Drop us a line!
Sacred Sueños
c/o Yves Zehnder & Chrystel Murphy-Starr
Cassilla 1101 812
Loja
Ecuador
sacredsuenos@wildmail.com
Phone (within Ecuador): 091431689
Phone (International): 00-593-91431689
Note: For the latest volunteering information, you can send a blank e-mail to:
infoss@care2.com |
Web Site changes / picture postings
c/o Clive Webber
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
webonweb2@yahoo.com |
Directions
Most people first fly to Quito or Guayaquil. From there, you can either hitch-hike or take a bus to Loja. (unless you wish to blow 100$ to fly). The bus from Guayaquil costs 10$ and usually takes eight hours. From Quito, it costs 15$ and usually takes 14 hours. Loja is the last city with reliable urban facilities (banks, internet, telephones, etc.), so it's better if you do your errands before taking the one hour bus (1$) to Villcabamba. Contact us first, so we can meet you in town for the two hour walk home.
GPS Coordinates:
4° 16.138 S
79° 10.437 W
Note: For satellite maps, paste ( S4 16.138 W79 10.437 ) at maps.google.com
Basic Walking Directions
Caution: The route takes 2-4 hours, and is uphill and very exhausting. Bring 2L of water.
For safety reasons, we would prefer to meet you in town - but if this is not possible, follow the basic directions listed below.
Note: This satellite photo c/o Google Maps. Red line indicates the path, blue lines indicate rivers. Green arrow is Sacred Sueños.
Click here for a full detailed version.
Click here for a full undetailed version.
Step 1: Walk or taxi (3$) from downtown Vilcabamba (#1 on map) - down the main street, passing the Tourist Info Office - towards "Yamburara Alto" and "Parque Nacional Podocarpus" (note the road from downtown goes downhill past the school, crosses the river, then uphill and splits - paved to the right, dirt road straight ahead - go straight!). This dirt road follows the river. Arrive at a concrete footbridge spanning the river (#2 on map). Time: 45 minutes (walking).
| Step 2: The walk is uphill from now on - follow the path (called "sendero oficial parque podocarpus") up the mountain ridge. Enjoy the views and take your time. You will arrive to a green gate (#3 on map) mentioning "Parque Podocarpus" (see pic on right - click for full version) and the path will split - DO NOT go through this gate - stay on the path to the right. Time: 30 minutes-1 hour. |
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Step 3: Continue along mountain ridge. After another 30-45 minutes, you will pass through a wooden gate, and two small shacks will become visible on your left surrounded by sugarcane. Keep going (passing through gates along the way). Soon, the path will split again - one will continue (straight / to the right) up the mountain ridge and a smaller one will bank left and skirt the top of the sugarcane property. Take this left fork.
The trail will more or less stay at the same elevation from now on (30-45 minutes to farm from this point, see 180° panoramic picture below). You will pass through a series of gates and you should see the structures ahead. Time: 1-1.5 hours. Note: Please close all gates that were closed before you went through them.
Note: You are walking from left to right on the photo - Vilcabamba is in the valley to the left, Sacred Sueños is the 2 dots visible on the right. Click here for a full version.
If we can improve these directions in any way, please contact us. |
