This humid Amazon town is located relatively close to Cusco, making it easily accessible during your Peru vacation. Located in southeastern Peru on the Tambopata and Madres de Dios Rivers, it the largest city of the southern Amazon region. Puerto Maldonado was founded in 1902 as a rubber producer, and has gone through several economic up and downs since then. After the rubber boom, game hunters and loggers took over. The town's leading industries rely on the rainforest, including gold prospecting, Brazil-nut harvesting, boat building, and tourism.

For most travelers, Puerto Maldonado is a gateway into the jungle, but there is more here than Amazon adventures. Before you rush into the jungle, explore the frontier market town. As this charming town is still growing, many of the main streets in town are still unpaved and full of muddy potholes. The 47,000 residents ensure a good time to all travelers in the town.

Stroll around the Plaza de Armas, with its trademark clock tower, or browse the shops on Calle Leon de Velarde. This is an excellent place to find locally made hammocks and other rainforest souvenirs. You can also visit Monkey Island, a medium sized island home to hundreds of monkeys in the middle of the river. Other options include the lumber yard, obelisk, snake rescue center, market, and the El Jaguar Zoo and Disco (yes, there is a nightclub in the zoo).

To reach the Amazonian town, you can fly from Lima or Cusco to arrive in the Padre Aldamiz (PEM) airport in Puerto Maldonado. Reliable carriers include LAN and StarPeru. There is also a road leading from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado that is still under construction. Known as the Interoceanic highway, the bus trip can be long but it is being made shorter as more of the road becomes paved. Most opt for the quicker 30 minute flight, but budget travelers enjoy the scenic views along the way. Some tour operators even offer mountain biking tours the entire distance from Cusco. However, this tour is for serious athletes, not casual bikers. You can also reach Puerto Maldonado by boat, but the rapids along large sections of the Madre de Dios River makes this very difficult.