Puerto Maldonado, more than just a port of entry

Puerto Maldonado, main city of the Madre de Dios state, is one of the major trading centers in the Peruvian Amazon. This small city of only 70,000 inhabitants approximately, is located under the heat of the jungle, in the confluence of the Tambopata and the Madre de Dios rivers, which are the main gateways to many natural protected areas.

This city is known as the Peruvian Capital of Biodiversity, due to the large numbers and records of flora and fauna species of Madre de Dios. It’s also the starting point for a visit to the reserves and national parks of the region, such as Tambopata, Manu and Bahuaja Sonene, among others.

Nowadays, Puerto Maldonado’s most important economic activities are mining, agriculture and tourism. Illegal gold mining is the biggest problem of Madre de Dios, it pollutes and destroys the environment.  In the other hand, agriculture includes timber extraction, which also causes deforestation. However, responsible tourism businesses which work closely with indigenous people and nature increase every year and are the hope for a better, more sustainable future

In recent years, ecotourism and the promotion of these natural areas have given this city a global interest because of the great biodiversity of its rainforests. Therefore, commercial flights arrive daily with tourists from all over the world to visit these wonder of nature. There is also a new highway (Carretera Interoceánica) from Cusco that starts all the way on the coast, crosses Puerto Maldonado and ends at the Atlantic Ocean in Brazil.

In the city, one of the attractions is the Biodiversity Viewpoint, a tower located in the city center. This place has a spectacular panoramic view of the city running out in the vastness of the rainforest and its surrounding rivers. Puerto Maldonado has good restaurants near the main square, such as Asadazo or Burgos, which also serve regional dishes.  For wildlife lovers, the city has some attractions, such as a snake house and a butterfly house. You can visit all these places before taking the next step: going into the Amazon rainforest to experience nature closely.