Puerto Maldonado is the southernmost city in the Peruvian Amazon, nestled in the middle of the jungle, it offers all the possibilities and plans for a vacation in total contact with nature.
Located on the banks of the Madre de Dios and Tambopata rivers, it has access to the Interoceanic Highway that connects it with Brazil and Bolivia. It has many activities for family vacations, with friends, and even as a couple. It is not one of those places to go on a weekend, it requires taking your time because there is much to see, the distances are not short and the jungle has its rhythm and its time.
You can enjoy the eco-tourist corridor created by four native communities where you can enjoy kayaking, jungle beaches, walks through native forests, paintball, swimming pool, among others.
It also has an incredible butterfly farm called Tambopata, which is home to more than 600 species of butterflies, the vast majority alive and fluttering colorful in a dream garden. By the way, did you know that Peru has the Guinness record as the country with the highest number of butterflies?
If you want to see the city from above, we recommend the Biodiversity Tourist Viewpoint, inspired by a chestnut tree and 47 meters high, it offers a magnificent panoramic view of the entire city, the rivers and the jungle that surrounds it.
Puerto Maldonado Peru is located in the southeastern part of Peru, in the Amazon rainforest. It is the capital of the Madre de Dios department and is situated at the confluence of the Madre de Dios and Tambopata rivers. The city lies at an altitude of approximately 183 to 250 m.a.s.l. It borders the department of Ucayali and Brazil to the north, Brazil and Bolivia to the east, Puno and Cusco to the south, and Cusco and Ucayali to the west.
Puerto Maldonado, the capital of Peru's biodiversity, is the starting point for some of the most impressive natural areas on the continent. These are its main wonders:
A jewel of the Amazon with an area of over 5,500 hectares, considered one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world. It is home to more than 500 species of birds, nearly 1,000 types of butterflies, 115 species of dragonflies, 205 varieties of fish, and more than 1,200 types of plants. This natural sanctuary is a paradise for those who like to appreciate nature, photography, and ecological tourism.
Located on the border with Bolivia, this sanctuary covers more than 100,000 hectares and protects one of Peru's most unique ecosystems: tropical wet grasslands. It was created in 1983 and is accessed by navigating the Madre de Dios River. Among its inhabitants are the maned wolf, jaguars, black caimans, three species of anteaters, and red and green macaws. A true spectacle of wildlife.
Recognized as a World Heritage Site, this reserve has almost 1,900,000 hectares and is divided into three zones:
Manu Reserved Zone
Transition or Cultural Zone
Inside, more than 20,000 plant species, 1,000 varieties of birds, and a large number of butterflies, mammals, and insects have been recorded, consolidating it as one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet.
This quiet and beautiful lake is located 4 hours by boat from Puerto Maldonado. It is ideal for recreational fishing and bird watching. In its surroundings are native communities that preserve ancestral traditions and offer an authentic cultural experience in the heart of the Amazon jungle.
Although this city serves mainly as a starting point for tourists who want to go deep into the jungle, Puerto Maldonado also offers some interesting activities. So that you do not miss any detail, we leave you the best attractions inside and outside the city.
Did you know that Peru holds the Guinness record for the country with the most species of butterflies in the world? Just 3 kilometers south of Puerto Maldonado is the first hatchery in Peru where live butterflies are exhibited. In 600 square meters, you can explore and learn about the habitat of impressive Amazonian butterflies, which live surrounded by beautiful flowers and native, ornamental and medicinal plants.
As in many corners of the Peruvian jungle, in Puerto Maldonado you will find centers that are responsible for rescuing animals and rehabilitating them so that they can return to their natural habitat. An example is Amazon Shelter, a place where you will find from monkeys to crocodiles, toucans or sajinos that coexist in total harmony with their environment.
The perfect place for those who are thinking of a family trip. Four native communities of Madre de Dios came together to create this corridor that offers endless activities: kayaking, jungle beaches, walks through native forests, paintball, swimming pool ... there is something for everyone!
In a city in which the traditional houses practically do not exceed the first floor, it is surprising to find itself as a construction like the Mirador de la Biodiversidad. This tower is perfect to have a panoramic view of Puerto Maldonado and, above all, to enjoy an incredible sunset.
We begin the tour of the most important natural areas that surround Puerto Maldonado with the Tambopata National Reserve, the closest to the city. The fauna and flora of this place are fascinating: up to 632 species of birds, 1200 of butterflies, 103 of amphibians, 180 of fish, 169 of mammals and 103 of reptiles have been found.
In addition, its spectacular suspension bridges and large bodies of water, such as Lake Sandoval, Sachavacayoc and Valencia, attract attention. But to truly be fascinated with the fauna of this national reserve, visit the Collpa de Guacamayos Colorados, where hundreds of macaws, parakeets and parrots gather to feed on its clay walls 50 meters high by 500 long.
On the border with Brazil is the province of Tahuamanu, another place to enjoy different landscapes related to nature. After taking a walk through the city, we recommend visiting the surrounding towns, where you can ride a horse, go by boat through the Colibrí lagoon and even visit the native community of Belgium and its shiringa forests.
Can you imagine what it is like to walk through a humid tropical savanna? Either way, it seems like a good plan, doesn't it? Well, in Peru you can do it in the Bahuaja-Sonene National Park, a place where animals as fascinating as the giant anteater, the black lizard or the harpy eagle live.
How to get there: the best option to visit Bahuaja-Sonene is to depart from Puerto Maldonado. Here you will have to take a motor boat on a tour of four or five hours with splendid landscapes around you.
Whoever visits this city, also, taking advantage of the fact that it is the capital of the department where it is located, can enjoy the most exquisite typical dishes of Madre de Dios, such as Tacacho with Cecina, as well as juanes, Inchicapi de gallina, asado picuro, carachama broth, among others. Whoever visits the place, cannot fail to try, likewise, the traditional drinks of the city, among which it is possible to mention the cocona soft drink, the pihuayo soft drink, the aguajina drink, the masato and the chapo, among others.
Puerto Maldonado and in general, the Madre de Dios region, is divided into two seasons: dry and rainy. Each of them has its benefits and drawbacks: while in the dry season you can do more activities related to trekking, during this time there is less bird watching. In the rainy season, however, you may encounter more birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Therefore, the best time to visit Puerto Maldonado depends on your tastes and what you are looking for on this trip.
Puerto Maldonado is the starting point for various excursions to the southern jungle of the Peruvian Amazon. Therefore, the first thing we want to tell you is how to get to this city.
Whether you are traveling from Lima or from Cusco, the fastest way to get to Puerto Maldonado is by plane (in 90 and 30 minutes, respectively). But if you are in Cusco and you prefer to travel by bus, you can also do it. The tour takes approximately 10 hours through the interoceanic highway that connects Peru and Brazil.
Exploring the Peruvian jungle is discovering a world full of biodiversity, cultures, and landscapes that surprise at every step. From walks among giant trees and river navigation to wildlife spotting in its natural habitat, tours through this region offer an experience rich in nature and tradition. Local communities share their customs and knowledge, while visitors enjoy the tranquility of the Amazon and learn about the unique ecosystems it harbors.
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