Madre de Dios: The Jewel of the Peruvian Amazon
Madre de Dios is made up mostly of alluvial plains with terraces at different elevations. The lower areas experience annual floods and are rich in wetlands, while the Carabaya Mountain Range dominates the south. In the west, rolling hills and the Isthmus of Fitzcarrald divide the waters of the Madre de Dios and Urubamba Rivers.
- Minimum altitude: 183 m.a.s.l. (Puerto Maldonado)
- Maximum altitude: 500 m.a.s.l. (Boca Manu)
🏙️ PUERTO MALDONADO
The Amazon rainforest is a one-of-a-kind destination, where travelers feel as if they’ve stepped back to the dawn of time. The city of Puerto Maldonado, the capital of Madre de Dios, attracts thousands of visitors eager to explore its lush forests and winding rivers.
Founded on July 10, 1902, the city is named after Faustino Maldonado, an explorer who navigated the Madre de Dios River to its confluence with the Tambopata River. It serves as the gateway to three national parks in the Peruvian Amazon, all home to an extraordinary level of biodiversity:
🌿 Manu National Park
Location: 280 km from Cusco (12-hour drive + 12-hour boat ride).
Declared a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site in 1987, this park protects the Manu River basin, home to 800 bird species, 200 mammal species, and towering trees over 45 meters high. Indigenous communities like the Machiguenga and Yaminahua also live here.
🌊 Bahuaja-Sonene National Park
Location: 90 km from Puerto Maldonado (5-hour boat ride).
This park protects Peru’s only tropical humid savanna and is home to rare wildlife, including the maned wolf, giant anteater, and harpy eagle. It extends into Bolivia.
🦜 Tambopata-Candamo Reserved Zone
Renowned for hosting the greatest diversity of mammals, trees, insects, and birds on Earth.
📍 TAMBOPATA PROVINCE
🦜 Colorado Macaw Clay Lick
Location: 150 km from Puerto Maldonado (8-hour boat ride).
Located in the Tambopata National Reserve, this is the largest clay lick in the Peruvian Amazon. Each morning, five species of macaws, parrots, and parakeets gather here to feed on mineral-rich clay. Monkeys, tapirs, capybaras, and squirrels can also be spotted in the area.
🌊 Lake Sandoval
Location: 5 km from Puerto Maldonado (40-minute boat ride + 1h 30m walk).
With waters averaging 26°C, this stunning lake is home to giant otters, turtles, black caimans, and exotic birds like toucans and hoatzins. Its lush vegetation includes orchids, mahogany trees, and towering 30-meter palm trees.
🎣 Lake Valencia
Location: 60 km from Puerto Maldonado (4-hour boat ride).
Surrounded by exotic trees, this lake is an important fishing center for the native Huarayo people. Here, species like dorado, catfish, and piranhas are commonly caught. The area is also a key site for Brazil nut harvesting.
🌿 Tambopata National Reserve
Location: 37 km from Puerto Maldonado (2h 30m drive + 4h hike).
A true natural paradise, this reserve is home to 575 bird species, 1,200 butterfly species, and 103 mammal species. Visitors must obtain INRENA authorization to enter.
Madre de Dios is the ultimate destination for nature lovers, biodiversity enthusiasts, and adventurers seeking an unforgettable Amazon experience!
