A-9.0 Suapo valley roundtrip 6.9 km

Distance         6.9 km              

Time               2.5 hours

Altitude          1535m - 1785m

Ascent            270m

Descent          245m

Rating             easy 2/5

Start               Vilcabamba tourist office

End                 Vilcabamba tourist office

This easy hike enters the shady, secluded Suapo valley to the east of Vilcabamba, at the foot of the prominent Loma Nanaro. Through Eucalyptus forest and shrubs, the trail leads to open grazing land. Return by the same route.  

Route: You find the trailhead 2 kilometers east from the Tourist office on the Yamburara alto- road at the entrance of the little Quebrada (Valley) Suapo. (See photoA-9-1). It branches off the main road to the left, where you see a prominent cream colored building on the mountainside above. After 200 meters into the valley, you pass the sign “Bienvenidos a la Reserva natural del valle de Vilcabamba”, which refers to the formerly protected Eucalyptus reforestation of the Suapo valley. One km into the valley, you reach the end of the vehicle road at a fence of a cattle farm. 100 m beyond, along the trail, there is a concrete water tank and a cattle feeding place. From here, the winding trail climbs more steeply through shrubs and after 300 meters reaches another cattle fence, which gives way to open grazing lands. We can relax from the climb at the little stream below to the right.

Return from here by the same route to town.

The more ambitious hiker can continue uphill, following hike A-9.1, over the dividing ridge into the Uruchi valley and from there back to town.