For me personally, Puerto Maldonado is a must visit location in Peru. So much so that I’ve spent a significant amount of time there. In the last six months alone, I’ve spent almost two months in Puerto Maldonado and the Tambopata rainforest.
Yet it’s not for everyone. And if you’re asking yourself whether Puerto Maldonado is worth visiting, either because you’ve seen some ridiculous prices or you’re just limited in the amount of time that you can spend in Peru, this article is for you.
I’m not going to tell you that you need to visit Puerto Maldonado. And I’m not going to sugarcoat the negatives or try to sell you anything. I’m just going to layout the reasons why I visit Puerto Maldonado and why I recommend it to my own friends and family.
Basically, I’m just going to give you the information that you need to decide if Puerto Maldonado and the Tambopata rainforest should be included in your own travel itinerary when visiting Peru. So, read on and decide if Puerto Maldonado and the amazon jungle is for you!
Is Puerto Maldonado worth visiting in Peru?
Why I visit Puerto Maldonado?
I primarily visit Puerto Maldonado and the Tambopata region for fishing. But I stay for the cultural immersion. Now, I live in Lima and it’s basically a megacity in a big coastal desert. It never rains in Lima and the people while friendly, aren’t half as happy and friendly as the people in the jungle.
Life just moves slower in the Peruvian jungle. The people you meet in the jungles of Peru will have a completely different lifestyle and way of thinking. How they perceive life and the world is completely different to the people you meet in other parts of Peru. Or anywhere else for that matter.
Time really means nothing in the amazon jungles of Tambopata. And it’s one of the few places in Peru where you’ll rarely hear or see the word Inca. In the jungles of Tambopata, it’s all about the different indigenous cultures, nature and the wildlife.
Surrounding you everywhere you go in Tambopata is the natural environment. And the jungle and the wildlife that inhabits this region, like the people, don’t care about time.
The jungle, like the people, is timeless. And if you’re the type of tourist that’s expecting to be able to schedule every minute of your days in the jungle, you’ll be sadly disappointed.
The jaguars aren’t going to appear at 9am on the hour. So you can move on to the macaws by 9.30. And the caiman won’t just magically appear by 10am so you can move onto the monkeys. You’ll need patience or you’ll need to learn it before visiting Puerto Maldonado and the amazon rainforests of Peru.
Don’t get me wrong. You’ll see more wildlife in Puerto Maldonado than you could possibly begin to process. It’s one of the most biodiverse regions on earth. But you’ll need to learn to roll with the punches or to go with the flow.
If you’ve got a good guide, you’ll have an amazing time. And you’ll see a lot of wildlife. But if you’re a control freak, the amazon jungle likely isn’t for you. If you’re dead set on seeing one specific species of plant, animal, bird or insect, you need to know in advance that nothing’s guaranteed. And nothing is for certain.
You might just see everything else and not what you came for. That’s just the jungle. So if you’re planning to spend your lifesavings just to see one specific species, think again. And reconsider your need to visit.
Instead, if like me you come to Puerto Maldonado with an open mind and a willingness to see something completely different to what you’re used to, you’ll never be disappointed. And you’ll have a great time.
If you come to Puerto Maldonado to be immersed in the natural environment and to interact with cultures that are completely different to your own, then you won’t be disappointed. Treat a trip to Puerto Maldonado like a fishing trip. When you cast your line out nothing is guaranteed. And you never know what you might catch.
On every trip and on every day of every trip to Puerto Maldonado and the wild peruvian jungle, I experience something different. I see something new, learn something new and I am surprised by something new. And that’s why I visit Puerto Maldonado in Peru.
Is Puerto Maldonado Affordable?
I’ve covered this in depth in other articles. But one of the main things you should know before visiting Puerto Maldonado is that high prices don’t necessarily mean high quality. And the quality of your tour guide is the most important factor.
When visiting Puerto Maldonado and the Tambopata National Reserve, the quality of your guide matters more than which amazon lodge or hotel you book a room in. And I say that as someone who’s stayed in a lot of different hotels and lodges of different price levels in the Madre de Dios region.
An affordable or a cheap amazon lodge option can be a million times better than the most expensive lodges, if you have a better tour guide. If you don’t have a good tour guide in the jungle, you won’t see anything.
When I visit Puerto I’m often with Marco of Bloody Bueno Peru and Diego of Just Cruising Around. We’ve all been friends for the best part of 20 years. And for the most part, they’ll tell you the same thing I am. Your tour guide matters most on your trip to the jungle in Peru.
Yet, if you’re looking for specific recommendations about which amazon lodge in Tambopata to choose, or you’re looking for tour guide recommendations, consider joining the Peru Travel Tips group on Facebook.
Is Puerto Maldonado right for you?
Puerto Maldonado and the Tambopata National Reserve isn’t right for everybody. And I’m not going to pretend it its. But for the bulk of the tourists coming to Peru, who are venturing into the amazon rainforest for the first time, Puerto Maldonado is their best option.
The bulk of the peak seasons for different species in Tambopata, just so happen to coincide with the peak tourist season in Cusco. And Puerto Maldonado is a direct and short flight from Cusco on LATAM. You can fly straight from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado without needing to stop over in Lima.
In the peak season for Tambopata, the butterflies, caiman, jaguars, macaws, monkies, sloth, piranha and other species are often in larger numbers and easier to find. During the May to October peak season you’ll have less rain, lower river levels and more opportunity to experience the wildlife.
Now, the exception that I’ve found when it comes to the wildlife is the giant river otters. I’ve never managed to lay eyes on one in Tambopata. And if they’re what you’re most interested in seeing, you’re better off considering a trip to Manu.
Also, if in meeting the local communities you’re most interested in seeing a floating shanty town, Iquitos is the better option for you. And you can tour Belen from Iquitos. The communities around Tambopata don’t extend out over the river.
Yet, there are many different communities in the Madre de Dios region. And there are even ‘uncontacted’ peoples and tribes. But these are much less likely to be encountered on a tour, no matter what the travel company might tell you. The communities you’ll see and meet, are more like rural villages in Tambopata.
If you’re coming to the jungle for the right reasons, to experience the natural environment and to see the wildlife in it’s natural habitat, Tambopata is the a good choice. And if you’ve got 2 full days or more in your travel itinerary to dedicate to the jungle, then Tambopata is a good option.
But for less than 2 full days you should probably consider removing the jungle from your travel plans and instead dedicating more time to the mountains (i.e. Cusco). Like I said at the start, everything moves slower in the jungle and the animals won’t just appear on command. But that’s part of the charm!
Anyways, I hope I’ve helped you make up you mind. And to decide if the Tambopata rainforest from Puerto Maldonado is for you. Safe travels!
