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TAMBOPATA

Wisely called the “World Capital of Biodiversity”, the city of Puerto Maldonado is the base of operations for some of the most intense experiences a traveler can have while in Peru. An excellent way of having contact with the Amazon jungle and a stone’s throw away from Cusco by airplane.

Puerto Maldonado is a small city, yet one on the move. It is located at the meeting point of two large rivers: the Tambopata and the Madre de Dios. Three decades ago, it was a tiny town of explorers and adventure seekers, but almost nothing of that reality remains. Today, the city is developing at a rapid pace due to two, seemingly irreconcilable extremes: the unsystematic flow of foreign currency coming from informal mining, stimulated by the exaggerated price of gold (and primary reason for the unprecedented environmental catastrophe happening in the Colorado region) and the success of ecotourism in the jungles of the Bahuaja-Sonene National Park and the Tambopata National Reserve, both next to the city.

In spite of that situation, Puerto Maldonado - or simply Maldonado as its residents call it - is the departure point for enjoying unforgettable experiences in some of the most diverse and best preserved forests on Earth.

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TAMBOPATA ATTRACTIONS

Lodges on the Tambopata River

The jungles that march upon both banks of the Tambopata River are a veritable Eden for nature lovers. Protected by its inaccessibility (in the past, it was nearly impossible to reach these areas) and the park rangers from the National System of Protected Natural Areas, the forests preserve a huge quantity of plants and animals that are hard to find anywhere else in the Amazon Rainforest plus magical natural settings the likes of macaw clay licks, lakes with still waters where large numbers of black caiman, giant river otter families, and hundreds of multicolored birds live, as well as sizeable jungles where man is rarely seen.

In the past few years, dozens of ecotourism lodges have been built. These accommodations offer interesting alternatives for having contact with the tropical forest and for observing its incredible wildlife. Many of them come with naturalist guides, far-reaching systems of trails that penetrate the forests, observation decks, and comfortable rooms.

Inkaterra Canopy (Reserva Amazonica)

One of the main attractions in Madre de Dios is the Canopy Walkway at the Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica. It is 344 meters of suspended pathways that usher mere mortals into a world they have never before seen: the tree tops of towering Amazonian trees. There are seven hanging bridges, two observation towers, and eight platforms in this system that initiates the visitor on what life is like in the forest canopy, where tree tops take advantage of the sunlight for photosynthesis so they can produce fruits and flowers, which are, in turn, feasted upon by birds, mammals, and reptiles that live among the tall branches.

Lake Sandoval

This lovely lake is the chief tourist destination for Puerto Maldonado. The route to get there begins with a one-hour boat trip downriver from the city on the Madre de Dios. Afterwards, you embark on an interesting 40 minute hike along a forest trail that includes more than one surprise. There is an aguaje palm forest that actually rises out of the ever-still waters, and in the morning you can easily catch glimpses of giant otters playing in the lake. It is also a good place for bird watching. Highly recommendable.