Like a network of small paths that sometimes play alongside the rivers and in other cases like a vein that reaches the heart of the mountains that surround the Sacred Valley, these are the paths of Vilcabamba.
When you hear Vilcabamba, one of the first things that come to mind is a lot of nature and a healthy lifestyle.
The trails of Vilcabamba, are without a doubt one of the most recognized destinations by travelers to enjoy a visit to the valley of longevity.
Vilcabamba has a network of trails that goes beyond its spaces as a parish jurisdiction and that also serve as a means of communication for local people.
For those who visit, they are also spaces for landscape delight and complete well-being, since the tranquility and contact with nature that is achieved when you walk through them is worth experiencing.
For nature lovers, they are also an opportunity to meet some of the more than 100 different species of birds that have been recorded in the area, or the way to reach a waterfall or the summit from the famous Mandango hill, Vilcabamba watchtower.
Many of these roads are also called "peasant trails" because even today they are used to move agricultural products and to stock up on others by the rural peasant population of the Vilcabamba area.
For this reason, it is also possible to find different types of domestic animals such as cows, horses, donkeys, even chickens and even rabbits on some of the routes.
CURRENT LEGAL SITUATION OF THE TRAILS (OCTOBER 2021)
Although the trails (especially those that have gone along the water sources) have always been used by the local population, years ago they were delimited as private property, preventing the free transit of both locals and visitors to the sacred valley of Vilcabamba. .
This situation has been changing little by little in recent years; since thanks to the pressure exerted by organized civil society, as is the case of the Eco Club Vilcabamba, the authorities on duty have not been able to ignore what is determined by Ecuadorian legislation and have had to start enforcing the constitution and the laws that govern us.
At the moment there is a legal dispute over the intention of the Loja cantonal council to reduce the width of all the paths that go along the river to 5 meters.
The Vilcabamba EcoClub is one of the citizen organizations that has spoken out in opposition to this measure, which would be detrimental to the general interests of the community.
A complete trail guide around Vilcabamba
A very complete guide that includes routes and specifications of these for walks, and bicycle and motorcycle routes, and that add up to nearly 100 different options are those that are shown on the site. VilcaHike, although the site only appears in English, you can even download the maps and thus facilitate the journey.
what remains to be done
- Signaling: Almost null in several places.
- Repairs: They are urgent in different sections, especially in bridges, sidewalks and other wooden goods that need constant maintenance.
- Physical security.
- Solid waste management
- Promotion of responsible use and care of natural spaces
EXPLORE THE DIFFERENT PATHS IN THE VILCABAMBA AREA
Every week a group of hikers from Vilcabamba get together to explore new routes. Get in touch through this email and find out about the plans for this week and live new experiences in the sacred valley.
The trails of Vilcabamba are, without a doubt, spaces that connect those of us who live in the Sacred Valley with life, as well as for those who visit it.
Coordinated work between local and sectional authorities, private companies and residents of the areas of influence of these trails is really necessary to strengthen the approach that Vilcabamba aspires to have as a tourist destination for nature and well-being in the medium and long term.
EN_US 
ES