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Travel To Puerto Maldonado : The Ultimate Guide On What To Do And Where To Stay

You have finally decided to travel to Puerto Maldonado and visit the Tambopata National Reserve in Madre de Dios, well known as the capital of biodiversity because it concentrates a significant amount of wildlife. Species that are very accessible to see because of the pretty healthy rainforest that it has.

Connecting with nature is the possibility of being able to walk through the forest, listen to its voice and meet its inhabitants in perfect harmony, follow these tips and you will be leaving a positive impact on the Peruvian Amazon.

How to get to Puerto Maldonado city?

The city of Puerto Maldonado is southeast of Peru, next to Cusco in the Madre de Dios region, the 3rd biggest department of Peru.

To get to Puerto Maldonado (PEM), you can fly from Lima taking a direct flight of 1.5 hrs. From April 2021, you will be able to fly from Cusco in just 30 minutes to get to Puerto Maldonado at the Padre Aldamiz Airport.

You can also drive or take a bus or car from Cusco, but we do not recommend the road as there are at least 10 hours in the dry season from May to September.

Where to stay in Puerto Maldonado?

In Puerto Maldonado city you will find 2 types of accommodations: hotels and ecolodges.

Hotels usually include breakfast and transfers from the airport. So you have to find where to eat and what to do.

The jungle lodges are ALL-INCLUSIVE.

  • We recommend

Hotel Cabaña Quinta or Hotel Wasai, are 3* hotels, very well located and closer to the main square where all you need is close including restaurants, ice cream stores, and nightlife.

Double rooms come from around USD per night per 2 people, and you can find them on main online platforms such as Booking.com. But contact them directly as they might offer you the same or better price as every accommodation.

There are also nice properties outside the center such as Enai Hotel, located in the Madre de Dios riverbank, so you will need to cross the river to get there and every time you would like to chill around the main square. It has a swimming pool and will let you enjoy amazing sunset views on the river.

  • The Jungle Ecolodges

The ecolodges are designed for the ones who look for a deep exploration of the Amazon rainforest. They will include everything: land and river transportation to/from Puerto Maldonado airport, activities, and excursions, all meals, and accommodation.

But if all of them include the same, what is the difference in the experience and prices? I can resume this on 3 things:

  • Location

Some lodges located in the Madre de Dios River are settled in secondary forest, next to or where the land was used for agriculture or next to road connection, so very easy to access. Most of the lodges in the Tambopata river are accessible only by boat and have the Tambopata National Reserve in its backyard.

  • Wildlife

Because of its location, you will have more or fewer chances to find wildlife. Through undisturbed rainforest, you have higher chances to see unique wildlife including the elusive jaguar, a harpy eagle nest, or 4 to 5 species of monkeys including the spider monkeys. check out our how-to choose an amazon jungle lodge for better tips.

jaguar by lucas bustamante

Jaguar in the riverbank in the amazon when you travel to Puerto Maldonado

  • Their commitment to sustainability

If you get this far, you are an explorer who cares about nature and is committed to changing the world, you have not traveled this far only for the Instagram picture, but for making a positive impact on the Amazon rainforest conservation and the well-being of its native communities. Many ecolodges work closely with local communities or develop science and conservation projects. Ask for results, participate actively in one of those if you have the chance.

  • Where to eat in Puerto Maldonado?

In Puerto Maldonado, we have plenty of options right now, the city has grown so fast after the implementation of the Interoceanic Highway that you can find traditional or gourmet cuisine, but since you are here, we highly recommend trying traditional food first and the author’s cuisine based on local ingredients.

We recommend: Burgos Restaurant, Cafeteria La Semilla and Puzanga Bar

Don’t forget to pass by Gustitos del Cura or Copazu Ice Cream store, artisanal ice creams based on local fruits. Both are located in the main square.

  • What to do in Puerto Maldonado and Tambopata?

First of all, REMEMBER this is not a place to enjoy the sun and stay in the swimming pool all day, if you are looking for that, then there are very nice places in the north jungle or the central jungle too. Tambopata is a place for explorers, for adventurers looking to discover the Amazon rainforest.

You will not find respectable places with animals to touch, feed, or carry for the picture. Wildlife here is unpredictable, they do not get closer to you for the picture. This is NOT a zoo and all tour operators are very committed to respecting nature and its wildlife.

What to do next?

Having said that, here are the Top 5 excursions and activities you should NOT MISS when visiting Tambopata

1. Visit a Macaw clay lick

The 2 most famous are Colorado and Chuncho, the first one inspired a National Geographic cover in 1994, the second one has been very active in the last 2 years. Better for you if you can visit both.

macaw clay lick in Tambopata Research Center

Macaw clay lick near Tambopata Research Center

2. Climb a canopy tower or visit a canopy walkway

Having the chance to see the rainforest from the canopy, it’s a unique experience, as most of the famous wildlife is active on this level of the forest. A 35-meter-high, at least, will be perfect to observe the Amazon as the birds do.

3. Visit an oxbow lake

These were part of the main river and many species have made their home in its calm waters, including piranhas, caimans, and giant river otters.

Giant River Otters

Giant river otters 35% probability to spot them

4. Join a night walk

The Amazon rainforest is completely different by night, just the amazing soundtrack will make this experience unique, besides the numerous creatures you can find at night.

nightwalk in the Amazon Rainforest

Jungle night walk

5. Actively participate in science and conservation projects

As you have chosen a sustainable project where to stay, then do not limit yourself and become a citizen scientist. Did you know you can discover a new species for science in the Amazon and name it?

 

Most lodges include all these activities at the nightly price, and you do not need to worry about any extra. At least ours does.

If you stay in Puerto Maldonado, remember that you will have to organize your tours and excursions. Always look for local operators with experience, seriousness, and commitment.

  • What our guest say

    • Valuation Excellent
    • 5/5

Shropshire Boy October 2026

Nicholas Nguyen October 2026

David Forrest September 2026

Susanne Ratzenberger September 2026

juandiegohurtadom September 2026

Jazmin M September 2026

Paul H August 2026

FineSpitz August 2026

Jack Looney August 2026

Ching Han Toh August 2026

Maggie Kwok August 2026

Jim July 2026

If you want to know what it is like in the jungle, this is the place to come. Amazing scenery, wildlife, and knowledgeable guides. To get the most out of the experience prepare for some early starts and early bedtimes. A fantastic few days which I won't forget in a hurry. Read all

The excursions were the best part of the trip and how the guides were so knowledgeable and welcoming. We were lucky to have seen all different kinds of animals including capybara, giant river otter, spider monkey, red howler monkey, scarlet macaw, hoatzin. Read all

It gives a great insight into the jungle. We had a great visit. I recommend going during the dry season. Our guide Luis M. was excellent! Knowledgeable, enthusiastic, kind and a gentleman. Bear in mind it's going to be hot and humid with some mosquitos. It's a jungle out there! Read all

A spectacular experience—Juan Carlos and Carmen, we’d like to sincerely thank you for our stay at your lodge on the banks of the Tambopata River. This part of our two-month trip through Peru and Bolivia left an indelible impression on us. The transfer itself was a testament to the professionalism of your team: the journey from Puerto Maldonado to the lodge—with a very tight schedule to arrive before dark, a guide waiting for us, and a smooth trip by bus and boat—went off without a hitch despite our tight flight connections. Everything about the lodge won us over: comfortable accommodations in the heart of the jungle, good food, and a comprehensive, well-structured excursion program with morning, afternoon, and evening tours. We were thrilled every time we saw something new. We’d especially like to highlight our guide, Jordi: his knowledge of the flora and fauna, combined with his patience in spotting wildlife, made our stay truly special. Equally impressive was the condition of the jungle: pristine, clean, and home to an intact ecosystem ranging from big cats to macaws. The care and responsibility devoted to maintaining this place are evident. Incredible guides. And the entire staff was very attentive. Highly recommended Read all

A spectacular experience—Juan Carlos and Carmen are incredible guides. And the entire staff is very attentive. Highly recommended Read all

It was a wonderful experience and a pleasant surprise. The staff and guides at the Rainforest Expeditions lodge were fantastic and always went out of their way to ensure we had the best possible experience. Thank you to Juan Carlos and Carmen for their care and dedication to the group. Read all

We had an excellent 5 night stay at TRC with two couples. The remote Lodge and accommodation are unique especially with the open walls to the jungle in the rooms. The guides were first rate with superb knowledge and their ability to spot fauna in the dense jungle was incredible. We saw many species of monkeys; macaws, parrots, tapirs, etc.. even lucky enough to spot a jaguar. Food and service was really good. While not cheap it was I think very good value for money. We really enjoyed all the hikes and citizen science activities as well, he trips on the river and the clay licks. Overall amazing experience! As it’s the jungle not a zoo, you can’t guarantee that you’ll see everything all the time so allow enough days to properly explore. Read all

A once-in-a-lifetime experience in the middle of the rainforest. From airport pickup in Puerto Maldonado to the lodge and back, everything was exceptionally well organised. Communication was clear throughout, with the team always explaining what would happen, where to be and what to take care of. The staff at both HQ and the lodge were incredibly attentive, making the entire stay feel completely carefree. At this price point, this is the level of service you expect, but it is still impressive to experience it in such a remote setting. The food was another highlight: very well curated and balanced, with plenty of options at every buffet and, surprisingly, we never had the same dish twice. Read all

This was an excellent experience!! Highly recommend if you’re interested in visiting the Amazon Rainforest and Tambopata region. Especially happy with our guide Miguel, who was highly professional, informative, and organized. It was an immersive adventure and we got to see so many unique plants and animals. 10/10! Read all

Amazing experience at Refugio Amazonas. Rooms were comfortable and clean. Great buffet spread every day. Staff were friendly and attentive. Our guide Alan was very informative. Overall would definitely recommend a visit! Read all

We stayed 3 nights at Posada Amazonas during our summer trip to Peru, and it was definitely one of the biggest highlights of the whole journey. The staff were incredibly warm and welcoming. Our guide, Joss, was professional, friendly and amazingly knowledgeable. Sometimes it honestly felt like he could communicate with the animals — he could spot black caimans or giant river otters from hundreds of metres away! The excursions were unforgettable. We saw beautiful macaws, giant river otters, capybaras, sloths, tarantulas, an anaconda, different species of monkeys, toucans and so much more. I especially loved the rainforest walks and joined both the daytime and night walks. Every walk felt completely different, and you never knew what you might find. What also made the stay special was the lodge’s involvement in scientific and environmental projects. There was a talk every evening, and we learned a lot about the rainforest and its wildlife. We also joined the “Discover New Species” activity and helped search for possible new species of tiger moths — such a fun and memorable experience. The lodge itself is definitely rustic luxury rather than a city-style 5-star hotel. There is no air conditioning or hair dryer, but the hot shower, fan and hammock in the room were all very comfortable and suited the rainforest setting perfectly. And surprisingly, the internet connection was excellent — even the boats had Starlink! One of the things I appreciated most is that Posada Amazonas is a collaboration between Rainforest Expeditions and the local Indigenous community that owns the land. Many community members are directly involved in running the lodge, and you can really feel how much the staff care about and are connected to this rainforest, which is part of their ancestral home. If you are looking for an authentic, educational and truly memorable Amazon rainforest experience, I highly recommend Posada Amazonas. We absolutely loved our stay. Read all

The Tambopata Research Center (TRC) offers a well-organized immersive rainforest experience within the Tambopata National Reserve. The TRC and its accommodations put a spin on the term creature comforts by keeping guests comfortable while they commune among the creatures within the rainforest. I appreciated, through what I observed and the interactions I had, the attentiveness of the TRC team members. They knew their guests and seamlessly organized a lot for our benefit. The center assigns guests to a small group with a dedicated guide. In my case, Erick Arguedas was a superb ambassador for all things living in the rainforest, in part because it was the environment in which he grew up. His role was to ensure we got the most out of our visit. Being a long-term TRC guide gave him the expertise he needed to easily fulfill this role. Read all