Hiking
Classic · VinicuncaUS$ 29
Red Valley + VinicuncaUS$ 29
Quad · ATV
Vinicunca quadUS$ 70
Red Valley + quadUS$ 75
Classic · VinicuncaUS$ 29
Red Valley + VinicuncaUS$ 29
Vinicunca quadUS$ 70
Red Valley + quadUS$ 75
The route south through the Vilcanota valley, what the road is like, and why almost nobody makes this trip independently.
In short: Vinicunca is about three hours (130 km) south of Cusco by road, via Cusipata, to the Phulawasipata trailhead at 4,650m. There is no direct public transport to the trailhead, so almost everyone goes on an organised day tour from US$29.
Vinicunca lies about three hours south of Cusco, roughly 130 kilometres by road. The drive follows the Vilcanota valley along the paved highway towards Sicuani, passing Andahuaylillas, Checacupe and finally Cusipata, where our tours stop for breakfast. From there the route turns off the highway onto a mountain road that climbs steadily to the Phulawasipata trailhead at 4,650m — the last stretch is unpaved, narrow in places and genuinely high. The ATV plan follows the same road but turns towards Kayrahuire Alto at 4,450m instead.
What nearly everyone does: pickup in downtown Cusco, transport, breakfast, guide and lunch in one package from US$29.
Possible with the right car and a driver used to the altitude, but there is no assistance on the last section if anything goes wrong.
Buses towards Sicuani can leave you in Cusipata or Pitumarca, but the final leg still has to be arranged locally.
| Leg | Distance / time | Road |
|---|---|---|
| Cusco – Cusipata | About 2 hours | Paved highway along the Vilcanota valley |
| Breakfast stop | Around 06:30 | Chirihuani, Cusipata, 3,310m |
| Cusipata – Phulawasipata | About 45 minutes | Mountain road, unpaved in the final section |
| Trailhead – viewpoint | About 1h30 on foot | Wide walking trail, 440m of ascent |
| ATV variant | 50 min – 1 hour riding | Track from Kayrahuire Alto, 4,450m |
Tap a column header to highlight it
💡 Note: the times above are for a normal day in the dry season. Rain, snow or roadworks on the highway can add an hour or more.
Three reasons. First, there is no direct public transport to the trailhead — the buses run along the highway, not up the mountain road. Second, access is controlled by the local communities, who manage the trail and collect the entrance fee. Third, and most practical: the day starts at 4:30 in the morning and ends after dark if anything goes wrong, at altitudes where a breakdown is a serious problem rather than an inconvenience.
We collect you from your hotel or Airbnb in downtown Cusco between 04:20 and 04:40 on the hiking plans, with the exact time set by your location. If you are staying outside the centre, we agree a meeting point in the historic centre instead. The 08:30 ATV departure meets at the fountain in Plaza de Regocijo. See the full schedule.
The route from Puno passes through Sicuani, relatively close to Cusipata, so it is technically nearer than Cusco — but there are no services or departures on that side. In practice, travellers arriving from the south continue to Cusco, acclimatise there and join a standard departure.
Pickup in downtown Cusco, transport, breakfast, guide and lunch — from US$29 per person.
Complete your Peru adventure with these expert-guided full day experiences.
"Life is short and the world is vast — the sooner you start exploring it, the better."
