Puerto Maldonado: the gateway to the Amazon

The town of Puerto Maldonado does not offer much interest in itself, but it is the ideal starting point for a stay in the Amazon rainforest. Another option in Peru is the town of Iquitos, in the northeast of the country. The advantage of Puerto Maldonado over Iquitos is that it is relatively close to Cuzco, which means the Amazon stay can be included without having to go back through Lima. This essentially saves time and the cost of a flight.

What to do around Puerto Maldonado?

Several lodges are located less than an hour by boat from Puerto Maldonado and offer stays that include accommodation, full board and forest excursions. Please note, a 3-day/2-night stay actually means only 1 full day on site, as the first and last days are shortened. So do not cut it too close: a 4-day/3-night stay is often ideal.

Besides the relaxing effect of being immersed in the forest, away from the noise and stress of civilisation, lodge stays allow you to discover different aspects of the Amazon, in particular, of course, its wildlife and flora. The animals most frequently seen are caimans, turtles, otters, various species of monkey and, of course, a great number of birds, such as parrots of various species and colours, toucans, hoatzins and many others.

Lodge programmes vary, but all include some forest walking and various excursions on the Madre de Dios river or by canoe on different lakes. A meeting with a native Amazon community is also often included. In some cases, it is also possible to take part in the Ayahuasca shamanic ritual.

We primarily work with the Corto Maltes lodge, but availability cannot be guaranteed. As alternatives, we use the Eco Amazonia and Bello Horizonte lodges. Do not hesitate to let us know if you would like to stay at a different lodge.

Discover Puerto Maldonado in pictures

More information

Tailor-made trips that pass through Puerto Maldonado