Nature reserve and cloud forest in Machu Picchu, Peru

Infos

• 

  Description

  Hi! I’m Erwin, and together with my family, we run Mandor — a nature reserve and ecotourism project just 2 km from Machu Picchu, nestled in a beautiful cloud forest. Mandor is home to waterfalls, rivers, trails, mountains, and botanical gardens, offering visitors a chance to connect with nature sustainably.
  
  My grandparents bought this land in the 60s for farming, but in the 80s, new government regulations ended their main livelihood, and in 1998, my mother turned it into a conservation project focused on protecting biodiversity. Over the years, my siblings and I joined her, and after finishing university, I decided to stay and help full-time. That’s when I started welcoming volunteers.
  
  Sadly, in February 2024, an unexpected flash flood caused severe damage — destroying our trails, natural attractions, and much of the reforested areas. We lost not only part of the ecosystem, but also our main source of income. Thankfully, our kitchen, coffee shop, and several guest rooms were spared from serious damage.
  
  We’re now focused on rebuilding — and that’s where you come in. I’d love to welcome you as a volunteer! Whether you enjoy working with people, have creative or technical skills, or simply want to lend a hand, there’s always a way to contribute at Mandor. Every bit of help counts. We’re open to ideas, eager to learn, and grateful for any support on this journey.
  __________________________
  
  Hola! Me llamo Erwin, y junto a mi familia gestionamos Mandor — una reserva natural y proyecto de ecoturismo ubicado a solo 2 km de Machu Picchu, en medio de un hermoso bosque nuboso. Mandor alberga cascadas, ríos, senderos, montañas y jardines botánicos, ofreciendo a los visitantes una conexión con la naturaleza de manera sostenible.
  
  Mis abuelos compraron esta tierra en los años 60 para la agricultura, pero en los 80, nuevas regulaciones del gobierno les impidieron continuar con sus principales actividades. En 1998, mi madre transformó el lugar en un proyecto de conservación enfocado en proteger la biodiversidad. Con el tiempo, mis hermanos y yo nos unimos a su labor, y tras terminar la universidad, decidí quedarme y ayudar a tiempo completo. Fue entonces cuando comenzamos a recibir voluntarios.
  
  Lamentablemente, en febrero de 2024, una repentina inundación causó graves daños: destruyó nuestros senderos, atracciones naturales y gran parte de las áreas reforestadas. Perdimos no solo parte del ecosistema, sino también nuestra principal fuente de ingresos. Afortunadamente, la cocina, la cafetería y algunas habitaciones no sufrieron daños mayores.
  
  Ahora estamos enfocados en la reconstrucción — y ahí es donde entras tú. ¡Me encantaría que te nos unieras! Ya sea que disfrutes trabajar con personas, tengas habilidades creativas o técnicas, o simplemente quieras colaborar, siempre hay una forma de contribuir en Mandor. Toda ayuda suma. Estamos abiertos a nuevas ideas, con ganas de aprender y muy agradecidos por cualquier apoyo en este proceso.

• 

  Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre

  Projets artistiques

  Aide avec des éco-projets

  Enseignement

  Jardinage

  Bricolage et construction

  S’occuper des animaux

  Aide dans une ferme

  Cuisine/repas pour la famille

  Aide à la maison

  Accueil / tourisme

  Entretien général

  Aide informatique/internet

  Home sitting
• 

  Centres d’intérêt

  

  Ferme

  

  Dev. durable

  

  Technologie

  

  Vidéographie

  

  Soin des plantes

  

  Photographie

  

  Langues

  

  Jardinage

  

  Dessin et peinture

  

  Bricolage / artisanat

  

  Cuisine et alimentation

  

  Menuiserie

  

  Art et design

  

  Architecture

  

  Randonnée

  

  Activités en plein air

  

  Nature

  

  Montagne

  

  Camping

  

  Sports d'aventure
• 

  Objectifs de développement durable de l’ONU que cet hôte essaie d'atteindre

  ...

  ...

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  Qu'est-ce que c'est ?
• 

  Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre

  We share our place to volunteers as they would be part of our family, and after few weeks they will become. We are so happy to become good friends and that they share our passion for nature conservation and for this project.
  
  Since we are peruvian and we grew up here you will find an authentic experience and authentic peruvian food you will love.
  
  Living far away from the city facilities taught us a different way of living, how we manage our energy, how we get our food, how we live and work and even what we do with the trash.
  
  For example we supply some of our food from the garden, and most of our remedies can be found in the field. We also generate our own electricity, we manage our energy in a different way since it is reduced. Trash is a big topic here since there isn't a solution provided by our government, we reduce, recycle, compost and select the different types of trash finally we walk 2 Km with it to the garbage place.
  
  We have gained some knowledge about plants cultivation, reforestation, ecology and biodiversity. Same for the house maintenance and construction, since we need to solve everything by ourselves we have plenty of tools and some knowledge on carpentry, masonry, electronics, electricity, etc.
  
  On top of that, I enjoy training martial arts and would be happy to share some basic techniques or train together with volunteers and friends. I practice things like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, flexibility and strength exercises, and other movement-based training.
  
  We are happy to share all of these and more.

• 

  Aide

  We welcome volunteers who wish to leave Mandor better than they found it. Contributing their skills, creativity, energy, and commitment to help us grow. Whether you're assisting in our coffee shop, ecolodge, or ecopark, your efforts help us offer quality services and unforgettable experiences to our guests.
  
  You might support us by promoting Mandor online, creating content, designing materials, or helping improve our marketing strategies. Hands-on help with maintenance, gardening, or repairs is always appreciated, as is support in biodiversity research and developing educational resources for our community.
  
  There’s always something new to improve or create — and with every contribution, you become part of Mandor’s story. You leave your footprint in this land, and it stays with us long after you go.
  
  ======
  
  Damos la bienvenida a voluntarios que deseen dejar Mandor mejor de lo que lo encontraron, aportando sus habilidades, creatividad, energía y compromiso para ayudarnos a crecer. Ya sea ayudando en la cafetería, el ecolodge o el ecoparque, su esfuerzo nos permite ofrecer servicios de calidad y experiencias inolvidables a nuestros visitantes.
  
  Pueden colaborar promoviendo Mandor en redes sociales, creando contenido, diseñando materiales o ayudando a mejorar nuestras estrategias de marketing. También valoramos mucho el apoyo práctico en mantenimiento, jardinería o reparaciones, así como la investigación en biodiversidad y la elaboración de recursos educativos para nuestra comunidad.
  
  Siempre hay algo nuevo por mejorar o crear, y con cada aporte, pasas a formar parte de la historia de Mandor. Dejas tu huella en esta tierra, y permanece con nosotros mucho después de que te vayas.

• 

  Langues

  Langues parlées
  Anglais: Courant
  Espagnol: Courant
  Quechua: Courant
  Français: Débutant
  Japonais: Débutant

  Cet hôte propose un échange linguistique
  Cet hôte a indiqué qu’il souhaitait faire partager sa propre langue ou en apprendre une nouvelle.
  Contactez-le pour en savoir plus.
  
• 

  Hébergement

  We are located just below Waynapicchu (only 2 km from Machu Picchu), immersed in a lush mountain forest with rivers, waterfalls, and panoramic views. You’ll stay in a bed in a shared room within our home, enjoying a warm family atmosphere. We offer hot showers, drinking water, and satellite internet access via Wi‑Fi. You’ll also have access to a small exercise area, nature trails, gardens, a kayak for river exploration, and a peaceful setting surrounded by mountains.
  
  Due to recent events, we’re sadly no longer able to cover food expenses for volunteers . We can offer three meals a day, and to help cover the cost of ingredients, we suggest an optional contribution of 10 USD per day. This payment is entirely voluntary, and if you prefer, you’re welcome to bring and consume your own food or snacks. Note: there is no kitchen available for personal use.
  
  ======
  
  Estamos ubicados justo debajo de Waynapicchu (a solo 2 km de Machu Picchu), rodeados de bosque montano, ríos, cascadas y paisajes increíbles. Te alojarás en una habitación compartida dentro de nuestra casa, con un ambiente cálido y familiar. Contamos con duchas de agua caliente, agua potable y Wi‑Fi satelital. También hay una pequeña zona para hacer ejercicio, senderos en la naturaleza, jardines, un kayak para recorrer el río y muchos rincones tranquilos para relajarte y disfrutar de las montañas.
  
  Debido a los sucesos recientes, lamebtamos no poder cubrir con los costes de alimentación. Podemos ofrecer tres comidas al día, y para ayudar a cubrir el costo de los ingredientes, sugerimos una contribución opcional de 10 USD por día. Es voluntario, también puedes traer tus propios alimentos o snacks si lo prefieres. Importante: no hay cocina disponible para uso personal.

• 

  Autres infos...

  We are very close to Machupicchu, you can come to our area on a mini-van or by train from Cusco (mini-van is cheaper). We will assist volunteers to get to our area.
  
  We had really nice experiences with volunteers from all over the world which has permitted us to exchange culture and points of view, we have learned many things from each other, share experiences, have fun, made some short trips and adventures in nature.
  We are still in contact with them, we have become a familly and always remember their contribution, initiative and love to our initiative.
  
  Thank you Felix, Santiago, Valerie, Catalina, Rowan, Mariana, Amelia, Ricardo, Isabel, Jeff, Jason, Andrea Ponti y Andrea Jiménes, Charlie Aodhán, Manon, Fiona y Daniela, Andrea y Tanguy, Cort, Kamilla, Paige, Federico, Laura y David, Camila y Elena, Marie, Libero, Marion, Gaby, Francesco, Bruna, Irini, Jeremy, Luna, Christophe y Steven, Jotti, Sarah, Layla y Ross, Christophe Mermillod, Leonardo, Maciek, Simon, Annie, Angelique y Sarah Berry, Carla, Stella, Jasmin, Mikha, Caiden, Antoine y Nadège, Kim y Paul, Eleonora, Federico Fabriani, Leon, Cyril. Thanks to all our visitors who gave us some minutes of their journey to encourage us, share some ideas or even gave a hand in some tasks.
  
  Love to all.
  
  Erwin and Nelly

• 

  Informations complémentaires

  • 

    Accès Internet

  • 

    Accès Internet limité

  • 

    Nous avons des animaux

  • 

    Nous sommes fumeurs

  • 

    Familles bienvenues

• 

  Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads

  We have satellite internet and our electricity supply is generated by ourselves, so our internet connection is not 100% guaranteed although fast enough (starlink provided)

• 

  Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?

  Plus de 2

Sécurité du site

Feedback (35)