Programs in Cusco

THE LAST REFUGE OF THE INKAS – VILCABAMBA

EXPEDITION TO CHOQEKIRAO – ESPIRITU PAMPA (11 DAYS - 10 NIGHTS)

Vilcabamba was the last stronghold of the Inkas, a place of mystery abandoned in the middle of the jungle valleys.
Vilcabamba means Sacred Plaines; it was rediscovered by the Savoy expeditions of 1964. There you will experience some of the most beautiful countryside you will ever see. The people who live there are warm and hospitable. You will also see the snow-capped mountains. Espiritu pampa is still mostly covered by thick overgrowth, and has many bird species such as the famous “cock of the rock” (Rupicola peruviana) and also many species of orchids you can be found here.

Itinerary

DAY 1.- CUSCO – CACHORA – SANTA ROSA.- We are leaving from Cusco at 5:00 am by bus to the town of Cachora. Here we will meet with our mule handlers. Around 9:00 am we are going to start hiking and approximately at midday we will be on the first pass, a great viewpoint for seeing Choqekirao in a distance (Kapuliyoq 3,250 m). After lunch we go down to the bottom of the Apurimac Canyon. Later we are going to climb Santa Rosa, which is our campsite.

DAY 2. - SANTA ROSA - CHOQEKIRAO – PINCHAUNUYOQ. - We continue our hike going up to Choqekirao which we reach around 11:00 am. We will stay there to enjoy this amazing place and explore its different levels and districts: agricultural terraces, plazas, store houses, fountains, aqueducts, religious sites and living rooms. Before 3:00 pm we will go towards our next campsite Pinchaunuyoq.

DAY 3.- PINCHAUNUYOQ – MINAS VICTORIA – LLUTHUPATA.- We descend to Rio Blanco (1,800 m). Later we start to climb to maizal and minas Victoria (4,500 m). From here you can see the snow-capped mountains: Salkantay, Umantay and Qoriwayrachina. We walk through the Yanama community and the valley to the campsite at Lluthupata.

DAY 4.- LLUTHUPATA – INKARAQAY.- Today we will walk through the cloud forest as well as the part of the trail with no vegetation because we are going higher now, the highest pass on this trip is Choqetakarpo (4,720 m). You can also see part of the Vilcabamba range. Later we descend towards the camp.

DAY 5.- INKARAQAY – ROSASPATA – VITCOS – WANKAKALLE. We will be going down hill for approximately 3 hrs. and later we are going to visit the archeological complex of Rosaspata - Ñustahisp´ana. Part of the afternoon will be free for resting and recovery, because we are now half way to the Espiritu pampa.

DAY 6. - WANKAKALLE – UTUTU.- We are going to climb to the Qollpaq´asa pass. On the way we will see some small villages such as Vilcabamba la Nueva and the colonial church there. We will enjoy the spectacular views in boths valleys while descending and observing the landscape to Ututu.

DAY 7. - UTUTU - VISTA ALEGRE. - We continue descending and walk into the cloud forest following the Pampaconas River. After lunch we go to Vista Alegre camp.

DAY 8. - VISTA ALEGRE - CONCEVIDAYOQ. - The trail goes through the Concevidayoq valley where you can see incredible orchids and fauna, specifically the cock of the rock (Rupicola Peruviana).

DAY 9. - CONCEVIDAYOQ – ESPIRITU PAMPA. – Today we only walk two hours from Concevidayoq so that later we will have enough time to explore the Last Refuge of the Inkas. There you can see the Inka stone bridge, terraces as well as other ruins.

DAY 10. - ESPIRITU PAMPA CHIWANKIRI. - Today is a day to relax. We will take a walk in the forest.

DAY 11. - CHIWANKIRI – KITENI – CUSCO. - All day trip back to Cusco.

WHAT´S INCLUDED
Private Bus from Cusco to Cachora town.
Mule handlers. (horses and mules)
Guide.
Cook.
Camping equipment.
Meals.
First aid kid.
Oxygen.

What´ S NOT INCLUDED
Sleeping Bag.
Meal day 1, 11