Peru - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 819

9

PUERTO MALDONADO

Río Madre de Dios

National
Police

Port area
(Madre
de Dios)

PLAZA
GRAU

Viewing Platform
over river

Captain
of the Port

Municipal
Building

P L A Z A
D E
ARMAS

Cinema

Interbank

Teatro
Municipal

N

BCP

Lavandería
Jhonatan

LAN

Mundo Net

Casa de
Cambio

ACCOMMODATION
Anaconda Lodge
Tambopata Hostel
Tarantula Hostel
Tres Fronteras

1
3
2
4

Market EATING, DRINKING

AND NIGHTLIFE
Burgos's
El Califa
Ceviche 69
Heladería Gustitos
del Cura
Pizzería El Hornito
Toe
Witite

1/2
3
8
5
7
6
4

0 200

metres

Infierno (30km), Hospital Sanita Roasa & Port Are a (Tambopata)

morning, military parades are held here,
reminding you of the town's strategic
position near the Bolivian and Brazilian
borders. Ten blocks from the plaza is the
large, bustling market , which covers an
entire block, and if you follow Fitzcarraldo
beyond it, you'll reach the Obelisco
(Mon-Fri 8am-9pm, Sat 8am-8pm, Sun
noon-8pm; S2), a viewpoint offering an
expansive panorama of the entire city and
the jungle beyond.

By bus Puerto Maldonado's Terminal Terrestre is located
2km away from the airport, along Carretera Tambopata,
and this is the arrival point for all buses. The most reliable
company is Movil Tours.
Destinations Cusco (two departures at 10am and then
every 30min between 6-9pm; 10hr); Arequipa (every
30min between 2-6pm; 13hr) and Juliaca (for Puno; every
30min between 2-6pm; 10hr). Movil Tours also runs buses
to Rio Branco in Brazil (Tues & Fri at noon; 10hr); regular
colectivos travel to the Brazilian border from the market
(every 30min between 5am-10pm; 3hr).
By boat Puerto Maldonado has two main river ports: one
on the Río Tambopata, at the southern end of León de
Velarde, the other on the Río Madre de Dios, at the
northern end of León de Velarde. From the latter you can
hire a boatman and canoe for a river trip (S90 person/day,
for a minimum of 2 people). From the Tambopata dock
there are twice-weekly passenger boats that go as far as
the indigenous community of Baltimore and can drop
people off at lodges along the way, though you'll need

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
By plane Puerto Maldonado International Airport ( T 082
571 531) is 4km from the centre of town. Mototaxi s cost
around S7 for the ride. LAN, Taca and Star Peru have daily
flights to Cusco (50min) and Lima. If flying, technically you
have to go through a yellow-fever vaccination checkpoint
at Puerto Maldonado's small but modern airport, though
it's closed most of the time.