Puerto Maldonado is the capital of the department of Madre de Dios, it is a forced path to go to some of the most beautiful national parks of Peru. At about 10 km and after one and half hour of walk by the interior of the forest is the Sandoval Lake, paradisiacal place surrounded by aguajales, orchids, lupunas, mahoganies and mauritias palms of up to 30 meters of height, you can also see otters of river, crocodiles and the biggest of all the fishes, the paiche (up to 200 tons). At the moment two of the main economic activities of the department are the ecoturism and the extraction of chestnuts.

If you want to walk along the city, without doubt there are several places of interest. The most recognized are the Obelisco or Mirador (of 42 meters of height), the Plaza de Armas, the Plazoleta Miguel Grau, the traditional street of Pto. Maldonado, the Pueblo Viejo, the factory of canoes or longboats, the butterfly farm, the Japipi, the Recreational Center “ Chorrillos and Tupac Amaru ” and the walk-on in carnival festival.

Colpa de Gucamayos

Located in the zone Tambopata-Candamo, left margin of the river Tambopata, to 70 km from Port Maldonado and at aprox. 8 hrs. by engine boat. This zone is recognized by its majesty and is the biggest of the Peruvian amazon, because there meet a big number of macaws, parrots and parakeets every dawn at 6:00 a.m. carrying his ceremony of fluttering out before consuming clay in the ravine of the river. After 25 to 30 minutes aprox. they move back to return the following day.

Bahuaja-Sonene (Tambopata-Heath) National Park

This unit of conservation has 320,000 Ha. It is placed in the province of Tambopata, at 5 hrs. aprox. by the river Tambopata in engine canoe; or 1 day by the river Madre de Dios in engine canoe. This park lodges an extraordinary diversity of species of flora and wild fauna.

Sandoval Lake

To the right margin of the river Madre de Dios at 10 km from Puerto Maldonado, travelling 25 minutes aprox. by engine longboat and then, a walk by a path in the forest of aprox. 1.30 hrs. In the way you will be able to enjoy a big variety of vegetable species as: orchids, platanillos and hugurahuis. As for wild fauna, there is plenty of ducks, giant otters, caymans, wild hens (shansho), turtles (charapas) and a big variety of fish as the paiche. Exists a sector of the Lake in which the temperature changes between 20 and 24ºC, here the visitors can enjoy a refreshing bath without dangers. The walks by canoes in the lake are led for experienced canositas, it has different types of accommodations.

Manu National Park

This National park is the biggest natural treasure of Peru, because of the number of species that it lodges and the diversity of the ecosystem that it protects. It was established as national park in 1973 and declared Natural Patrimony of the Mankind by the UNESCO in 1977. It includes in its totality the basin of the river Manu. Here live diverse well-known ethnic groups -amahuaca, huachipaire, machiguenga, piro, yora and yaminahua-, in addition to many others which do not have any contact with the modern world. This park lodges more than 20.000 vascular plants, 1.200 species of butterflies, 800 of birds, 200 of mammals and a still unknown numbers of reptiles, amphibians and insects. The visit to the National Park is not allowed. Nevertheless, the adjacent Reserved Zones and Cultural Zone are provided with the same attractions and several hostels for tourists. The main routes depart from the city of Cusco, be by terrestrial route (12 hrs. aprox.) up to the Atalaya or Shintuya, then by fluvial route (6 hrs. aprox.) across the rivers Alto Madre de Dios and Manu, or by air (30 min. aprox.) up to the locality of Boca Manu and then traveling by the river Manu (4 hours aprox.)

 

Valencia Lake

It is located 60 km from Puerto Maldonado, by the Madre de Dios river, the duration of the trip is 4 hours.
The lake has 15 km of length, 800 meters of width and between 0,5 and 15 meters of depth, it is possible to observe a big diversity of flora and fauna, among the most outstanding of its fauna are the turkeys of that region, lizards, monkeys, herons, between other species. The principal native communities are: Amaralari, Arasaeri, Kisambaeri, Pukirieri, Sapiteri, Toyoeri, Wachipari, Arawak, Machiguenga and Piro-Mashko. The fans of fishing find propitious field to catch fish as the sea bass, the gilding and the paiche.

Pampas of Heath

Placed southeast of Puerto Maldonado, the trip can be made going down for the river Madre de Dios up to the river Heath (4 hours aprox.) then, crossing the river Heath (1 day). These pampas are the only vegetable formation of type savanna nailed in the deep of the tropical forests of Peru. They are also, refuges of the only species of wild fauna. At present, this place is part of the Bahuaja-Sonene National Park.