The jungle frontier town of Puerto Maldonado is located at the confluence of the Tambopata and Madre de Dios rivers, serving as the jumping-off point to some of the most exciting wildlife viewing available on the planet.
Named after explorer Faustino Maldonado, the town is a short 35-minute flight from Cusco and serves as a gateway to three protected jungle zones: Manu, Bahuaja-Sonene and Tambopata-Candamo.
The sustainable eco-tourism offered in this region is the greatest weapon against forces that threaten to degrade and destroy this pristine jungle. Responsible travelers offer an economic alternative to the illegal timber trade and unregulated gold prospecting, both of which are wreaking havoc on the fragile ecosystem.
• Altitude: 259 mts. / 839 ft. above sea level
• Weather: Hot and humid
• Temperature: 70 – 95 ºF – 22 – 35 ºC approximately
• Rainy Season: Tropical rains December to March
To book your Tambopata tours now or consult with us, fill out the “Contact Us” form and a Fertur Peru Travel coordinator will contact you within one working day with detailed information about your fully customizable trip.
Fertur Peru Travel’s pledge is to offer you top-quality, individualized attention that starts with the planning of your trip and continues through your journey to guarantee a great vacation.
Savvy travelers can target specific areas within the Tambopata region. The location matters — visitors should consider whether they want to stay inside or adjacent to the Tambopata National Reserve to maximize wildlife viewing opportunities. The best Tambopata experiences often come from combining different options, staying at both community-run places and lodges deeper in the reserve to gain a better understanding of this remarkable ecosystem.
There are direct 1½-hour flights from Lima to Padre Aldamiz International Airport.
The airport, despite its international designation, is relatively small like most of Peru’s international airports.
The airport is named after Padre Joseba Aldamiz, a missionary from the Basque Country who came to Peru in the 1950s to serve isolated indigenous communities in Madre de Dios. Alarmed by the difficulty of getting medical attention during outbreaks of yellow fever, the then-middle aged Dominican priest enrolled in pilot school in Lima in 1960 and obtained his aviation license. He died in 1966 when his single prop Cessna aircraft — known throughout the region as the “Fray Martín de Porres” — crashed due to engine failure.
Rather than flying in from Cusco, some travelers choose to visit Puerto Maldonado by bus. The nearly 290-mile (465 km) journey takes about 10 hours, but the new modern Interoceanic Highway connecting the two cities makes for a smooth ride, even during the rainy season from December through March.
Some of the mountain views are stunningly beautiful—even breathtaking, as the bus climbs above 13,000 feet (4,000m) before making the descent into the jungle basin. Travelers should be prepared for the altitude.
The Interoceanic Highway offers an alternative for adventurous travelers. This land route connects the Andean highlands straight to the Amazon lowlands. The bus journey from Cusco takes about 10-12 hours, while the full bus route from Lima to Puerto Maldonado runs 20-24 hours. Travelers get to see the dramatic changes between Peru’s different ecosystems along the way, watching landscapes transform from mountains to rainforest.
Boat transfers play a vital role in the Tambopata experience alongside land access options.
After arriving in Puerto Maldonado, visitors usually take a 45-60 minute road trip to a port before boarding river transportation.
Boat journey times vary based on destination:
• Standard lodges: 1-2 hours from Puerto Maldonado
• Deeper lodges in the reserve: 2-4 hours upriver
• Community spots like Kapievi Ecovillage: Accessible by taxi or motorized tricycle
Boat departures align with commercial flight arrivals to facilitate smooth transfers. These river trips offer more than just transport—they provide the first opportunity to spot wildlife.
Travelers should keep binoculars ready for capybaras, caimans, and possibly even jaguars on the riverbanks.
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Prices available upon request
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