Logistics for visiting the Vilcabamba region (Vitcos and Chuquipalta)

Hey all,

I'm in the process of planning some excursions in the Cusco area, and number one on my priority list is to somehow combine a trip to the sites of the Vilcabamba (Vitcos and Chuquipalta namely, possibly Paltallacta if time permits) with a visit to Machu Picchu. I know that several Cusco-based tour companies offer trekking in the area which includes a stop-off at MP on the way back, but these are a little out of my budget and I'd rather focus my energy on the archaeology than on trekking.

With that said, I'm hoping some of y'all can help me out.

I'm looking at several possible options, which were mainly developed with the help of a 5-year-old Footprint guide...so any more current info is of course great. These possibilities are as follows:

1. Train from the Sacred Valley to MP. After visiting the site, walk to Hidroelectrica or Santa Teresa. Try and pick up onward transport to Huancacalle. Visit archaeological sites, then backtrack OR hop a bus back to Ollantaytambo.

2. Try and book an empty car seat with a tour operator doing the trek to Espiritu Pampa, then local transport to Santa Teresa and walk to Aguas Calientes. Or, of course, the reverse. Does anyone know of any agencies who might be amenable to this?

3. Long bumpy bus ride to Quillabamba (I'm not wild about long bumpy bus rides), connect onward to Huancacalle. Then backtrack towards MP as described above.

Are there any other possibilities that I'm missing?

I'm aware that Aguas is the end of the line for the tourist train, though my guide mentions a local train that runs from Hidroelectrica to Aguas...presumably it makes the return trip as well?

Finally, does anyone know of any freelance guides in Cusco or especially Quillabamba who might be willing to offer transport and maybe some interpretation at the sites without it being part of a larger, trekking-based tour?

Any and all advice is much appreciated.

Thanks in advance!