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Planning a trip to Puerto Maldonado, Peru? You’ve come to the right place!
It’s the gateway to the Amazon rainforest, so prepare for an epic adventure. Having explored this vibrant region in-depth, we can certainly vouch for its charm and wonder.
If you’re not sure where to start with planning your trip to Puerto Maldonado, then relax, we’ve got you covered. We’ve explored beautiful lakes, trekked through the jungle, and even went piranha fishing – yes, really!
Puerto Maldonado delivers an experience like no other, so keep on reading to learn how to make the most of your time in this Amazonian gem.
Don’t Miss Out On Our Top Choice!
The tour we loved the most and suggest booking ASAP is this one!
Our personal FAVORITE thing we did in Puerto Maldonado was this 4-tour tour of the Amazon! We saw tons of wildlife, hiked and cruised our way through the jungle. Everything was included and our guide was amazing!
Things to do in Puerto Maldonado
1. Take a 4-day excursion through the Amazon
- Duration: 4 days
- Time: Multiple departure times between 11 am – 2 pm
- Highlights: Seeing animals such as giant otters, capybaras, toucans, and monkeys, piranha fishing, wildlife spotting boat rides, day and nighttime jungle treks
- Inclusions: Boat rides, English-speaking guide, three meals per day, tea and coffee, luggage storage, overnight accommodation
- Rating: 4.9 stars (check 90+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
The main reason to visit Puerto Maldonado is to visit the Amazon, so dive in deep with this 4-day excursion! We had the most incredible time spending 4 whole days exploring the jungle and spotting more wildlife than we ever thought possible.
We kicked off our epic adventure by stepping on a boat ride that took us to our first night’s accommodation. Immediately we were surrounded by breathtaking landscapes and tons of wildlife.
Our guide, Pepe, had a deep knowledge of the jungle, plus an infectious enthusiasm that always kept the vibe high. Every night, he had our whole group in stitches as he shared stories over the dinner table.
Throughout the next few days, we got to spot giant otters at Lake Sachavacayoc, marvel at vibrant macaws at the Chuncho Clay Lick, and see sloths on a nighttime wildlife trek! One of the most memorable moments for me was fishing for piranhas in a hidden spot, and spotting an anaconda was a real thrill, too.
Meanwhile, each night’s accommodation was clean and comfortable, while the food we got was really good and much better than we had expected.
While you can technically go into the Amazon alone, it’s really not advisable. This tour takes care of every detail for you, so all you need to do is book it and go. It’s THE best way to experience the Amazon from Puerto Maldonado. We can’t recommend it enough!
Book our favorite tour of the Amazon here and get FREE cancellation!
2. Explore Lake Sandoval National Reserve
- Duration: 8 hours
- Time: 9:30 am
- Highlights: Visiting Lake Sandoval and Tambopata National Reserves, canoeing on the lake, hiking through the jungle, spotting wildlife
- Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off, private transport, canoe rental, life vests, local guide, lunch
- Rating: 5 stars (check the great reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
Lake Sandoval is serene, rich, and biodiverse, so of course we had to visit on this hiking and wildlife tour. We’re so glad that we did, because visiting this lake in Tambopata National Reserve was one of the most captivating experiences of our time in Peru.
The day began bright and early when our guide, Wally, picked us up from our hotel and took us on a scenic drive into the National Reserve. The day started with a 50-minute hike through the lush green jungle, and we felt tiny compared to the towering trees.
Wally pointed out wildlife along the way that we would have definitely missed had we been by ourselves, and he taught us so much about the area’s incredible biodiversity. We were in awe!
Once we reached the lake, we climbed into canoes and began to paddle across the tranquil waters. This part was really easy, because the lake is so calm and serene. However, at the same time, it’s absolutely teeming with wildlife. We spotted herons, macaws, giant otters and even a caiman from our boat. We also enjoyed a picnic lunch, which was so yummy.
The combination of aquatic and trail adventures made this day absolutely unforgettable!
If you’re a nature lover or a keen adventurer, then don’t hesitate to book this tour!
3. Monkey Island and canopy bridge
- Duration: 4 hours
- Time: 9:30 am
- Highlights: Hiking in Tambopata National Reserve, exciting motorbike ride, kayaking around Monkey Island, spotting wildlife, hiking on Monkey Island, canopy bridge walk, zipline
- Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off, private transport, English-speaking guide, Monkey Island entry fee, zipline and canopy bridge walk, lunch
- Rating: 4.9 stars (check the great reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
If you’re looking for a fun-filled adventure in Puerto Maldonado, then allow us to introduce you to this full-day tour of Monkey Island! We had so much fun canoeing, ziplining, and spotting wildlife at Monkey Island, not to mention enjoying gorgeous views from the canopy bridge.
We were picked up right on time and taken to the port, where we climbed aboard a motorboat that took us out to Monkey Island. Our guide, Jair, helped us to spot caimans and capuchin monkeys along the way, both of which were super cute.
The adventure truly began as we walked out onto the canopy bridge and enjoyed breathtaking views of the rainforest. We saw even more wildlife from up here, including playful capuchins, squirrel monkeys, and tamarinds, which was insanely cool.
Next up, it was time for the kayaking portion of the day. We loved the scenery and spotted so much wildlife as we glided across the serene waters, and then once we were on land, we took a short hike through the island’s dense jungle. We were pretty hungry by now, so lunch was a welcome break!
After lunch, it was time for one final adventure: the zipline! Soaring through the treetops was the perfect way to end a fantastic day. The tour was an ideal mix of adrenaline, natural beauty, and adventure, which is actually what you visit Puerto Maldonado for!
Don’t hesitate to book this tour now and you can choose to pay later!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
4. Go Piranha fishing
- Duration: 3 hours
- Time: Multiple departures from 5:30 am – 1 pm
- Highlights: Sailing on Yacumama Lake, practicing sport fishing, catch and release of piranhas
- Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off, air-conditioned transport, boat ride, fishing equipment, English-speaking guide
- Rating: 5 stars (check the great reviews here)
- Free cancellation: yes
- Price: Check price here!
After a few action-packed days in Puerto Maldonado, we relished the slower pace of this piranha fishing trip on Yacumama Lake. While catching piranhas was pretty thrilling, this tour was actually the perfect way to relax and connect with nature.
The day started out with a peaceful boat ride across the pristine waters of Yacumama Lake. Our guide, Franklin, was a fantastic teacher and showed us the ropes in terms of piranha fishing. In fact, it didn’t take us long at all to master the technique, and before we knew it, we had both reeled in small but feisty piranhas.
It was so cool to see these sharp-toothed fish up close before we released them back into the water. We spent a few hours fishing, and the time just flew by.
Franklin’s instruction and enthusiasm made the experience both fun and educational, and each piranha catch brought a fresh surge of excitement. While fishing was the highlight of the trip, the additional wildlife sightings were a bonus! We spotted caimans gliding through the water, as well as colorful macaws and toucans overhead.
Whether you have lots of fishing experience or are a complete newbie to the sport, this tour is such a fun way to spend a morning or afternoon in Puerto Maldonado.
It’s not every day you get to catch a piranha, so book this unique tour online!
5. Take a quick 2-day Amazon tour
- Duration: 2 days
- Time: 9 am
- Highlights: Boat ride on the Tambopata River, hiking in the reserve, canoeing on Lake Sandoval, spotting a wide variety of wildlife, seeing birds at a clay lick
- Inclusions: Hotel pickup and drop-off, breakfast, two lunches, dinner, one night’s accommodation, English-speaking guide
- Rating: 5 stars (check the great reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
If you’re short on time, don’t worry, because you can still get a taste of the Amazon’s magic with this 2-day jungle tour! It’s an action-packed adventure that takes you deep into the Tambopata National Reserve to experience the beauty, wildlife, and wonder of the world’s largest rainforest.
We met our guide, Sergio, on the first day, and took a scenic boat ride along the Tambopata River. We spotted a ton of wildlife in the lush jungle landscapes as we glided along. In fact, we saw so much that we were sitting there wide-eyed, like little kids!
Then, when we arrived at our accommodation, we took a sunset walk to search for wildlife such as caimans and capybara, which was the perfect way to end the evening. We got to spot both of these iconic Amazonian animals and as it turns out, they’re even cuter in person. Then, once night fell, we saw tarantulas and scorpions, too.
The accommodation was clean and comfortable, and falling asleep to the sounds of the jungle was a pretty cool experience. Then, in the morning, we headed to Lake Sandoval, which is a pristine oasis teeming with wildlife. We took a canoe ride across the lake’s calm surface and spotted tons of monkeys and colorful birds around the shore, before heading back to Puerto Maldonado.
We love this tour because it allows you to have your fill of Amazonian adventures in just two days!
If you’re short on time, make sure to book this tour before it fills up!
Where to Stay in Puerto Maldonado, Peru
Although it is not overly touristic, Puerto Maldonado is not a dangerous city and the people were very friendly in and around the city. Therefore, it is a nice place to stay for a night or two before or after your Amazon tour or any of the other experiences we’ve talked about!
Here are our recommended places to stay in Puerto Maldonado!
Luxury – $$$
Wasai Puerto Maldonado Eco Lodge is located right in the city of Puerto Maldonado but is an oasis of its own. Here, you’ll find a huge outdoor pool surrounded by manicured gardens. In your room, you can enjoy a balcony with a river view. It feels like a quiet escape but you’ll only be 100 meters from the main square of Puerto Maldonado.
You can check prices and book Wasai Puerto Maldonado Eco Lodge online here.
Mid-range – $$
After roughing it in the Amazon Jungle for a couple of days, Hotel Enai will be pure luxury at a reasonable price of around $100 USD a night. Rooms all have balconies with river views and the hotel is right in the town center! They also have a restaurant and a swimming pool!
You can check reviews and book Hotel Enai online here.
Budget – $
Tambopata Hostel is where we stayed in Puerto Maldonado and it was a great budget hostel right in the town center. It is a huge hostel with clean rooms and a large common area including a rooftop area and outdoor pool! You can get dorm rooms for as little as $12 USD. They also have budget private rooms available.
You can book Tambopata Hostel online on Hostelworld or Booking.com.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind. You can read our honest review of SafetyWing for all the pros and cons.
Thanks for reading!
We hope this guide to Puerto Maldonado has you ready for an adventurous trip! Whether you’re exploring the Amazon, piranha fishing, or visiting Monkey Island, this is a part of Peru you can’t miss. Have an amazing trip!
If you’re continuing to explore, check out all our blogs on South America! We have tons of guides on Peru and many other amazing countries you’ll want to add to your bucket list.
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