TOURIST INFORMATION
MADRE DE DIOS |
| GENERAL DATA |
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Location:
The department of Madre de Dios is located in the southeastern
part of Peru.
Area:
85 182 km2
Capital:
Puerto Maldonado
Altitude:
183 m.a.s.l.
Average
annual temperature: 26º C (maximum 34º
C and minimum 21º C). The rainy season runs from
December through March. |
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| ACCESS ROUTES |
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By land:
The most recommended routes are as follows:
Lima-Arequipa-Cusco-Puerto Maldonado (2 024 km). The trip
takes about 42 h.
Lima-Nasca-Abancay-Cusco-Puerto Maldonado (1 619 km).
The trip takes about 43 h.
By
land – by river:
From Cusco to Paucartambo-Salvación
by land, from Boca Manu-Colorado on boat along the Madre
de Dios river to Puerto Maldonado, the trip takes about
4 days.
By air:
There are routine flights from Lima (about 1 h 30 min)
and Cusco (about 45 min). |
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| HISTORICAL OVERLOOK |
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| There is evidence of human presence in this
region before the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire.
Petroglyphs have been found in the Palotoa-Shinkebenia
and Urubamba rivers, as well as in the Pantiacolla Mountain
Range (in the high upper heads of Madre de Dios river)
where remains have also been found. The first settlers
of Madre de Dios are believed to have appeared thousands
of years ago with the arrival of the Arahuacos, from which
tribe many other ethnic groups emerged. Later on, they
had contact with the Incas and the Spaniards. Puerto Maldonado
was founded by the First Superintendent and Supreme Delegate
of the Government, Don Juan S. Villalta, on July 10th,
1 902, on what is now known as Pueblo Viejo. The name
Puerto Maldonado is an homage to the brave explorer Faustino
Maldonado who traveled along the waters of the Madre de
Dios river and engraved his name on the trunk of a large
tree in the confluence of the Madre de Dios and Tambopata
rivers. However, it was not until 1985 that the date of
the foundation of Puerto Maldonado was made official. |
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| ATTRACTIONS IN THE CITY OF PUCALLPA |
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Manu Biosphere
Reserve
The Manu National Park, spreading across 1 532 806 ha,
is the largest protected natural area of its kind in Peru.
Together with the Reserved Zone and the Cultural Zone,
it forms what is known as the Manu Biosphere Reserve (recognized
by the UNESCO in 1 977). Located in the departments of
Cusco and Madre de Dios, it spreads across the entire
basin of the Manu river.
Visits to the National Park are not allowed. However,
the adjacent Reserved Zone and Cultural Zone have the
same attractions and several tourist lodgings.
There are many access routes to the Manu Reserve, the
main ones departing from the city of Cusco, by land (about
12 h) up to Atalaya or Shintuya, and then by river (about
6 h) through the Alto Madre de Dios and Manu rivers, or
by air (about 30 minutes) up to the locality of Boca Manu
and then on boat along the Manu river (about 4 h).
Macaw Clay Lick
Located in the Tambopata-Candamo Zone, on the left bank
of the Tambopata river, 70 km from Puerto Maldonado and
about 8 h ride on motorboat, this area is known for its
variety of macaws and because it is the largest colpa
(clay lick) in the Peruvian Amazon region, gathering a
large number of macaws, parrots and parakeets. Every morning
at 6:00 a.m. these birds perform their fluttering ritual
before ingesting clay in the river bank. This spectacle
lasts approximately 25 to 30 minutes, after which the
birds leave to return the next day.
Bahuaja-Sonene
National Park (Tambopata-Heath)
Bearing a local native name, this conservation unit spreads
across 320 thousand hectares. It is located in the province
of Tambopata, department of Madre de Dios, about 5 h travel
along the Tambopata river or 1 day along the Madre de
Dios river. The park is home to an extraordinary variety
of species of wildlife flora and fauna.(*)
Pampas
del Heath
Located southeast of Puerto Maldonado, the trip starts
in Puerto Maldonado, sailing down the Madre de Dios river
up to the Heath river (about 4 h), then sailing along
Heath river (1 day). These pampas are the sole vegetation
formation of the savanna type, buried deep in the heart
of the Peruvian rainforest. They are also used as shelters
by unique species of wildlife fauna. At present, this
place has become part of the Bahuaja-Sonene National Park.(*)
Tambopata-Candamo Reserved Zone
Located 40 km from Puerto Maldonado and 3 h sailing the
Tambopata river on a motorized canoe, the reserved zone
comprises the basin of Tambopata, Malinoswki and La Torre
rivers, as well as Tavara and Candamo rivers. On the north,
the zone goes along the edge of Madre de Dios river. Most
of the forest inside the reserve is intact.(*)
Tres Cruces
This natural lookout is located in a road off the Paucartambo-Salvación
Highway. Access can be reached from Cusco. This area is
famous for the white ray phenomenon that takes place while
the sun appears on the horizon. The light irradiated by
the sun when it crosses the atmosphere becomes distorted
as if it were crossing a prism, producing the illusion
of three suns at a time, one of which seems to be bouncing.
This peculiar swinging of the sunlight takes place in
the dawn of the winter solstice (June 22nd). On any date,
however, it is possible to see spectacular dawnings when
the sun seems to emerge from the cloudy jungle, which
visitors can make out far to the east more than 100 km
away.
Sandoval Lake
Located on the right bank of Madre de Dios river, 10 km
from Puerto Maldonado. The trip on motorboat takes approximately
25 minutes followed by a 1 ½ h walk in the forest.
During the journey visitors can observe a large variety
of flora species such as orchids, platanillos and hugurahuis.
As regards wildlife fauna, there are large numbers of
ducks, giant otters, caimans, wild chickens (shansho),
turtles (charapas) and a large variety of fish such as
paiche. There is a section in the lake in which temperature
ranges from 20º C to 24º C, here visitors can
enjoy a refreshing bath free of danger. Experienced rowers
take visitors on canoes on excursions across the lake
to watch the wildlife flora and the birds that live in
the surroundings.
Valencia
Lake
This lake is located 60 km from Puerto Maldonado. In the
four hour ride on motor boat visitors can see the settlements
of the Huaracayos, an aboriginal tribe. There is a great
variety of flora and fauna all over this lake. Fishing
lovers will find a large variety of fish species.
(*)Note: To go
into the Tambopata Reserve Zone, the Bahuaja-Sonene National
Park and Pampas de Heath, visitors must request an authorization
at the office of INRENA (see Directory of Institutions).
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| FOLKLORE |
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| The traditional dances of this region are
characterized for being vivid representations of animal
life, myths, legends and mysteries of the jungle. The
best examples include the changanakuy, the otorongo and
the suri as well as its festivities. |
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| HANDICRAFTS |
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Visitors can purchase some typical jungle
handicrafts such as arrows and bows, decorated with exotic
feathers and mobiles made of beautiful paiche fish scales.
Note: Exportation
of any object (crown or collar) made with feathers from
macaws or palos de lluvia is forbidden unless one has
an authorization from INRENA. |
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| GASTRONOMY |
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Typical dishes:
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Patasca or caldo de mondongo (tripe
soup with maize, mint and giblets). |
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Sarapatera (soup based on turtle, banana and
fariña or cassava meal, cooked in the turtle’s
shell). |
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Juane (steamed rice tamales seasoned with turmeric
and stuffed with chicken chunks, wrapped in bijao
leaves). |
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Inchicapi (chicken soup with peanuts, cilantro
and cassave). |
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Timbuche (soup based on fish, green banana and
cilantro). |
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Asado de venado (roasted deer) served with rice
and green banana. |
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Tacacho con cecina (coal cooked or fried crushed
banana mixed with lard and cured meat). |
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Asado de picuro (roasted picuro, an Amazonian
rodent famous for its delicious meat). |
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Suri frito (fried suri) served with boiled banana.
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Caldo de carachama (thick soup based on a fish
named carachama, bananas and cilantro). |
The traditional drinks include:
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Masato (drink based on crushed cooked cassave
fermented with sweet potato or sugar). |
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Refresco de aguajina (delicious aguaje drink). |
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Refresco de pihuayo. |
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Chapo (drink prepared with banana and sugar, served
cold). |
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| FESTIVITIES |
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Feast of San
Juan (June)
The influence of John the Baptist as a symbol is very
strong in the Peruvian jungle because of the importance
of water as a vital element in the entire Amazonian region.
This is why this feast is celebrated with typical bands
and the region’s traditional dishes.
Other important festivities:
San Pedro y San Pablo in the hamlet of
la Cachuela and the Tourist and Ecological Week of Madre
de Dios. |
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| SERVICES |
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Airport
Aeropuerto Internacional Padre José Aldamiz
Carretera La Pastora – La Joya km 7.
Phone: (084) 57-1533 / 57-1531.
Land
Transportation
There are no land terminals, however most of the carrier
companies are gathered in Jr. Tacna block 3; Jr. Ica block
5 and Jr. Ernesto Rivera block 8.
Health
Centers
Hotel Santa Rosa
Jr. Cajamarca 171.
Phone: (084) 57-1019 / 57-1046.
24 hour service.
Police
Stations
Policía Nacional del Perú Sub-Región
de Madre de Dios.
Jr. Daniel Alcides Carrión.
Phone: (084) 57-1022 / 57-1077 / 57-2706.
24 hour service.
Handicrafts
Markets
Artesanía Shabuya.
Plaza de Armas 279.
Phone: (084) 57-1856.
Artesanía Souvenir Manu.
Aeropuerto Padre José.
Phone: (084) 57-3451.
Open: mornings only.
Post
Office
Av. León Velarde 675, Pto. Maldonado.
Phone: (084) 57-1088.
Open: Monday to Saturday 8:00-20:00, Sun: 8:00-15:00.
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