E-8.0 Vilcabamba - Cerro Sananangui return

Distance          12.6 km            

Time                5.0 hours       

Altitude          1530m - 2270m

Ascent             684 m

Descent           675 m

Rating             Hard  4/5  (hard climb & fence crossings)

Start                Tourist office Vilcabamba

End                  Tourist office Vilcabamba

Cerro Sananagui, 2270m, in my opinion, marks the most rewarding viewpoint in the whole of Vilcabamba valley, exceeding Cerro Mandango-views by far.  360° views on Vilcabamba, San Pedro de Vilcabamba and Malacatos to the north, PN Podocarpus to the east, Piscopamba valley and the distant road to Valladolid to the south, and Filo de Taranza, Mandango, Cerro Colambo and the several ranges of the Cordillera Occidental to the west-northwest, reward the hiker. But this views have to be hard earned by a very steep climb of almost 700 altitude meters.

For a more comfortable access, you can hire a Taxi (5.-$-7.-$, depending on roadcondition) to the trailhead at Yasanga, as autlined in trekk E-8.1 to save you the first 400 altitude meters.

Hiking-direction: From the tourist office, head 4 blocks south along Calle Bolivar, turn left onto Calle Hatillo, cross the bridge of Quebrada Puliche and head uphill. At the top of the little hill, branch to the right onto the gravel road passing the Hacienda El Atillo. 5 Minutes later, continue straight at the intersection Cuatro Caminos. After 10 minutes or 500 meters, branch to the left at the corner of the Cherimoya-farm . As this road begins to climb, it becomes a cemented vehicle-track, and where this track ends, it narrows into a worn and washed out horse-trail. Halfway up the ridge there is a prominent rock to the right of the trail, with excellent views back into Vilcabamba-valley. Near the top of the ridge, the trail becomes a vehicle-road again and levels off at the white water tanks, and the prominent brownisch house on a little hill above, giving you a brake after the hard climb. 10 minutes later, at the blue bike-sign, continue the road uphill. After 20 minutes, you reach the end of this road at the residential-area of Yasanga. Our trail branches to the left, 20 meters before the Yellow metal-gate. The trail semi-circles for 20 minutes around a ravine, climbing to an unnamed pass at 2000 m. At this pass, at the end of a cattle coral, you have to cross a barbed-wire fence on your right and follow the ridge uphill trough cow pastures. Skirt the small scrub-forest hill on the right hand-side. Continue up on the ridge. It gets really steep, before this ridge meets the top-ridge at a wire-fence. Cross the fence just at the first of about a dozen Pine trees, it's the easiest spot do do so. Now just follow the ridge on the right hand side of the fence. THe ridge eventually levels off and opens up to a meadow, leading to a concrete triangular reverence point, which marks the top of Cerro Sananagui at 2270m.

The return is by the same route, or else, you can continue descending into the Masanamaca-valley as described in hike E-8.2