Amazon Basin - Peru - page 929

Transoceanic Highway to Iñapari, a road also runs to Cobija, but public transportation mostly uses the Ińapari/
Assis Brasil route.
Alternatively, hire a boat at Puerto Maldonado's Madre de Dios dock to take you to the Peru-Bolivia border at
Puerto Pardo . A few minutes from Puerto Pardo by boat is Puerto Heath , a military camp on the Bolivian side.
The trip takes half a day and costs about US$100 (but is negotiable) − the boat will carry several people. With
time and luck, you may also be able to find a cargo boat that's going there anyway and will take passengers more
cheaply.
It's possible to continue down the river on the Bolivian side, but this can take days (even weeks) to arrange and
isn't cheap. Travel in a group to share costs, and avoid the dry months of July to September, when the river is too
low. From Puerto Heath, continue down the Río Madre de Dios as far as Riberalta (at the confluence of the Madre
de Dios and Beni, far into northern Bolivia), where road and air connections can be made: a classic (if tough)
Amazon adventure the like of which no road trip can compete with. Basic food and shelter (bring a hammock) can
be found en route. When river levels allow, a cargo and passenger boat runs from Puerto Maldonado to Riberalta
and back about twice a month, but this trip is rarely done by foreigners. From Puerto Heath, a dirt road goes to
Chivé (1½ hours by bus), from where you can continue to Cobija (six hours).
Get your Peruvian exit stamp in Puerto Maldonado. Bolivian entry stamps can be obtained in Puerto Heath or
Cobija. Visas are not available, however, so get one ahead of time in Lima or your home country if you need it.
US citizens need to pay US$135 in cash for a visa to enter Bolivia.
Formalities are generally slow and relaxed.
Around Puerto Maldonado
RÍO MADRE DE DIOS
This important river flows eastward past Puerto Maldonado, heading into Bolivia, Brazil
and the Amazon proper. In the wet season it is brown colored, flows swiftly and looks
very impressive, carrying huge logs and other jungle flotsam and jetsam downstream. The
main reason people come here is to stay for a few days in one of several jungle lodges, all
of which are to be found between 20 minutes and three hours downstream from Puerto
Maldonado itself. From this river you can also access the other destinations of note down-
river: Lago Sandoval, Lago Valencia and Río Heath (Lago Sandoval and Río Heath also
have lodges).
Additionally, travelers can partake in fishing and nature trips, and visit beaches and in-
digenous communities. Some excursions involve camping or staying in simple thatched
shelters. Lodges often provide rubber boots for the muddy jungle paths. (For advice on
what kit to bring with you, Click here . )