'''Vilcabamba''', meaning Sacred Valley, is a quiet, scenic, peaceful valley in the Podocarpus National Park in southern Ecuador.
Get in
It is a one hour bus ride from the City of Loja. There are international buses from Piura (8 hours US$8) on Peru_Ls Panamerican Highway 3 times daily. Transportes Loja has buses from Loja throughout Ecuador. Access is also possible from Iquitos & Chachapoyas in Peru via the frontier at Balsas & Zumba
Get around
A camioneta cooperative is run from the main square. It is 1$ to get around pretty much everywhere in the town.
See
Las Palmas cloud forest reserve
Do
Self-guided treks or hire a guide into the surrounding mountains or the national park Podocarpus. The last mugging on the Mandango trail was in 2007, the police caught the responsibles.
Do a 2 hour, 4 hour, or 1-3 day horse-riding trips. There are quite a few reputable tour operations in town. Tours to Las Palmas cloud forest can be arranged through Cabanas Rio Yambala only, 4km's out of town.
Get a massage, manicure, pedicure or waxi at a few locations in town or at Hosteria Izhcayluma, 2km south of town.
Spend a bucolic afternoon at one of the restaurants around the main plaza.
Buy
Eat
'''La Terraza''': Central Plaza. Serves Mexican and Italian food. Excellent chicken fajitas and nachos. Mains are $3 to $6.
'''Shanta's Bar''': Calle Diego Vaca de Vaga, passed the bridge. Cool atmosphere with a cowboy vibe. Bar seats are horse saddles and the walls are covered in international money, weird animal hides, and neat photos. Serves pizza, filet mignon, and pasta. Good food. Mains $3 to 6$. Large menu of drinks, including their homemade Snake Drink moonshine (actually fermented Cane Juice).
Izhcayluma. 2 km south of center. Taxi to get there is 1 US$ or a 20 minutes walk uphill. Don't confuse with the neighbour "Asadero el Molino de Izhcayluma". Excellent international food, some German dishes too. Good vegetarian options. Stunning views from the panorama restaurant. Mains $3 to $6.
Open till 8 pm for the last order, closed on Mondays. Busy in the evening because of the hostel guests, better for breakfast or lunch.</eat>
Drink
Izhcayluma. 2 km south of center. Taxi to get there is 1 US$ or a 20 minutes walk uphill. Lively bar inside the same named hostel with ping pong and pool table, dart board, open to the public. Variety of cocktails, some under 2 US$. Large beer for 1,50 US$. Community of international backpackers, good to meet new people. Bonfire some nights. Open every night from 7 pm. If you don't stay at the hostel it will be difficult to go back to the center, prepare for a night walk.
Sleep
'''Cabanas Rio Yambala''' [http://www.vilcabamba-hotel.com/]The best trekking, birding and relaxation in Vilcabamba. Visit waterfalls in Ecuador's most biodiverse cloud forest, lakes in the alpine paramo and our unique Tree Canopy Adventure
'''Hostel Le Rendez-Vous''': Calle Diego Vaca de Vega 06-43. Owners are a French couple Isabelle and Serge. Beautiful cabanas around a garden. Very clean, very nice, and lots of hot water. Breakfast is included: home-made bread, eggs, fruit salad, fresh fruit juice, coffee, tea, hot chocolate. 1 person is $11 per night, 2 people is 9$ per person per night, and 3 people is 7$ per person per night. They have a large collection of DVDs with a portable TV/DVD player, hammock, verandah, information booklets on Vilcabamba, Ecuador, and Peru. [http://www.rendezvousecuador.com/]
'''Hosteria Izhcayluma''': Owners are 2 young German brothers, Peter and Dieter. Located about 2KM out of town, overlooking the valley. Different kind of accommodation, surrounded by fantastic tropical gardens. Dormitory style rooms starting at $9 with much nicer private cabins available. A creative swimming pool and Spa services (massages, facials, etc.) are available. Buffet Breakfast is included: home-made bread, eggs or crepes, fruit salad with home made yogurt and granola, fresh fruit juice, coffee and tea as much as you like, etc. Several self guided hiking trails are offered in the nearby area . The panorama restaurant with great views is also open for lunch and dinner. They have a large collection of DVDs which can be watched until 6PM since the on site bar with a pool and ping pong table, opens at 7PM. There's a great community of international travelers to be found. Wi-Fi connection for free. [http://www.izhcayluma.com/]
Warning. Several female travelers have reported being raped by the owner of Hostal Ruinas de Quinara. DANGER: The same owner changed the name of his hostel into Hosteria: El agua de hierro.
See
http://www.libertadlatina.org/Lat_Ecuador_Vilcabamba_Hotel_Owner_Rapes_Foreign_Tourists_With_Impunity_06-12-2006.htm</sleep>
Get out