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Puerto Maldonado, in Peru's southern Amazon, is the most accessible entrance to the jungle. The town itself is nothing to write home about, but it's the best way of reaching one of the many lodges found deeper in the interior. Some lodges are more luxurious than others but all include guided wildlife and bird-spotting excursions, delicious meals and the unforgettable experience of drifting to sleep to the cacophonous sound of the jungle at night.

From Puerto Maldonado, which has daily flights to and from Lima and Cusco, it’s easy to reach the Tambopata National Reserve, one of the most pristine and biodiverse parks in Peru. Once you reach your jungle lodge, you can then push deeper into the jungle in search of giant river otters, spider monkeys, two-toed sloths, pumas and jaguars. If you’re short on time, you could instead visit Lake Sandoval, located within easy reach of Puerto Maldonado by boat. The lake is a great place to spot a range of species, including caiman, turtles, monkeys, giant river otters and a huge amount of colourful birds.

Hidden gems in Puerto Maldonado

Puerto Maldonado

Try piranha fishing at Lake Tres Chimbadas

Head out to Tres Chimbadas, an oxbow lake created by the Rio Tambopata. It’s a prime spot for bird watching and for spotting giant river otters as they play in the shallow waters. You can also go piranha fishing. It’s catch-and-release only, but it’s great fun – just keep your fingers out of range of their perilously snapping teeth. Tres Chimbadas is slightly further from Puerto Maldonado than Lake Sandoval, but can still be visited as a day trip and has fewer tourists.

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Puerto Maldonado

Cross the longest bridge in Peru

Take a ride across the Puente Presidente Guillermo Billinghurst, the longest bridge in Peru. Also known as the Puente Continental, the suspension bridge was completed in 2011 as part of the Interoceánica Sur Highway. Its southern end is just a block from Puerto Maldonado’s Plaza de Armas, so it’s easy to cross for some excellent views of the Madre de Dios River and surrounding jungle.

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Puerto Maldonado tours

Machu Picchu & Amazon lodge
Peru

Machu Picchu & Amazon lodge

See Peru from rainforest eco-lodge to mountain empires
9 days From $2,990 pp
Iguazu Falls & Andean Highlights
Peru

Iguazu Falls & Andean Highlights

A grand tour of Peru and Brazil
15 days
Machu Picchu and the Amazon Rainforest Tour
Peru

Machu Picchu and the Amazon Rainforest Tour

8 day privately guided tour across the Amazon and Machu Picchu
8 days From $2,990 pp
Galapagos, Machu Picchu, and the Amazon
South America

Galapagos, Machu Picchu, and the Amazon

South America's greatest natural wonders
16 days From $4,999 pp
Tambopata Research Centre
Peru

Tambopata Research Centre

Unique location inside Tambopata Natural Reserve
3 – 6 days $653$1,640 pp
Wasai Tambopata Lodge
Peru

Wasai Tambopata Lodge

Great value adventure lodge
2 – 5 days $289$815 pp

Puerto Maldonado travel companies

Central America, South America

Lost World Adventures

Custom tours to Latin America
Central America, South America, Antarctica

SA Vacations

Personalised travel experiences since 2002
South America, South Asia, Southeast Asia

Rainforest Cruises

Exotic Riverboat & Small Ship Cruises
Peru

PeruNorth

Boutique trips to Peru's lesser-visited corners
Peru

Apus Peru

Locally-owned Peru trekking specialists

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