Cerro Mandango

Excellent hike, wonderful views, week marked trail. First half is ready then it gets very rocky and rougher. Watch your step as you hike as it can be steep and the rocks are loose. Bring water and be ready for hour sun, very little protection from the sun up there.

We agree with the other reviews - challenging but relatively short and rewarding. We read that you should use a guide (we did not) but found the trail very easy to follow. Please stay on the trail and pack all your trash out! We passed a number of couples and women hiking and we felt very safe but use your own judgement. Spectacular views of the town and valley from the cross. My GPS said we went from ~5,200 to 6,400 feet and it took us about an hour.

Super nice view up there. You definitely don't need a tour to hike there. If you made it to the entrance (there was nobody to charge us money) you just have to follow the path and can not miss it.
We went until Mandango itself and then went back. The way back is hard on the knees and sometimes you have to watch your steps, but it's not as dangerous as some people described it in the reviews.
It's definitely worth the effort! Loved the view.

Challenging but rewarding hike to the top! This is a secret mountain so please respect this place and the people you meet. The view over the valley is breathtaking and so much better than the pictures. Make sure to have good shoes and enough water

Much exposure between peak one and peak two, the nose. Bring gloves. The upper section is not for everyone.

Stunning mountain. Climbing it is dangerous with a very worn path along a cliff edge. When I went, I got a guide from Vilca Adventure for $10

Great hike about 1.5 hours to the top beautiful landscape and views moderate level

Ran/walked to the top of Mandingo in Vilcabamba Ecuador this morning. Short hike, but grades were about 20 - 40 degrees from start to finish. Beautiful 360 degree view at the top. Reported robberies up there couple of months ago so didn’t take phone to take any pictures. Ughh. Robbers must have been in good shape trail was steep with a lot of talus in places and sometimes pretty narrow. Can’t see why people are recommending hiring a guide except for maybe safety. The trail direction is very obvious. Now I would recommend you be in decent shape and have good hiking shoes. I don’t recommend this for kids say under 13ish. Trail is narrow with loose rock in places with cliff on one side so move cautiously. I would never do this trail to the top if it had recently rained. Most of these cautions are after you have reached the cross and want to proceed on to the top of Mandingo. You should be in decent shape, but there are beautiful 360 degree views from the cross just below the peak. Enjoy.

I love this place, I hike the Mandango 3 times a year, and I always get new vibes!

Mandango is the 'house mountain' of Vilcabamba appr. 2000m elevation.
The first part to the cross gives you a beautiful 360° view and takes 1 to 1,5 hours from the entrance. You should make sure wearing proper shoes and a hat for sun protection. Also check weather conditions because rain or heavy winds can be difficult to manage.
The second part to the top of Mandango I would recommend to experienced hikers only.

A challenging, some would say scary hike. Steep ascents on narrow Rocky well marked trails. Not recommended for those with fear of heights. Once at the top you are rewarded with 360 degree views of Vilcabamba Valley. Best to return the way you arrived. If you continue along the Ridgeline the trail is hard to find once you drop off the ridge. Best to go left of the farm with the barking dogs. Once you pick up the trail again you are home free with a well defined trail into the creek valley back to the main road.

Nice short trail.
Take in consideration it’s a climb up

A very nice climb and a good hike, especially if you do the challenging loop ! Nice view on Vilcabamba and surroundings.

Really nice hike to get there, and the view is super special specially in the sunset.

The way up is steep but once you get to the ridge it is really amazing.

Amazing views.

Very nice

Cerro Mandanfo en Kichwa Dios acostado. El ascenso es de dificultad intermedia 1 hora aproximadamente, la entrada gratuita, al llegar a la primera cumbre encontrarás una cruz y a unos pasos la vista preciosa al cerro Mandango que se presta para unas buenas fotos. Si deseas llegar a la cumbre más alta del cerro deberás avanzar por el sendero pero OJO este tiene una dificultad más alta debido a que tendrás que escalar en pequeñas partes y es un poco resbaloso. Ya en la cumbre tienes una vista espectacular con senderos que avanzan adentro en las montañas. El clima es cálido y en la cima el calor es muy fuerte por lo que se recomienda hidratación y protector solar.

Excelente lugar para observar. La caminata es un poco dura pero el lugar es precioso

Increíble experiencia, para el cuerpo y para el espiritu