The most popular activity here is horseback riding. Horses, with riders and without, are common in the streets. Various individuals and small tour companies offer guided horseback tours around the area, and most hotels here either have their own horses and guides, or can set you up. If you want to do it on your own, check in with Centro Equestre (tel. 07/2673-151) or Gavilan Tours (tel. 07/2640-281). Rides run around $15 to $20 (£8.25-£11) for a half-day tour, to $35 to $50 (£19-£28) for a full-day tour, including lunch.
The same terrain that makes horseback riding so rewarding is also perfect for mountain biking. If you prefer pedal power to horse power, ask at your hotel, or contact the information office .
There's plenty of good hiking all around the Vilcabamba valley. Perhaps the most popular hike is to the top of the Mandango rock formation. From the town and several vantage points around the valley, this rock formation looks quite a bit like a face staring up towards the sky, and locals call it "The Sleeping Giant" or "The Sleeping God." It's a sometimes steep and strenuous 2-hour hike to the top, but the views are worth it. Another popular hiking destination is Podocarpus National Park . If you want to do any guided hiking, a longer trek, or some serious bird-watching, contact Jorge Luis at Caminatas Andes Sureños (tel. 07/2673-147). Jorge Luis is an extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide.
If you're sore from hiking, biking, or horse-back riding, you should consider heading to Madre Tierra for a massage or spa treatment. Individual treatments begin at around $8 (£4.40) for an aromatherapy session, to $40 (£22) for a 90-minute massage. Other options range from hot mud treatments, to facials, to Reiki sessions. Hostería Izhcayluma has very similar offerings.
If you're spending any serious time in Vilcabamba and run out of good reading material, head about 1 kilometer out of town towards Yamburara for Craig's Book Exchange.
For some reason, people from across Ecuador flock to Vilcabamba in late February for the annual Carnaval celebrations. During this period, the sleepy and peaceful little town becomes a major party destination, with bands and parades and street vendors and pretty much nonstop partying.
Long Strange Tripping -- It's a long way to Vilcabamba, but for many visitors here, this is where their tripping begins. The San Pedro cactus grows heartily here. Known as the Holy Cactus, San Pedro is a bucket term given to some 30 different species of Andean Trichocereus cacti. All are tall columnar cacti that contain the psychotropic alkaloids used to make mescaline. Its ritual and shamanic use in Ecuador and Peru dates to at least 1400 B.C. Locals and expatriates around Vilcabamba often offer to guide travelers on a San Pedro cactus trip. These trips run the gamut from very conscientious and well-guided ritual experiences to bonfire party scenes. In most cases, it is illegal, and considered a jailable offence, to take San Pedro cactus. However, apparently some shamans are licensed to provide the experience. I cannot advocate or recommend any specific guides or shamans, but only caution you that if you do decide to venture into this realm, be forewarned that this is a very strong psychedelic substance, and you should be very sure you trust and feel comfortable with whomever you choose to guide you.
