Madre de Dios

Puerto Maldonado is the capital of Peru's Madre de Dios region and the main gateway to the southern Peruvian Amazon. The compact river city sits at the confluence of the Madre de Dios and Tambopata rivers, surrounded by lowland rainforest and connected to Cusco by the Interoceanic Highway.

Founded in 1902 during the rubber boom, Puerto Maldonado has grown into a centre for conservation, research and ecotourism. Peru often calls the city its Capital of Biodiversity, and its riverfront, markets and quiet plazas give it a relaxed Amazonian character.

The city is best known as a base for Tambopata National Reserve, Bahuaja-Sonene National Park and the Manu biosphere. Nearby experiences include macaw clay licks, Lago Sandoval, canopy towers, night walks and river trips where visitors may see macaws, giant river otters, caimans and other rainforest wildlife.

In the centre, the Plaza de Armas, the Mirador de la Biodiversidad obelisk and the lively Mercado Central offer a glimpse of daily life. The riverside Malecón and local eateries serving Amazonian dishes add to the city's laid-back atmosphere.

For business travellers, Puerto Maldonado supports regional trade, mining, agriculture and conservation projects, with hotels, lodges and meeting venues concentrated near the centre. Leisure visitors use the city as a staging point for rainforest expeditions, making it relevant across both tourism and practical travel.