点评:The day after experiencing the breathtaking wonder of Machu Picchu, my wife and I, who both enjoy hiking, looked for a place we could visit within about an hour’s walk from Aguas Calientes. That is how we discovered Mandor Fall, located inside the Machu Picchu Nature Reserve.
Although the jungle walk from the entrance to the waterfall was fairly short, it still gave us a memorable taste of the South American rainforest. Along the open trail, we could see the granite mountains across the valley, marked with the traces of waterfalls that had mostly dried up now that the rainy season was over. The scenery even reminded me of Bridalveil Fall in Yosemite National Park.
When we finally reached the waterfall, I had expected something like Hawaii’s Manoa Falls. Instead, the water was rushing down with surprising power, almost like a miniature version of Iguazu Falls. One thing I would definitely warn future visitors about is the short gravel path leading down to the water. It becomes extremely slippery, so extra caution is needed if you want to get close enough to touch the water.
At the café across from the entrance, we paid the 20-sol admission fee for access to the trail and waterfall. After returning from the hike, we sat down there and enjoyed an incredibly delicious cup of coffee that cost only 9 sols. Listening to Erwin, the grandson of the founder of Mandor Sanctuary, explain the history and nature of the area was also a fascinating and enjoyable experience.
It may not be easy for me to visit Machu Picchu again, but if I ever do return, Mandor Fall and this café would absolutely be places I would visit again. To me, they are truly hidden gems.
翻译:在领略了马丘比丘令人叹为观止的奇观之后,我和妻子——我们都热爱徒步——开始寻找距离热水镇(Aguas Calientes)步行约一小时路程的地方。就这样,我们发现了位于马丘比丘自然保护区内的曼多尔瀑布(Mandor Falls)。
虽然从入口到瀑布的丛林徒步路程并不长,却让我们对南美雨林有了难忘的体验。沿着开阔的小径,我们可以看到山谷对面的花岗岩山脉,山上留有瀑布的痕迹,如今雨季已过,大部分瀑布都已干涸。眼前的景色甚至让我想起了优胜美地国家公园的新娘面纱瀑布(Bridalveil Falls)。
当我们最终到达瀑布时,我原本以为会看到像夏威夷马诺阿瀑布(Manoa Falls)那样的景象。然而,瀑布的水流却气势磅礴,几乎就像一个迷你版的伊瓜苏瀑布(Iguazu Falls)。我一定要提醒未来的游客注意,通往瀑布的碎石路很短。瀑布水面非常滑,所以如果想靠近瀑布触摸水面,一定要格外小心。
在入口对面的咖啡馆,我们支付了20索尔的门票,进入步道和瀑布。徒步回来后,我们坐在那里,享用了一杯美味无比的咖啡,价格仅为9索尔。聆听曼多尔圣地创始人的孙子埃尔文讲解当地的历史和自然风光,也是一次引人入胜、令人愉悦的体验。
或许我很难再去马丘比丘,但如果有机会重返故地,曼多尔瀑布和这家咖啡馆绝对是我会再次造访的地方。在我看来,它们真是隐藏的瑰宝。