Major city · Peru
Puerto Maldonado
Go for 3 nights, not 1: the town is a boat dock for Tambopata lodges, and a day trip cannot reach the clay licks at dawn.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- PEN
- Best months
- Jun–Oct (drier, cooler)
- avoid Dec–Mar (heavy rain, some roads and trails flood)
- Airport
- PEM
- Nights
- 3
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.
Puerto Maldonado is the gateway to the Tambopata reserve, not a sightseeing city. Almost everyone sleeps at a jungle lodge reached by boat, so the useful unit is a 3-night package: arrive on a morning flight, boat out, and wake up on the river. The town itself needs half a day at most.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Puerto Maldonado, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Peruvian sol (PEN, S/).Peru-wide
- SIM or eSIMClaro, Movistar, Entel and Bitel sell prepaid SIMs; register with your passport at official shops.Peru-wide
- Tap waterNot safe from the tap; bottled or filtered.Peru-wide
- TippingRestaurants: About 10% if service is not included.Peru-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Peru-wide
- SafetyThe town is calm and walkable by day; the real risks are river travel, heat and mosquitoes.
- RestroomsPaper in the bin; carry tissue and coins for public toilets.Peru-wide
- Emergency numbers105 police · 116 fire · 106 ambulance (samu) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany museums close Mondays; strikes can shut roads and shops.Peru-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportPEM Padre Aldamiz International Airport (LATAM Peru from Lima and Cusco; flights are almost always morning or early afternoon…
- Getting aroundMototaxis (motorcycle taxis) cover the town for S/2–5 a ride; agree the price first.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- BeerBeer in a barS/8–15
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 miMototaxi ride in townS/2–5
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personPEN 30
- Mid-range bedTown double room, a night, per roomPEN 160
- High-end bedTown double room, a night, per roomPEN 320
A day, not counting the bed: Budget PEN 150 · Mid PEN 280 · High PEN 500
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- PEM Padre Aldamiz International Airport (LATAM Peru from Lima and Cusco; flights are almost always morning or early afternoon, so plan the boat transfer for the same day.)
Weather and climate
Puerto Maldonado: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
31°C88°F
22°C72°F
20 rd
Feb
31°C88°F
22°C72°F
18 rd
Mar
31°C88°F
22°C72°F
17 rd
Apr
31°C88°F
21°C70°F
12 rd
May
30°C86°F
20°C68°F
9 rd
Jun
29°C84°F
18°C64°F
6 rd
Jul
29°C84°F
17°C63°F
5 rd
Aug
31°C88°F
18°C64°F
5 rd
Sep
32°C90°F
20°C68°F
8 rd
Oct
32°C90°F
21°C70°F
12 rd
Nov
32°C90°F
22°C72°F
15 rd
Dec
31°C88°F
22°C72°F
19 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Mototaxis (motorcycle taxis) cover the town for S/2–5 a ride; agree the price first. Lodges collect you at the airport and move you by van and boat. Renting a moped costs about S/5 an hour — check the brakes and wear a helmet.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Sandoval Lake
goDoor to door: About 2 h each way
Boat from Puerto Tambopata, then a 5 km trail on footBoat from Puerto Tambopata, then a 3.1 mi trail on foot
Giant otters, caiman and monkeys; go with a lodge or licensed guide.
Tambopata National Reserve clay licks
overnightDoor to door: 2–4 h each way
Boat upriver, then a short trail before dawn
Macaws and parrots feed early; a day return misses the show.
Monkey Island
cautionDoor to door: About 1 h
Short boat ride from town
Monkeys grab bags and food; keep everything zipped.
Lake Sandoval / canopy towers
goDoor to door: Half day
Lodge boat plus guided walk
Book through your lodge; canopy walkways reach about 30–40 m.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Jungle lodges (Tambopata and Madre de Dios rivers)
The default choice: 45 min to 3.5 h by boat from Puerto Tambopata, meals and guided walks included.
Puerto Maldonado town centre (Plaza de Armas)
One night before or after a lodge, or a cheap base if you book day tours locally.
Carretera Tambopata / Isuyama road
Quiet lodges and retreats a few km out, near the airport; mototaxi needed for everything.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- S/120–200 excl. bed
- Mid
- S/200–350 excl. bed
- High
- S/350+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Town double room1 × 3 nights × PEN 160 | PEN 480 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × PEN 280 | PEN 1,680 |
| Mototaxi across town2 × PEN 5 · check | PEN 10 |
| Tambopata reserve permit and guide2 × PEN 150 · check | PEN 300 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × PEN 40 | PEN 80 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | PEN 255 |
| Trip total≈ PEN 468 per person per day, bed included | PEN 2,805 |
2026 estimate in soles; flights and lodge packages excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Menu del día (soup, main, drink) | S/10–20 |
| Ceviche or chicharrón de pescado | S/20–35 |
| Pizza at the Plaza de Armas | S/25–45 |
| Beer in a bar | S/8–15 |
| Mototaxi ride in town | S/2–5 |
| Internet café, per hour | S/2 (check) |
| Laundry, per kilo | S/5–10 (check) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Almost all flights leave in the morning: a late arrival can cost you a lodge night.
- Tambopata National Reserve needs a permit and an official guide; arrange it through your lodge, not on the street.
- Rain Dec–Mar can flood trails and delay boats.
- Bring cash: ATMs are few and cards are not accepted at many lodges or market stalls.
- Mosquitoes and sun are serious; repellent, long sleeves and a head net help at the clay licks.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 105
- Fire
- 116
- Ambulance (SAMU)
- 106
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Puerto MaldonadoPuerto Maldonado
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police105
- Fire116
- Ambulance (SAMU)106
Embassy
No embassies in Puerto Maldonado; most countries keep embassies in Lima (check your own).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Mototaxi airport → Plaza de Armas: S/2–5
- Mototaxi town → Puerto Tambopata: S/2–5
- Moped rental, per hour: about S/5 (check)
Say or show
- ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much is it? (KWAN-toh KWES-tah)
- La lancha, por favor — The boat, please (lah LAN-chah por fah-VOR)
- ¿Dónde está el baño? — Where is the bathroom? (DON-deh es-TAH el BAH-nyo)
- Tengo una reserva — I have a reservation (TEN-goh OO-nah reh-SER-vah)
- ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? — Can I pay by card? (PWEH-doh pah-GAR kon tar-HEH-tah)
- ¡Ayuda! — Help! (ah-YOO-dah)
Carry cash: cards are not accepted at many lodges, mototaxis and market stalls.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Puerto Maldonado. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Jun–Oct (drier, cooler) · avoid Dec–Mar (heavy rain, some roads and trails flood) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-boat contract for PEM: morning LATAM arrivals, lodge meet-and-greet, and a town-hotel fallback if a flight slips.
- Three sleep clusters with rescue anchors: river lodges, Plaza de Armas town hotels, and the Carretera Tambopata retreats.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Tambopata reserve, Sandoval Lake, Monkey Island, the Obelisk) and eat pages with last orders.
- Rainy-season fixtures so gates A–D can go green when trails flood.