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8-day adventure

The Vilcabamba Trail

Peru
  • Kandoo Trekking
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Code: PRVC

8 days
Moderate
Emissions 121 kg/pers.
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Vilcabamba Trek Route Map

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Our local team

Our team in Peru has been running since 2012 and is lead by the highly knowledgeable José Quispe. He is passionate about his home country and showing others the amazing historical and natural phenomena that live there. Nothing is ever too much trouble for José and he will always be found with a huge smile on his face. He leads an incredible team, decked out in full Kandoo orange, they are hard to miss on the trail. They will do everything they...
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Kandoo's view

With over 12 years of experience providing memorable experiences on the ancient Incan trails, you are in safe hands with our experienced Peruvian team. Lead by our knowledgeable manager, Jose, our local staff are our priority and we ensure their welfare needs are aptly met, meaning they can focus their skills on making your trip a fantastic experience. When you trek with Kandoo Adventures, you may also rest in the knowledge that your trip is fully carbon offset as standard.

This five day trek takes you right off the beaten track and far into the jungle. As well as enjoying a wealth of flora, fauna, snow peaks and impressive valleys, trekkers visit some of the last domains of the great Inca empire, and trek along some excellent examples of the Qhapaq Ñan – the royal roads of the Incas.

The route runs through the sparsely populated Cordillera Vilcabamba, which looks much the same as when Hiram Bingham first explored here a century ago. This trek is not for the faint of heart or weak of legs. It is a particularly challenging route with long trekking days and some tough ascents and descents.

The trip begins in Cuzco, the ancient capital of the Incan empire. As well as having the opportunity to soak up the local culture, these first two days will also help your body to acclimatise before you begin the trek itself. The trek crosses three high mountain passes, each around 4500 metres, before reaching Aguas Calientes and your visit to Machu Picchu

Trip highlights

  • Trek deep into the Cordillera Vilcabamba mountains
  • Fascinating range of bio-diversity
  • High guide to client ratio

Experiences

  • Kandoo Trekking
    Small group hiking in the Wadu Rum desert
    Our core collection of treks and hikes, through some of the world's most outstanding landscapes

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Itinerary

  • Day 1

    ARRIVE IN CUZCO

    All trekkers need to organise their own flights to Cuzco Airport (CUZ). From the airport we will arrange an airport transfer for you. That evening you will meet your local Kandoo representative and have a full pre-trek briefing.

    • Max. altitude: 3400 m
    • Accomodation: Hotel
  • Day 2

    ACCLIMATISATION IN CUZCO

    The city of Cuzco sits at an altitude of 3400m and is a great place to acclimatise before you start your Vilcabamba trek. You’ll have plenty of time to explore this charming city and soak up the local atmosphere.

    • Max. altitude: 3400 m
    • Accomodation: Hotel
    • Meals included: Breakfast
  • Day 3

    CUZCO TO HUANCACALLE TO PILLAOPATA

    We leave Cuzco at 4 am this morning to transfer to our trek start point, passing through the scenic Sacred Valley. We stop for a break in the village of Ollantaytambo, before ascending up a steep winding road to reach the pass at Abra Malaga (4315m). We descend down to Chaullay (1890m) before heading towards Huancacalle where we will have our lunch. From here we can trek to the archaeological sites of Vitcos-Rosaspata and the Ñustahispana (or White Rock). After hiking for a further hour and a half, we will reach our campsite at Pillaopata.

    • Hiking time: 3 - 4 hours
    • Descent: 300 m
    • Max. altitude: 3400 m
    • Accomodation: Camping
    • Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
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Vilcabamba Trek Route Map See the map

Details

Trip information

Difficulty

The Vilcabamba Trail is considered a difficult trek. It’s the longest and most strenuous trek to Machu Picchu. However, the beautiful wilderness you trek through certainly makes the extra effort worthwhile!

No technical skills are required but you should have a high level of fitness with recent experience walking in a mountainous environment for several days in a row.  You may be walking for up to 10 hours a day and you be reaching altitudes well over 4000m. 
The highest point of the trek is is the Abra Mojon Pass at 4510m. 

Food & drink

Staying well-fed on your trek is absolutely vital, especially when conditions are such that you might not want to eat or drink as much as you should. Because so many trekkers experience a loss of appetite at altitude, our head chef has developed special menu plans that are appealing, healthy, and filled with all the energy you need to make it to Machu Picchu. By default, our meals include fresh fruit and vegetables every day, as well as fresh meat and fish.


BREAKFAST

Breakfast is usually fairly hearty. Of course, you’ll also have hot drinks, generally a choice of tea, coffee or hot chocolate. Let your guide know if you are still hungry, or even if you think you could ‘pack in a few more bites’. Our cooks always try to provide more food than necessary to ensure everyone gets a good meal.


LUNCH

Lunch is packed for you, to carry in your rucksack.


AFTERNOON TEA

Afternoon Tea is served at the end of the days walking, once you get to camp. In addition to tea and other hot drinks, there are plenty of snacks to help restore some of the energy you’ve just burned off.


DINNER

Dinners are quite filling. They usually begin with a nice hearty soup, and then a main course with fresh vegetables, and plenty of rice, pasta or potatoes, followed by a yummy dessert.


DRINKING WATER

On the trek, we filter and boil all the water that we give to you for drinking. You may wish to bring purification tablets as an extra precaution but they are not essential. Every morning we will fill up your water bottles or hydration bladder with at least 2 litres of water.


COCA TEA

Coca tea is thought to help relieve the symptoms of altitude sickness. In Cuzco, all the hotels have dried leaves and hot water available throughout the day so you can make your own tea whenever you wish. On the trek we will take coca leaf tea bags for you.

Accommodation

We use only the very best high altitude mountain tents, Eureka K-2 XT, to ensure you stay warm, dry and comfortable on your Choquequirao trek. Please bear in mind, these are proper mountain tents, designed to cope with extreme conditions so don’t expect to be able to stand up and walk around inside!


Your meals will be taken in a separate mess tent where you will be able to sit comfortably, while you relax and chat to your team mates and enjoy the wholesome food that our cook has freshly prepared for you. Inside, you’ll be pleased to find a table (of course) and a proper, comfortable chair. With a full 2 metres of headroom, even the tallest climbers will be able to stretch a bit, and move about without hunching over. They are fully waterproof, and regularly withstand the worst weather the Andes has to offer.


The hotels in we use in Peru all have western, flushing toilets. Whilst on the trek the toilet situation will be a little less luxurious. At camp each evening we will set up a toilet tent.  This is a simple facility that provides a little privacy and comfort whilst on the trail. The toilet tent will contain a portable, sit down toilet. Whilst trekking, if you need to go you will have to find somewhere hidden, off the path and go wild. There's plenty of places to hide in the Peruvian forests!


Our pre- and post-trek accommodation is based in Cuzco, with an additional night in Aguas Calientes after the trek. Where your hotel basis is B&B, you can usually purchase snacks or meals at the hotel, which can be paid in Peruvian Sols, or often in US Dollars. Alternatively, there are plenty of restaurants in Cuzco within walking distance of your hotel.

Transport

We insist on using a high standard of vehicle and driver for all of our transfers. In Peru it is not a legal requirement to have seatbelts fitted in the back of vehicles, and while we try to use vehicles that do have rear seatbelts fitted, this cannot always be guaranteed. If you are unhappy about any aspect of the vehicle or the standard of driving, please speak to the driver or our local office immediately.

Luggage

Bag Weight: 7kg


Kandoo Adventures operates a strict limit of 7kg for your main equipment bag. This limit includes your sleeping bag, even if it is rented from us. This is more than sufficient for your needs on the trek. Your bag will be weighed before you leave the hotel to start the trek and if it is overweight you will have to take items out and leave them at the hotel.

How do I get there?

There are two good ways to get to Cuzco from Europe or the UK. The first is to fly KLM to Lima with a stopover in Amsterdam. The second is to fly BA who offer direct flights from Gatwick to Lima or Iberia who fly to Lima via Madrid. From Lima you will have to get a domestic flight to Cuzco. Domestic airlines include LATAM, Avianca, Star Peru or Peruvian Air. We recommend flying with LATAM as their planes have the capability to land in the foggy conditions that can affect Cuzco and Lima. Most flights from Europe land in the evening, local time. Most flights for Cuzco don’t leave until the morning, so if you don’t fancy loitering in the airport all night (which we do not recommend), you’ll need an overnight stay in Lima.

Trekkers starting off in North America have a much wider set of options. American Airlines and US Airways both offer flights into Lima, as do several other carriers. In addition to existing security measures at international airports, passengers MAY be required to show that the electronic devices in their hand luggage are charged up. You may therefore be asked to turn on any electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets, e-books and laptops in front of the security team and/or demonstrate the item’s functionality. We recommend that any electronic devices that you are carrying in your hand luggage are fully charged before you travel. If you have any further questions then you should check with your departure airport.

If you are changing airlines or re-checking your luggage at an airport on route, please ensure you leave a minimum of 3 hours between flights. This will account for any delays on arrival, travel time across airports (this can take longer than you think) and time taken to re-check baggage.

Travelling Responsibly

Here at Kandoo, we like to support our guests to make their travel more sustainable. As of 2025, we are offsetting the carbon on all of our trips from your arrival in destination to drop off at the airport. As we don't include flight travel in our trips these aren't included in our offsetting calculations, so we are providing you with the calculator below for you to do this yourselves. 

Budget & change

The Peruvian Sol can be purchased in advance, although US Dollars are also widely accepted in larger establishments. If you want to change money when you arrive we can take you to an ATM or foreign exchange bureau. When changing money, request small denominations (10’s, 20’s and 50’s) as the larger notes can be hard to spend. If you withdraw money from an ATM, you are likely to receive 100 sol notes. Peru is generally still a cash society, particularly whilst you are travelling through the smaller villages and towns it is worth having enough cash with you for personal expenses. ATMs will also not be available in these areas so ensure you have exchanged enough money whilst in Cuzco, before leaving on your trek. If you are relying on a credit or debit card for emergency funds, make sure you tell your card issuer that you will be using it abroad, or you may find that it won't work when you really need it.

In Cuzco, the cost of public transport is around 22p (33 cents) for a one-way ticket. If you prefer to travel by taxi, starting price is about £1.10 (US$1.40) for a 1km ride. When eating out, a meal in a budget restaurant for 2 people is around £5 (US$7) or a mid range restaurant (for 2 people) will cost around £22 (US$28). For souvenirs to take home, we recommend budgeting around £40 (US$50) which should get you plenty of little gifts. If you wish to buy a big blanket or poncho then budgeting a little more would be worthwhile. 

Our recommended guidance for spending budget in Peru would be between £80-100 ($100-125) on top of your tips, to give you ample souvenir and meals out spending money. 

Tips

We realize that tipping may not be a common practice in all countries but for Peru it is a standard practice that all operators support. The decision on how much to tip should be determined by how well the team served you while you were on the trek. Tips are always discretionary and if you are not happy with the service you have received you do not have to pay tips. Tips can be made in US dollars or Peruvian Sols. It is very important that US bills be new (less than 10 years old), crisp and untorn.

These are the recommended tips per trekker per day. You will be provided with tip recommendations for your specific trip 3 weeks prior to departure that will give an accurate representation of how much you will need for tips based on the size of your group.

Lead guide: $20
Assistant Guide: $12
Cook: $12
Assistant Cook: $9
Porter (amount per porter): $6
Tent helper (amount per tent helper): $6
Horseman (amount per horseman): $10

Different crew members will be with you for different stages of your trip to Peru:

 

  • Your guide/s will be with you every day in Peru.
  •  Your cook/s, porters, tent helpers and horsemen will be with you while you are on the trek itself (The number of porters, tent helpers and horsemen will differ depending on group size. You will be given this information three weeks before departure) 
  • An assistant guide and cook will only be necessary for larger groups (You will be given this information three weeks before departure) 

Formalities & health

Passport

Please double check that your passport is valid for 6 months beyond the date of arrival in Peru. We recommend that you take a photocopy of your passport and keep it separate from the original, and this will be useful if the original is lost while you are travelling.

Visa

Most visitors (including nationals from the UK, Europe, USA and Australia) do not require a visa to enter Peru, and will generally be granted a 183 day stay. You will need at least two blank visa pages in your passport. Certain nationalities not mentioned above must apply for a visa in advance, so check with your local Peruvian Embassy. On arrival you will need to complete a tourist card in duplicate, and will be given one copy to hand back in when you depart. Keep this tourist card safe, as you will receive a fine if you do not still have it when you leave the country. You will also be required to present it when checking in to hotels or you will be charged additional taxes.

Vaccinations

The standard vaccinations required for Peru are diphtheria, tetanus, typhoid and hepatitis A, but you should always consult your doctor or travel clinic for the most up to date advice. Yellow Fever is recommended for some areas of Peru, which includes the Amazon basin.

Insurance

It is your responsibility to ensure that you are fully and adequately insured for the duration of your trip. Please ensure that all activities, excursions and destinations in your itinerary are included in your travel insurance policy, in addition to your regular cover for cancellation and medical expenses. Most of our treks in Peru do not exceed 4700m with the exception of the Ausangate Trek which will reach 5200m. If you are only doing the Short Inca trail your trek will not exceed 3500m. Please ensure that your insurance policy covers you for trekking at these altitudes.

We ask that you keep a copy of your policy summary (containing policy number and the emergency contact number for your insurer) in your day sack at all times, so that we can access this information should we need to contact the insurer on your behalf.

Health

Altitude Sickness

Altitude sickness, called soroche in Peru and also known as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) or hypobaropathy, is an illness caused by exposure to low air pressure, especially low partial pressure of oxygen, which many climbers experience at high altitudes. AMS is caused by exerting yourself at high altitudes, especially if you have not been properly acclimatised. It is most common at altitudes above 2400 metres. Our routes have been designed to aid your acclimatisation wherever possible, but the following will also help your body adjust:

Slow and steady. You need to keep your respiration rate low enough to maintain a normal conversation. If you are panting or breathing hard, you must slow down. There is no pressure on you to keep up with other members of your group.

Drink much more water than you think you need. Proper hydration helps acclimatisation dramatically. You need to drink at least three litres each day.

Diamox

There has been a lot of research on Diamox that shows that it has been reasonably well proven to be helpful in avoiding AMS by speeding up the acclimatisation process. In the UK it is a prescription drug which must be prescribed by a doctor, but some doctors are reluctant to prescribe it. The concern is that by taking Diamox, people believe that they are immune from AMS and can ignore the symptoms. In reality, although Diamox can help prevent the symptoms, should symptoms still develop it means that you are not acclimatising and you have to take notice. Diamox is taken before you start treking to prevent altitude sickness, not once you are on the mountain and symptoms have developed.

Malaria

There is no risk of malaria in Cuzco or on the Inca Trail due to the altitude. However, there is a risk of malaria in rural areas of Peru below 2,000m. This would include Tambopata National Park, so if you are planning an extension to the Amazon Rainforest, you need to plan anti-malarial medication for this part of your trip. In addition to taking medication, we would recommend you take every precaution to prevent mosquito bites by wearing long-sleeved trousers and shirts at dusk and dawn when the mosquitos are active, and by using a DEET based mosquito repellent. If you are planning on taking Diamox, please let your doctor know, as daily malaria tablets taken alongside Diamox can cause an upset stomach and nausea. A weekly malaria tablet may be a better option, but you would need to discuss this with your doctor.

Dehydration

You can easily become dehydrated at high altitudes. The lower air pressure forces you to breathe more quickly and deeply, and you lose a lot of water through your lungs. You will also be exerting yourself, and sweating, and may even suffer from diarrhoea. As a result, you will have to drink much more water than you normally would and you should drink at least 3 litres of fluids every day while climbing. Even when you do not feel thirsty you have to drink this amount as a minimum preferably more. Stay on the look-out for signs of dehydration in yourself and your fellow climbers. The most common symptoms include thirst, dry lips, nose or mouth, headache and feeling fatigued or lethargic.

Equipment & clothing

Equipment supplied by Kandoo Adventures

High quality mess and sleeping tents with a comfortable insulated sleeping mat.

RENTAL GEAR

If you’ve decided to rent gear, then below is a list of equipment available. Just let our team know what you’d like to hire at your Pre-Trek Briefing. 

All payments are made locally in US Dollars (cash only):

  • North Face 0° Sleeping Bags $15 per trek
  • Trekking Poles $10 per trek
  • Duffle Bag $5 per trek


All items must be packed in your main equipment bag.

They should not be attached to the outside, as we are not responsible if items fall off when the bags are being carried on the trek. The sleeping bags weigh approximately 2kg each

Clothing to bring

HEADGEAR
  • Warm beanie style hat – knitted or fleece
  • Neck gaiter or scarf -  comes in useful for keeping dust out and can double as a warm layer for your neck / face!
  • Sun hat – preferably wide-brimmed for protection
  • Sunglasses – high UV protection
  • Headlamp (plus extra batteries)

UPPER BODY

  • Thermal or fleece base layer (x1)
  • Long sleeve shirt/tshirt – light or medium weight, moisture wicking (x 1)
  • Short sleeved shirt/tshirt – lightweight, moisture wicking (x2)
  • Fleece or soft shell jacket (x1)
  • Insulated jacket – down or primaloft
  • Lightweight water/windproof hard shell outer jacket
  • Poncho – a cheap plastic poncho is the best way to cope with a sudden downpour
  • Gloves – lightweight, fleece or quick drying fabric

LEGS

  • Trekking shorts (x1)
  • Trekking trousers – light or medium weight (x1) – convertible trousers work well
  • Waterproof hard shell trousers – ski pants work fine

FEET

  • Trekking boots – mid weight with good ankle support
  • Training shoe or similar – to wear around camp
  • Mid-weight trekking socks (x3 pairs)
  • Breathable, high-wicking liner socks (x2 pairs)

Equipment to bring

  • Small Rucksack or Daypack (25-30 litres) to carry water and personal items
  • Lightweight duffle bag (approx 50 litres) – max weight when full should be 10kg. This weight restriction includes your sleeping bag, whether you brought one with you or rented one from us. Your duffle will be carried by a mule
  • Sleeping bag (3 season or 0 Deg C) and compression sack
  • Trekking poles
  • Water bottle or hydration bag – must be able to carry 1.5-2L of water

OTHER ACCESSORIES

  • Sunscreen high SPF
  • Toiletries, including toilet paper, wet wipes and hand sanitiser – please carry all rubbish back off the trek
  • Camera and spare batteries
  • Personal medication and first aid kit
  • Insect repellent – ideally contains DEET
  • Personal snacks and energy bars – dried fruit and nuts are also a good source of energy
  • Isotonic drink powder / energy drink powder to mix in with your water. This improves flavour and helps replace electrolytes
  • Microfibre towel for wiping hands and face each day
  • Ear plugs, if you are a light sleeper
  • Pee bottle, if you prefer not leaving the tent at night
  • Dry bag (only required if your main duffle bag is not waterproof)
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Dates & prices

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24/04/2025 01/05/2025 £1,449 $1,885
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08/05/2025 15/05/2025 £1,449 $1,885
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29/05/2025 05/06/2025 £1,449 $1,885
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03/07/2025 10/07/2025 £1,449 $1,885
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07/08/2025 14/08/2025 £1,449 $1,885
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04/09/2025 11/09/2025 £1,449 $1,885
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Want to ask us a question or book a private trip? Don't hesitate to contact us!

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Price includes

  • Your hotel stay for the nights before and after the trek
  • Airport transfers
  • Transfer to and from the trek start point
  • Machu Picchu entry and camping fees
  • A fully supported trek
  • All meals and drinking water on the trek
  • A private portable toilet
  • High quality mess and sleeping tents with a comfortable insulated sleeping mat
  • Access to emergency oxygen and first aid kit

Price does not include

  • Airfares and visas
  • Tips for your guides and crew
  • Personal items
  • Travel insurance (you must be insured, and specifically for treks up to 4500m)
  • Your personal trekking gear
  • Your personal medicines or prescriptions
  • Snacks on the trek
  • Meals and drinks not on the trek

Options

  • Additional hotel nights before or after your climb

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