Day 1: From the village of Aguas Calientes, below Machu Picchu, the hike to Mandor follows the railway tracks for 4 km, parallel to the course of the rushing Vilcanota. The trail then passes through an old coffee plantation before entering the cloud forest, following the river for about thirty minutes before arriving at the falls. Along the route we will pass through plantations of coffee, bananas, avocado and medicinal plants, until the surroundings become wilder and we are able to observe bromeliads, orchids and many other type of plants and flowers as well as many species of butterflies. The waterfall itself is about 12 metres high; come all the way from the sacred peak of Yanantin.
The trail continues farther up the ridge beyond the falls, but becomes more difficult to follow in the thick vegetation. In this forest it is possible to spot spectacled bears, coatis, and river otters, as well as hundreds of bird species.
Optional second day:
Early visit to Machu Picchu; guided tour of the city. Lunch at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge. Afternoon, return to Cusco by train. Transfer to the hotel.
Included:
- Train Cusco-Machu Picchu-Cusco.
- English-speaking guide.
- All our trash produced during the trek returns to Cusco.
- First-aid kit.
Not included:
- Personal expenses, clothing.
We recommend that you bring the following personal equipment:
- Day pack for personal items and camera.
- Warm jacket for the evening, wool sweater, long pants, light cotton shirt and T-shirt, hat with brim, wool or flannel shirt.
- Comfortable walking shoes (well broken in).
- Rain jacket or rain poncho, sun block, insect repellent.
- Canteen or plastic water bottle.
- Binoculars (for bird watching), camera and film.
