Getting There

From Loja, there are very regular bus connections that cost between $1 and $1,5 and take about 1h30.

Coming from Peru, there is currently no bus connection. However there is a bus company working on the connection San Ignacio-Vilcabamba, and during the year 2006 it should be in place. You can cross the recently opened La Balsa international bridge with other means of transportation.

From San Ignacio take a colectivo to La Balsa (12 soles, 4 passengers needed to leave, about 3 hours). They leave at half a cuadra from the Posada Hotel. The last ATM is in Jaén (only accepts Visa, but is willing to give out dollars for use in Ecuador), and the next one is in Loja. If you plan on staying in Vilcabamba for a while, take plenty of cash.

In La Balsa wait for the bus to Zumba, you can´t miss it. It´s normally a chiva, a truck used as a bus. Be sure to arrive before 2pm, as that´s the time the last bus leaves. In Zumba there are several busses daily to Loja, that can drop you of in Vilcabamba too. Prices are at about $6,5 to Vilcabamba and a dollar more to Loja.

It sounds like a complicated trip, but it´s actually quite relaxed. If you leave in the morning (say, between 8 and 9), you can easily make it to Vilcabamba, taking about 12 hours including waits. About 3 hours of the ride are on really bad roads, but these are also the most beautiful parts, so it´s okay to have your head out of the window. There is a fund to construct an asphalted road, but god knows when that will be done.