A short half hour flight from Cuzco and situated at the junction of the Tambopata and Madre de Dios rivers, Puerto Maldonado is a key jumping off point for tours of the Amazon ranging from a couple of days to week long adventures. A former rubber boomtown, now gold mining and tourism sustain this relaxed Amazonian town.
Tambopata and the Parque Nacional Bahuaja Sonene are the two main protected areas and are well serviced by many jungle lodges. The Reserva Nacional Tambopata jungle lodges are located approximately a one hour boat ride from Puerto Maldonado. The other area, Parque Nacional Bahuaja Sonene, is located across the river from the Parque Nacional Madidi in Bolivia takes about four hours to reach by boat.
Visitors are likely to see many different kinds of flora and fauna. Monkeys are ubiquitous as are the mosquitoes! Other animals commonly seen are turtles, caimans, the ever lovable capybara, parrots and with a fishing line, piranhas.