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Host is looking for help immediately
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
29 Apr 2025
Reply rate
87.5 %
Usually responds within 1 day
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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.
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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 of help and learning opportunities
Art Projects
Help with Eco Projects
Teaching
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
Hospitality/Tourism
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
House sitting
Interests
Farming
Sustainability
Technology
Videography
Plant care
Photography
Languages
Gardening
Drawing & painting
DIY & crafts
Cooking & food
Carpentry
Art & design
Architecture
Hiking
Outdoor activities
Nature
Mountain
Camping
Adventure sports
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
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.
Help
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.
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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.
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
Quechua: Fluent
French: Beginner
Japanese: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
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.
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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.
What else ...
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
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host 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)
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Feedback (34)
Photos
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
(5.0)
En 50 años la familia de Erwin hizo tanto trabajo para convertir el lugar en un paraíso:
-Jardín botánico con diversidad de plantas y vida silvestre, donde vas a encontrar muchas familias de aves, mariposas, otros animales,… read more
Voy a continuar mi feedback en español porque hay mucho que me gustaría contar. Joy siempre dispuesta a ayudar, curiosa por aprender, respetuosa y responsable. Las primeras 4 semanas pasaron súper rápido y era una pena verla irse. Pero volvió, esta vez… read more
Cristina llegó de manera inesperada y conectó con cada uno de nosotros como si fuera parte de la familia, de inmediato sabía lo que hacía falta y nos hechaba una mano en todo y a todos :) por supuesto además encontramos (o reencontramos) una gran hermana siempre dispuesta a cuidarnos, escucharnos y darnos consejo.
Cristina… read more
Erwin es una increíble persona, es muy educado, honesto y sobretodo humilde, lo admiro mucho. Su mamá, la Sra Nelly también una maravilla de persona, desde el primer día me acogió muy bien y me hicieron parte de su… read more
Muy atento y servicial, siempre dispuesto a ayudar y con energía infinita tanto para las tareas duras y físicas,… read more
Es un lugar espectacular con un jardin y una catarata muy lindo.
Erwin y Nelly hacen un trabajo de conservation de la fauna y la flora muy importante donde yo he visto muchas mariposas, pájaros, flores increible y un oso ! (Tengo mucha suerte!)
Mi trabajo consistaba en recepcion, ayuda en el… read more
Erwin is laid back and flexible, reliable and listens to feedback and ideas. He's a humorous guy with great knowledge of natural history, and we enjoyed conversations and banter.
The accommodations are as good as you can get, delicious meals… read more
Gracias por dedicar tu tiempo y siempre estar disponible para echarnos una mano a todos, todos aquí te recordamos con mucho cariño, gracias por involucrarte en nuestro proyecto y por tu amistad, gracias por… read more
Fue mi primera experiencia de voluntariado y estoy muy agradecida de que me hayan aceptado en este lugar, ha sido inolvidable. Cada día para mí era una aventura, estuve… read more
Muchas gracias por las lecciones, las recetas y por llenar de buen humor nuestra cocina! Ese insumo indispensable para la elaboración de las comidas que compartimos cada día. Las señoras y la familia te extrañaremos muchísimo chinvergënza! Un abrazo y que la vida te de lo mejor :)
Gracias por tu apoyo y disposición, siempre con buen ánimo y trayendo alegría en la casa. ¡Continúa mejorando tu español, que te vaya muy bien!
Thanks for your time here and your commitment to our project, I would like to highlight her enthusiasm for researching about the plant species we grow in the gardens and the results of her work, leaving some knowledge to be shared to our visitors. Thank you very much!
The location is close to Machu Picchu and Aguas Calientes. It is very peaceful and surrounded by nature. We saw so many different butterflies!
Erwin was a pleasure to work for. He is open to ideas and made sure we had all the tools we needed for the carpentry projects. We… read more
Nuestra experiencia fue mágica y fue muy especial poder conocer a Erwin, a toda la familia y al equipo de personas que trabajan aquí. Nos sentimos muy contentos de haber… read more
Ayudé en la recepción, el restaurante y el albergue. También… read more
Lo explicaré por partes.
El paisaje: Verde y bello. Plantas con diferentes texturas, colores y tamaños, que sirven de escenario para la vida de muchos animales, sobretodo pájaros e insectos. Si eres observador, puedes ver escenas dignas de documental, protagonizadas por… read more
Erwin and Nely I'm very grateful for the… read more
Alan es muy sencillo, divertido y muy trabajador. Muy amable con todos y siempre con una sonrisa y buenas ganas que contagian a los demás. Nos dejó un buen recuerdo con el trabajo que hicimos juntos, las ricas recetas que nos enseñó y preparó, las señoras siguen preparando tus… read more
Un abrazo amigos!
Este lugar es mágico! esta al frente de huayna picchu, en medio de la ferrovia, es un lugar muy tranquilo, La señora Nelly y Erwin son personas hermosas, de las cuales aprendi demasiado!! sin duda volvería.
Mi ayuda consistió en hacer… read more
They are all very friendly and try to make the best out of your stay.
No matter if you are working in the restaurant, reception or in the gardens it is the perfect opportunity to improve your Spanish, learn something about peruvian culture and nature.
Sometimes it can be very quiet and it might… read more
Mucha pena que haya tenido que irse.
Que te vaya muy bien amigo y si tienes la oportunidad de regresar a Perú no olvides visitarnos!
La primera vez que pido ayuda con este tipo de trabajo. Siempre animándoles a sobrepasar sus límites y Simon sin duda lo hizo! Trabajamos en el frío, totalmente mojados, bajo la brisa húmeda de las Cascadas. Lo aprecio mucho, su esfuerzo y compañía porque sin ellos sin duda no lo hubiera hecho. Un gran amigo, muy… read more
Naomi (Stella) is for sure surprisingly hardworking, she was here for few days but I felt she have been for a month 'cause we have done many things together and she did many things by her own too. She is very skilled in many tasks, she never stops, always enthusiastic… read more
Jasmin is very fun and interesting person, you'll never get bored with her. For sure she was really helpful and responsible moreover a nice friend.
Thanks for your help here, and for the good time we had. I really enjoyed it!
Your map is still at reception, it's so beautiful and helpful, you are becoming a famous artist worldwide because I always talk about you when our visitors like your map. Thanks so much for staying here a little more just to finish it :)
We'd love to… read more
Erwin was good at varying the work and was fun to hang out with.
This family will make you feel right at home, no matter your level of… read more
Thanks for your feedback! But more importantly thanks for your time and help. I enjoyed your company, you are such a great person! Happy, intuitive, with a lot of energy and good vibes :)
My mom is also very glad and grateful, she sends her greetings to you.
She and all of the people who had the pleasure to meet you say that you are… read more
I recommend… read more
I'm sorry to you and all of my previous volunteers, it seems that I'm so busy to reply to all your nice comments. I'll take the time to answer all of them.
Sarah was a nice volunteer and a lovely and sincere friend, I'm grateful for all her tips, ideas and suggestions.
Keep enjoying your time in Peru!
Erwin amd his mum are so lovely and gave me such a nice farewell. Erwin genuinely has an interest to get new ideas and input from other people and to progress the business and land. I found it so easy to pass on any ideas i had for… read more
