only an hour we will begin to see the changes as the climate turns warmer and we move into Peru's cloud forest. Here, we can enjoy the Pampaconas River as we eat lunch on the riverbank. After a brief rest, we will continue hiking until we arrive at Vista Alegre ("Happy View") where we will make camp.

1. Meals provided: Breakfast ,lunch And dinner .
2. Estimated walking time: 7 hours

Day 5: Vista alegre / Concevidayoc

After breakfast we will hike into the Vilcabamba Valley, where will enjoy the increasingly tropical weather. We will arrive at Q'asa Cross, a favorite place of adventure and nature lovers, where we will see the region's abundance of flora and fauna - for example the Rupicola Peruviana (Cock-of-the-Rock). We will hike onward to Tunkimayu and then Concebidayoc, where we will make camp for the night.

1. Meals provided: Breakfast ,lunch And dinner .
2. Estimated walking time: 6 -7 hours

Day 6: Concebidayoc / Espiritu pampa / Chontabamba

We will hike to the east, toward the Pampaconas River and on to Espiritu Pampa. The topography is amazing here, and it is the perfect vantage point to see how the plateau is formed between the Pampaconas River, Chomtabamba, and the base of the mountain. Here, we will visit the Espiritu Pampa archaeological group, including a number of Incan agricultural terraces, as well as the famous Rumichaca Bridge - an ancient stone bridge. After a guided visit, we will continue to the Chotabamba campsite.

1. Meals provided: Breakfast ,lunch And dinner .
2. Estimated walking time: 7 hours

Day 7: Chontabamba / Chiwankiri

From here we continue trekking, the climate is tropic and very humid, in the valley of Espiritu pampa here we can appreciate the fauna and flora, and then we arrive to Chiwankiri, place of our seventh camp site.

1. Meals provided: Breakfast ,lunch And dinner .
2. Estimated walking time: 5-6 hours

Day 8: Chiwankiri  / Kiteni / Cusco

Our journey on the last day of the trek is by private bus through the city of Kiteni, back through the Malaga Valley, and passing through Amparaes and Calca. Finally we will arrive in Cusco around 10:00 p.m.

1. Meals provided: Breakfast ,lunch  .
2. Estimated bus time: 8-10 hours

 * the places where we’ll set up our camp sites can change depending on the guide.
* Departure and arrival times are approximated.

Group Size: 2 - 16 people

What is included:

• Transportation in and out: Cusco - Wankakalli / Chiwankiri- Cusco (private bus)
• Horsemen and horses: Carry tents, cooking equipment and also carry  mattresses 
• Guide: Professional English and Spanish speaking guide; 2 guides for groups over 12 people
• Cook: In charge of meal preparation
• Emergency Horse: Just in case someone needs help
• Meals: 7 Breakfasts/8 Lunches/7 Dinners/Snacks and afternoon tea
• Equipment: tents (2 people in each, 3-person-capacity), sleeping pad, dinner tent, biodegradable toilet tent, kitchen tent, tables and chairs, table settings, first aid kit, including emergency oxygen bottle

What is not included:

•  Breakfast the 1st day, usually hotels offer this service
• Sleeping bag
•  Tips for the guide, cook and porters

What you need to bring/carry: 

• Personal Sleeping Bag
• Flashlight
• Hat
• Sun block, sunglasses
• Warm clothes, Light clothes, 4 pairs of socks
• Insect repellent
• Chocolates, candies or other snacks
• Camera + Film/Video camera (optional)
• Rain jacket or poncho (plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cusco for a few dollars)
• Water bottle and purification tablets (Micropur are recommended and can be bought in local pharmacies in Cusco)
• Toiletries, towel and toilet paper
• Camera, plenty of film and spare batteries
• You also need to bring your original passport on the trail.

Extras:

• US$20 Sleeping bag rental(-10°C) for the whole trek
• US$24 Single tent accommodation