Unexplored trekking routes offer new adventures in the Peruvian Andes

Peru For Less, a specialist in Peru vacations (http://www.peruforless.com), has announced the launch of a series of new Peru adventure trekking routes in Peru’s Vilcabamba mountain range, opening the

Peru For Less, a specialist in Peru vacations (http://www.peruforless.com), has announced the launch of a series of new Peru adventure trekking routes in Peru’s Vilcabamba mountain range, opening the area to an international audience for the first time.

A series of largely unexplored trekking routes through a remote mountain chain in Peru’s history-rich southern Andes are being opened up to an international audience for the first time.

The five new routes, which lead through the Vilcabamba mountain range west of Cusco, offer travelers a chance to explore the Inca Empire’s final cities and important ruins, tackle demanding terrain and cross a variety of Andean and jungle environments.

Treks vary from relatively short four day routes, to ten and eleven day hikes. Each route follows original Inca roadways and paths between some of the region’s most significant archeological sites, including Machu Picchu, Choquequirao, Vilcabamba and Espiritu Pampa.

The Vilcabamba, which is characterized by almost impenetrable, snowcapped mountain peaks, deep valleys and dense jungle-like vegetation, was chosen as a natural fortress by the remnants of the Inca Empire, into which they retreated while resisting the Spanish conquest.

The sites of Choquequirao, Vilcabamba and Espiritu Pampa were among the final cities build by the Inca. Much of their history remains unknown, and archeologists have only recently begun to excavate the sites.

The area’s extreme isolation has also meant that while Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail have received ever growing visitor numbers, the rest of the Vilcabamba mountain range has remained quiet and are rarely visited.

While Machu Picchu receives around one million annual visitors, just 8,000 people arrive at the much larger site of Choquequirao each year.

The opening of the new trekking routes by Peru For Less is the first time that an international travel agency has offered these hikes to a wide audience. Previously, trekkers were required to arrange their own guides and porters or join a locally-based trekking operator.

Describing the new trekking routes, Nick Stanziano, Destination Manager at Peru For Less, said: “Although the Vilcabamba is better known for the enormously famous citadel of Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail trek, more and more trekkers are asking us for a more adventurous experience in a more challenging environment.

“We’re proud to be the first agency offering these adventure treks to an international audience as part of a full vacation package which guarantees value and service quality, as well as a fully customized experience.

“Our treks benefit from the best guides, food and equipment available, so even though the routes are challenging, the experience is always a rewarding and memorable one.”