SAN PEDRO DE VILCABAMBA
Famous for its riverside drive, picnic areas and the world’s best homemade ice cream on a stick, San Pedro de Vilcabamba is a nature rich, rural parish located in the canton of Loja, in the province of Loja, Ecuador. Here residents of Vilcabamba come to take the day off to relax by the river. Take an easy bike ride or hike to enjoy seafood restaurants, pristine views of Mandango or find the local swimming holes. Bring a towel and swimsuit!
Where is San Pedro Ecuador?
San Pedro de Vilcabamba is located in the southern tier of the Andean mountain range and is located 37 kilometers from the provincial capital, Loja. It is bordered to the north by the parish of Malacatos, to the south by the parish of Vilcabamba, to the east by the Valladolid parish in the Palanda canton of the Zamora Chinchipe province, and to the west by the Malacatos and Vilcabamba parishes.
The parish encompasses 2,967.26 hectares of forest, including the Podocarpus National Park and the El Bosque protected forest. It’s is a haven for birdwatching, collecting fauna, scenic photography and getting a new perspective about how big the world is. Just take a minute to sit on a rock by the Uchima river and watch the world go by. Say hi to the butterflies and let the reflection of your past wash away.
How to get to San Pedro from Vilcabamba, Ecuador
San Pedro by car, is 5 minutes north of Vilcabamba, 3.4 Km. $2.00 to town by taxi, 75 cents to 1 dollar by bus. The Camioneta (Taxi Trucks) can take you to Piedra Grande or farther down the road, prices can be negotiated with driver. Make sure you take your favorite driver’s business card so you can call them wherever you find yourself.
Gas Station
The gas station is a new addition to the Vilcabamba area established in 2022. It is a classic western pit stop with full service. You can get drinks and snacks at the coffee shop (Easy Bite) that has seating. Next to that is a full pharmacy (Farmacias Cuxibamba), an ATM and a 24 hour car repair and maintenance service shop.
Pass the gas station and make a right turn to take the road to San Joaquin. San Joaquin is an established gated community with epic views and large estates. If you are interested in buying a home there just give us a call and we can show you what properties are available for rent and for sale. Infinity Real Estate is ready when you are.
The San Pedro de Vilcabamba parish is located 37 kilometers from the provincial capital, Loja. It is bordered to the north by the parish of Malacatos, to the south by the parish of Vilcabamba, to the east by the Valladolid parish in the Palanda canton of the Zamora Chinchipe province, and to the west by the Malacatos and Vilcabamba parishes.
Bike and Hike in San Pedro
The roads in San Pedro are rural. Half paved, part cobblestone and rock and mostly dirt. You can have a rolly-polly bike ride or a gentle hike along the river road. It’s easy to start in town and you can’t get lost, all roads lead to the river. See our map. Don’t forget to look south to Mandango in the distance, it is a spectacular point of view and worth the effort to spend the day in San Pedro. There’s ice cream, some great fish restaurants and an easy trip you can complete in a few hours. Very Tranquillo and satisfying.
Points of interest in San Pedro de Vilcabamba
Church of San Pedro: The central church is an important place both religiously and culturally honoring Santos Señor de la Caída and the Patron Saint San Pedro. It is a landmark for the local community and a place where religious celebrations and community events are held.
The community is organized by the traditional system of Minga (community work). If something needs to be done, if a bridge needs to be built, it is the neighbors who work together to make it happen without a partnership with the government. They will choose a leader for each neighborhood and its priorities cover an extensive list: church, schools, sports fields, cemetery, neighborhood roads, irrigation canals, community house, and rural social security facilities are built. These works serve the social development of the community, and some have been reconstructed by provincial and cantonal development organizations.
Central Park: A lovely open space where people gather to socialize, relax, and enjoy the town’s peaceful atmosphere. From here you can stop your bike and have a look around, there is a public bathroom and a gazebo to meet people or sit and enjoy the view of Mandango. Venture out up the hill to find basic goods and small eateries that offer traditional Ecuadorian food.
San Pedro Neighborhoods
Dorado Neighborhood:
Dorado is home to about 110 families. The population mainly centers on agriculture (coffee, sugarcane, corn, yucca, orange, and sour lemon) and livestock farming (cattle and pigs). Additionally, domestic animals such as guinea pigs and chickens are raised here.
Panecillo Neighborhood:
Panecillo consists of about 80 families. It is located in one of the highest points of the parish with privileged views of the entire valley.
Chaupi Neighborhood:
Chaupi is one of the oldest settlements in the parish, located on the banks of the Uchima River. It is popular with foreign residents also known as the gringos. (San Joaquín Hacienda and scattered estates). It is situated 20 minutes from San Pedro de Vilcabamba, accessible by a paved road.
Amala Neighborhood:
The Amala neighborhood consists of 80 families with farms specifically corn. that are widely dispersed rather than concentrated in a specific center. Amala is located on a hill, giving it one of the best views of the Vilcabamba valley.
Sacapo Neighborhood:
Sacapo is another one of the oldest neighborhoods in San Pedro de Vilcabamba, located on the banks of the Uchima River. This neighborhood consists of 40 families, farmers here specialize in agriculture, beekeeping, livestock farming (cattle, pigs, goats), and raising domestic animals like guinea pigs and poultry.
Cararango Neighborhood:
Cararango is an established community of 30 families. The “Rosa Cevallos de Ludeña” school and sports fields are located in this neighborhood, and access is by road. The inhabitants mainly engage in agriculture (corn, sugarcane, yucca, and coffee) and the raising of animals like chickens, guinea pigs, cows, and goats on a smaller scale.
Helados San Pedrito
Local favorite, this is the place to stop at and cool down with homemade ice cream. Across the street is central park with a gazebo to sit down and a bathroom. These delicious delights on a stick come in many flavors to try. A short walk down the street and you can enjoy your treat with majestic views on Mandango.
- Location: San Pedro de Vilcabamba is approximately 40 minutes by car from the city of Loja, the provincial capital.
- Climate: The area enjoys a mild climate year-round, with temperatures typically ranging from 15°C to 25°C.
- Nature: The parish is surrounded by mountains, rivers, and lush vegetation, making it a popular destination for ecotourism. There are several hiking trails to explore the region.
- Economy: The local economy is primarily based on agriculture, with crops such as sugarcane, coffee, and various garden produce. Tourism also plays an important role, as the area is visited by tourists interested in nature and tranquility.
- Culture and Traditions: San Pedro de Vilcabamba preserves many of its rural traditions. Religious festivals and cultural events are important to the community, with celebrations that include music, dances, and typical gastronomy.
The river is parallel to the main road and it is tempting to just stop and jump into the water. It is a privilege to be able to enjoy this beautiful place at elbows reach. You and the water, that’s all you need.
Wild Fire Forest Restoration
In November of 2024 San Pedro de Vilcabamba experienced a two week long wild fire that affected 5 mountains. The community of all surrounding parishes rallied to protect property and the forest. The fires required locals to hike for 3-4 hours up into the peaks just to get to the source. Able to use what they could carry, they only had machetes to create fire walls to cut the fire out of the root system. The helicopters that were sent from Peru were tangled in red tape and when they were able to fly over the fire the water couldn’t get into the root system.
The community organized in multiple independent coalitions. Using social media and whatsapp groups, people arranged camionetas (taxi trucks) to send men and women to the trail heads. Independent leaders found donations to buy boots and fire proof clothing, food and water. Base camps were built with donated equipment. The smoke caused schools to close and the area was under an imposed electricity black out due to a water shortage making it harder to manage the crisis. On November 27 the rain finally came and the fire ended.
We are forever grateful for all the volunteers and the brave men and women who worked directly with the fire.
Crystal clear water runs over river stones at this famous spot to dip your toes and take a break from the day. You can drink the water here and just spend some time watching nature do her thing. We don’t know why people stack stones all over the world, but someone has done it here too. Be polite and ask the rocks if they want to be moved before you make a tower. Muchas gracias to all the big and little stones that pave the way for the water.
This is the place to take a break from your hike and bike tour. Next to the main road its only a few paces to get into the water.
Lunch by the river
There are two places to eat outside of the main village that are by the river. Mil Delicias and Truchas del Salado.
Ecuadorian food: There is a lot to learn about Ecuadorian food and its fresh daily roll of the dice selections based on the days fruits and vegetable. You never eat the same meal twice here. It is truly farm to table on every plate. Truly a unique place to eat in Ecuador.
Public Picnic Area
Let’s go to the river! Grab your favorite snacks and drinks, a towel and dip your toes into the beautiful magical healing waters of Ecuador. Located across from the entrance to Piedra Grande is a public picnic spot where you can BBQ and gather your friends and family. Stay all day and enjoy this locals spot.
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