Best of Madre de Dios

Madre de Dios Essentials

Madre de Dios serves as Peru’s primary biodiversity hub, encompassing the UNESCO-listed Manu Biosphere Reserve and the Tambopata National Reserve. The region features diverse ecosystems ranging from Andean cloud forests to lowland rainforests. Key highlights include the macaw-rich Chuncho Clay Lick, the oxbow waters of Lake Sandoval, and indigenous-managed lands like the Amarakaeri Communal Reserve. The capital, Puerto Maldonado, provides urban landmarks including a central observation tower and traditional markets selling regional Amazonian produce.

Madre de Dios Essentials — Map

ZiaLater / Public domain

A

Manu Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO-recognized site encompassing diverse ecological zones from the high Andes to the lowland Amazon. It integrates protected core areas with buffer zones dedicated to sustainable development and indigenous community research.

Marie de Carne / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

Manú National Park

Manu National Park is a national park and biosphere reserve located in the regions of Madre de Dios and Cusco in Peru.

Brian Ralphs / CC BY 2.0

C

Tambopata National Reserve

Tambopata National Reserve is a Peruvian nature reserve located in the southeastern region of Madre de Dios.

Brian Ralphs / CC BY 2.0

D

Chuncho Clay Lick

Situated along the Tambopata River, this natural riverbank formation attracts hundreds of macaws and parrots. The birds congregate daily at dawn to ingest mineral-rich clay, which helps neutralize toxins in their diet.

Malene / CC-BY-SA-3.0

E

Lake Sandoval

Lake Sandoval is a lake in Peru, close to the city of Puerto Maldonado, part of the Madre de Dios in the Amazon basin.

F

Amarakaeri Communal Reserve

The Amarakaeri Communal Reserve is a protected area in Peru located in the Madre de Dios Region, Manú Province.

G

Obelisco

A 45-meter-high observation tower in the center of Puerto Maldonado. The structure features balconies offering panoramic views of the city and the confluence of the Madre de Dios and Tambopata rivers.

H

Mercado de Puerto Maldonado

A central marketplace specializing in Amazonian produce. Stalls feature regional staples such as Brazil nuts, aguaje fruit, and fresh river fish, alongside traditional medicinal plants.