D-2.0 Loop Lower Mandango via canal Cucanama

Distance          7.0 km

Time                3.25 hours

Altitude          1530m - 1965m

Ascent             430m

Descent           390m

Rating             Moderate  3/5

Start                Vilcabamba tourist office

End                  Vilcabamba tourist office

This Hike offers a different ascent-route to Lower Mandango mountain. Instead the normal ascent from the east, we circle around the base along the canal road to the north, and climb along the north ridge and approach the knob of lower Mandango from behind. The descent to town follows the normal eastern route.

From the Tourist-office, head straight up Calle Diego Vaca de Vega and enter the dirt road across the main road. Follow this road for about 200 meters until you get to an “S”. At the second bend of the “S”, branches a smaller trail to the left. Follow this trail uphill until you reach the irrigation canal.  At the canal, turn right. This level canal road circles the base of Mandango mountain and turns into the Rio Vilcabamba-valley. 2.6 km or about 40 minutes from town, you find a right turn in the canal-road, where a driveway branches uphill to the left and a small concrete-water tank on the right with a trail dropping into the gully. From this landmark, follow the Canal-road for another 200 meters. Here, in a 180° bend, you find a fence-gate to the left and a little trail climbing along the ridge. Along this ridge, we have to pass (climb) a couple of fences. Follow this ridge trail all the way to the cliff wall of the higher Mandango. At the base of the cliff, our trail intersects with another trail. The trail to the right leads to the higher Mandango, but we turn to the left and climb the last few steps at the back of lower Mandango to the mirror-decorated cross. After taking in the great views from here, we descend the normal route on the east-side towards the town.