The Gardens of Mandor

In The Shadow of Machu Picchu

Author: The Traveling Professor/Wednesday, May 29, 2013/Categories: Peru & Machu Picchu

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I always thought there was more to Machu Picchu than just visiting the Lost City.   I have heard about the nearby Gardens of Mandor, but I never knew of anyone who had visited.  So, 2 years ago I hired a guide to take me and a small group of travelers on the relatively flat (thank goodness!) hike into the jungle.

We started at about 8 a.m. in the morning with a guide, Jose.    He was able to point out things that I would never have noticed.   As we walked along the river behind Machu Picchu, we saw a side of the citadel that almost no tourists see.   It’s evident that Machu Picchu is only partially uncovered and in our walk, we were able to see how much more there is to this fascinating place.   We also saw that there are many more trails, other than the Inca Trail, that head into Machu Picchu.

The botanical gardens at Mandor are full of flowers, birds, and wildlife, the most impressive being the spectacular butterflies.

Hikers who get there early enough have a good chance of viewing more birds and perhaps even a slow-moving Peruvian bear.  

The Falls are about 15-20 meters high with a tremendous amount of water flowing over the sides, even during this dry season.   My only regret is that I did not have my bathing suit with me to take a quick swim after the hike.

For photos of our visit to Peru, see: 
https://picasaweb.google.com/113830373689007047481/PeruMachuPicchuHighlightsNov2011

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Tags: Gardens of MandorPeruMachu Picchuwildlifebirds