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.
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.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- 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.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Puerto Maldonado105 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
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.
Show all 12 answers
- 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 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Mototaxi 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 →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
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.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Feb
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Mar
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Apr
not flagged
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
May
not flagged
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Jun
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Jul
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Aug
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Sep
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Oct
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Nov
not flagged
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Dec
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Best: Jun–Oct. Avoid: Dec–Mar. Month by month →
Warmest Sep (32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)), coolest Jul (17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C) low), wettest Jan (20 rain days), driest Jul (5). Averages, not a forecast.
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°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
20 rd
Feb
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
18 rd
Mar
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
17 rd
Apr
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
12 rd
May
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
9 rd
Jun
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
6 rd
Jul
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
5 rd
Aug
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
5 rd
Sep
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
8 rd
Oct
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
12 rd
Nov
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
15 rd
Dec
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
19 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
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.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
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 (3.1 mi) trail on footBoat from Puerto Tambopata, then a 3.1 mi (5 km) 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 & sleepWhich area to sleep in
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.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
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
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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 diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
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.