Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
threat to this part of the Amazon. Once, ecosystems here were renowned for being the world's most diverse and
undisturbed. They still are. But, one wonders, for how much longer.
Butterfly Farm
(Av Aeropuerto km6; admission S20)
Peru boasts the greatest number of butterfly species
in the world (some 3700) and you can see many of them here at this well-run butterfly
conservation project, initiated in 1996. There are also displays on rainforest conservation.
This is a welcome center for travelers en route to one of Inkaterra's jungle lodges, and if
you're in that category you'll be exempt from paying the extortionate entry fee. Butter-
flies are nice, but at this price remember you'll see lots of species
gratis
(free) in the
jungle proper.
FARM
Puerto Capitanía
Offline map
This dock close to the Plaza de Armas is a cheap way of seeing a little of the action on a
major Peruvian jungle river (the Río Madre de Dios), which is about 500m wide at this
point. River traffic is colorful −
peki-pekis
(canoes powered by two-stroke motorcycle en-
gines with outlandishly long propeller shafts) leave from the dock - but vastly reduced
the bridge now carrying the Transoceanic Highway across the river a few hundred meters
to the northwest. Gone are the days when a furor of decrepit catamarans ferried Brazil-
bound drivers and the vehicles across the river alongside a constant tirade of smaller craft
coming and going to this-or-that port amid a splutter of wheezing engines.
Bienvenido
to
the 21st century.
PORT
Infierno
About an hour southeast of Puerto Maldonado is Infierno (Hell!), home and hub of activ-
ity for the Ese'eja tribespeople. It's a lively, spread-out settlement, which is establishing a
reputation, along with other Amazon locales, for its
ayahuasca
rituals, conducted by local
shamans (
Click here
)
. Arrange your own transport here via car or motorbike:
mototaxis
won't make the rough journey.
INDIGENOUS CULTURE
