| This is the least populated
territory in Peru, with only 600,000 people living in its 80,000
kM2 (30,880 sq miles) of jungle area. Its capital Is a riverside
city known as Puerto Maldonado with 25, 000 Inhabitants. Gold panning on the
Tampobamba and Madre de Dios rivers, and the latex boom
at the end of the past century, determined the foundation
of the city of Puerto Maldonado., Today, Madre de Dios,
the old Inca Antisuyo, is still what It has been -for
centuries- for all adventure lovers: a virgin and
frontier land full of mysteries.
Due to the fact that Its virgin forest
covers 98% of the territory, Madre de Dios has the most
varied bio-diversity of the world.
Puerto Maldonado is one of the
most important cities of the Southern jungle. It sits on the
banks of the Madre de Dios river, which connects it with Rivera
Alto in Bolivia (a 5-hour trip to the border, by river) and with
Assis, in Brazil (242 km/150 miles),
The department's capital is a
dynamic, young and bustling frontier city. The main economic
activities are forestry and gold panning, although farming and
the ecological tourism are being developed.
The Manu,
Tambopata-Candamo and Pampas de Heath reserves cover
3'500,000 jungle hectares (8'645,000 acres), the largest
and richest blo-diversity of the world. They keep unique
flora and fauna species, impossible to find elsewhere,
including 2,500 flower varieties, more than 1,000 birds
(10% of the world's species,) 900 butterfly species and
more than 20 kinds of monkeys.
Near Puerto Maldonado, there are several
attractions such as the Sandoval and Valencia lakes, next
to the Bolivian border (by river, 4 hours from the city),
These wonderful places give the tourist the opportunity
to fish, be close to nature, and be in contact with
native communities.
JUNGLE
LODGES
There are
several lodges which offer very Interesting eco-touristic
services. These lodges, although rustic, are suited to
provide the vlsitors' requirements. There is also a
private Investigation center In the area.
CLIMATE
The weather
is cold and dry In the highlands, warm In the valleys,
cold and humid In the cloudy forest and, warm and humid
In the lower jungle. The rainy or 'winter" season
runs from December to March, and the summer or dry season
(ideal for tourism), from April to November.
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