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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. |
