Region
Madre de Dios
Fly to Puerto Maldonado, sleep 3 nights at one Tambopata or Manú lodge; skip the long road from Cusco.
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Key facts · Peru
- Currency
- Sol (PEN, S/)
- Language
- Spanish
- Plugs
- A · C · 220 V
- Time zone
- UTC−5 all year
Rules in force · 7Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
- South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
- South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
- South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
- Peru ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Peru's migration authority (Migraciones) or a Peruvian consulate; keep the entry record you receive, as hotels may ask for it.
- Peru ↗Machu Picchu entry is by timed ticket for a named circuit, with daily caps; in high season tickets sell out weeks or months ahead. Buy tickets only from the official Ministry of Culture seller or a licensed agency.
- Peru ↗The classic Inca Trail needs a permit booked through a licensed operator, often months ahead; the trail closes every February for maintenance.
- Peru ↗Altitude sickness is common above 2,500 m: ascend gradually, rest on day one, and ask a doctor before travel if you have heart or lung conditions.
Madre de Dios is Peru's lowland Amazon: rainforest, oxbow lakes and clay licks reached by boat from Puerto Maldonado. Almost everyone flies in, sleeps at one lodge for 3 nights, and flies out. The road from Cusco is long and often wet; the road to Brazil is for overlanders only. Pick a lodge by river and activity, not by town.
Where to sleep
- Puerto MaldonadoCity guide
Airport, river port and the only town of size; most lodges meet you here.
Best Jun–Oct
JFMAMJJASOND
Plan the nights
How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags
Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags
Night sequences
- 3 nights
- Puerto Maldonado 1 night + Tambopata lodge 2 nights
- 4 nights
- Tambopata lodge 3 nights, with a clay lick and lake day
- 5 nights
- Manú lowland lodge 4 nights, then fly out from Puerto Maldonado
- December to March rain can flood rivers and close roads; build a buffer day before an international flight.
- Malaria and dengue occur in the lowland Amazon; use repellent and check prophylaxis with a clinic.
- Lodge boats leave on fixed schedules; a late flight can mean a night in Puerto Maldonado.
Day-trips door to door
| To | From | Door-to-door p50 | Last return | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tambopata National Reserve | Puerto Maldonado | 90 min | unknown | Boat transfer to lodges; check the lodge's scheduled boat times. |
| Manú National Park | Puerto Maldonado | 300 min | unknown | Lowland Manú is reached by road and boat; check access and permits with the operator. |
Bags between cities
Luggage forwarding is not practical here; lodges expect one soft bag per person and store the rest in Puerto Maldonado.
When to go
Months and weather
Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate
Seasons at a glance
Pick a month to see where to go.
Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table
| Country | JJan | FFeb | MMar | AApr | MMay | JJun | JJul | AAug | SSep | OOct | NNov | DDec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Maldonado | × | × | × | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | go | ok | × |
| Peru (country-wide) | ok | ok | ok | go | go | go | go | go | go | go | go | ok |
Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.
Climate strip
| Zone | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowland AmazonPuerto Maldonado, Tambopata and Manú lowlands | wet | wet | wet | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | ok | wet | wet |
- Lowland Amazon
- Warm and damp all year, around 25–32 °C (77–90 °F). The rainy season runs December to March, when rivers swell and can overflow; the drier months from April to October are easier for boats and trails.Warm and damp all year, around 77–90 °F (25–32 °C). The rainy season runs December to March, when rivers swell and can overflow; the drier months from April to October are easier for boats and trails.
Rain can fall in any month; the dry-season window is the safer bet for clay licks and lake trips.
Getting in and passes
Arrival times and regional passes
Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes1 partGet in
Get in
| From | To | How | p50 | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lima | Puerto Maldonado (PEM) | Direct flight | ~1 h 30 | Daily flights; book early in the dry season. |
| Cusco | Puerto Maldonado (PEM) | Direct flight | ~1 h | The usual link from the Andes; short and avoids the road. |
| Cusco | Puerto Maldonado | Road via Paucartambo or Quincemil | 10–14 h | Long, often wet and landslide-prone; check conditions before committing. |
| Brazil | Puerto Maldonado | Road via Iñapari | check | Overland border route; check current border and road status. |
Eat and move on
Regional food and where to go next
Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next
Regional food
| Dish | Where | Timing / trap |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon river fish (paiche, doncella) | Puerto Maldonado and lodge kitchens | Often the best meal of the day; ask what came in that morning. |
| Juane and tacacho | Puerto Maldonado markets | Rice-wrapped and plantain dishes; cheap and filling before a boat. |
| Fresh fruit juices | Puerto Maldonado | Ask for no ice if you are unsure about the water. |
Go next
Peruvian Amazon
Compare with Iquitos and Pucallpa
Iquitos is bigger and reached by river or air; Madre de Dios is the easier add-on to Cusco.
Cuzco
Flight ~1 h
The standard pairing: Andes first, then lowlands, or the reverse.
Manú National Park
plannedRoad and boat from Puerto Maldonado or Cusco
Permits and operators matter; book ahead.
Puerto Maldonado
Gateway town
Where you land, sleep and buy supplies.
Puno
Road via Cusco, long
Only with time; the altiplano is a different trip.
Planning aids
Built from this guide's own data
Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…
Region in numbers
- Day trips
- 2, 1 h 30 to 5 h
- Nights suggested
- 3–5 nights
- Ways in
- 4 listed
- Best months
- No month rated best
Going in…
Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.
Pick a month.
Deep dive
Photos, reading and every source
Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources
Sources
Ask about Madre de Dios
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