Puerto Maldonado

Get around

If you've booked a stay at one of the jungle lodges (Wasai, Sandoval, Posadas) your guide will most likely meet you at the airport holding a sign with the lodge's name on it. They will transport you in van to the river (Puerto Tambopata) to wherever you are going (by boat)

If you are staying in town, taxis almost outnumber everyone else in Puerto Maldonado, so getting around the town is fairly simple. Motorcycle-driving taxis will take you anywhere you want to go, and the most likely destinations (airport - plaza de armas, airport - Puerto Tambopata, or airport - hotel) will cost you S/2-5.

If you chose to rent a moped and ride around yourself, feel free. Motorcycle rentals are everywhere in town and normally cost about S/5 an hour.

See

thumb|The Plaza de Armas Most of Puerto Maldonado's visitors use the town as a launching point, but if you are staying for a day or two, here are some things you can do there:

Plaza de Armas. The main square in Puerto Maldonado is much like the main squares all throughout South America. Great for picture taking, eating ice cream, or just sitting around. Confluence of the Tambopata and Madre de Dios rivers. This is in the eastern-most part of town, next to the government buildings, and has a lovely courtyard great for picture taking. Monkey Island A medium sized island situated in the middle of the river, the home of hundreds of monkeys and several different species. The monkeys will try to steal whatever they can, so secure your belongings. Lumber yard. Although this sounds silly, those interested in tropical conservation won't want to miss this first hand look at the economic drivers behind deforestation. Market. Here you can buy everything from a side of beef to CD's. Goods here are slightly more expensive than in other parts of Peru, since Puerto Maldonado imports many goods from other parts of Peru and doesn't produce them themselves. El Jaguar Zoo & Disco. Yes, you read that correctly. Puerto Maldonado has a modest zoo complete with local fauna, and at night the place is billed as a night club. The Obelisk. An eight-storey lookout tower that lets you go up for just a few soles. The outside of the obelisk has beautiful sculptures made by a local artist, telling a typica…

Do

Tambopata National Reserve Macaws and parrots Claylicks Lakes excursions Canopy Towers The relatively close Tambopata National Reserve is famous for its great biodiversity but not even cheap to visit since you need a permit to enter. If you just want to see how jungle looks, you can do that outside the park much cheaper in the Tambopata Candamo Reserved Zone.