Plan Your Trip to the Peruvian Amazon and Puerto Maldonado

When traveling to Peru, most tourists visit Lima and Machu Pichu, often overlooking the Amazon rainforest. However, the Amazon is a hidden gem with fantastic landscapes and diverse wildlife. Surprisingly, if you are visiting Cusco, the Amazon is just an hour's flight away, and definitely worth a visit.  
 
Puerto Maldonado is the largest city in the southern region of the Amazon and can be a great spot to unwind and explore the wildlife after a tiring trip to Cusco and Machu Picchu.

Journey from Cusco

The best option for traveling to Puerto Maldonado from Cusco is by plane. Flights can take as little as an hour, allowing you to make the most out of your day. Alternatively, as a cheaper option, you can take a bus, but that takes around 10 hours. Further reading: How to Visit Machu Picchu

Is It Just a Day Trip?

Puerto Maldonado is not a day-trip destination, and you wouldn't want it to be. To fully experience the Tambopata National Reserve, Lake Sandoval, and go on canopy walks, you should plan to stay at least two nights. Many tours include transportation, meals, and traditional accommodation. After the high altitudes in Cusco, Puerto Maldonado is the perfect spot to relax and immerse yourself in nature.

Where to Stay

Puerto Maldonado offers a range of accommodation, from basic hostels to eco-luxury lodges. Lodges like Inkaterra or Refugio Amazonas offer guided excursions and night safaris. However, if you would rather stay in town, there are comfortable hotels near the Plaza de Armas, which is the heart of the city.

Plaza de Armas

The Plaza de Armas or Main Square is the heart of the city. There, you can wander around, appreciate the local architecture, and grab a bite to eat. You can choose from a diverse range of restaurants, from Italian to Peruvian to local Amazon dishes like Tacacho con Cecina y Chorizo, Juane or Arroz Chaufa estilo Amazonico.

Canopy Experience

Puerto Maldonado offers a unique canopy experience to explore treetops and wildlife from a bird's perspective, perfect for pictures. This involves walking on suspension bridges of up to 40 meters tall. Several tours also offer a visit to Monkey Island, where you can observe various monkey species such as brown capuchins, white-faced capuchins, and squirrel monkeys. For all the brave ones out there, there are certain tours that include ziplining through the jungle, if you are looking for a more thrilling experience.

The National Reserve of Tambopata & Lake Sandoval

The National Reserve of Tambopata is located a bit far from the city of Puerto Maldonado. To get there, the most usual route is booking a tour and traveling on a canoe with a guide. This can take up to 2 hours. However, the trip is absolutely worth it. There are many activities you can partake in depending on your interests, such as canoe trips, bird observation, trekking, and visiting indigenous communities. A less conventional activity you can do is ethnobotanical walks. You can learn about medicinal plants like the Ayahuasca and the interesting traditions surrounding them.
 
The wildlife in Tambopata is certainly among the most impressive in the world. The National Reserve is home to many animals such as macaws, jaguars, anacondas, and even caimans. It has been reported that there are over 2,000 animal species living here.

Puerto Maldonado is a great spot to add to your Peru trip, especially if you've just come from the long trek of Machu Pichu. It's a chance to slow down, enjoy nature, and see a completely different side that the country has to offer. With amazing wildlife and activities, it's the perfect spot to relax and explore.

By Franco Hiromoto