Explore Puerto Maldonado in the Amazon of Peru

We’ve dedicated a few blog posts already to the wonderful day trips one can take from Puerto Maldonado, from Monkey Island to the Canopy walks. If you have some time to spare within Puerto Maldonado itself, however, here are a few options that will allow you to observe local life and sample local cuisine a little.

First, make sure to set aside a half-hour to simply observe the river traffic at Puerto Capitanía dock near the Plaza de Armas. The river is Puerto Maldonado’s lifeline, and is dominated by colorful peque-peques, motor-canoes with peculiarly elongated propeller shafts.

Once in the nearby main square, you can climb the Obelisk for a S/2 entry fee. Photos on the way up show important moments in the town’s history, while the view from the top of the tower overlooks Puerto Maldonado and the surrounding trees and rivers. If you’re not used to the jungle heat, this is a great time to cool down with a lúcuma milkshake or copuazu juice at Gustitos del Cura, also in the main square. (The former is eggfruit, while the latter doesn’t have a translated name but is often referred to as ‘white cacao’ and has a pineapple-pear flavor with slight chocolate fragrance.)

Sample a traditional Amazonian meal at Burgos, a block from the main square- we recommend the heart of palm salad and the paiche fish cooked in a bijao leaf. (Paiches often exceed 6ft, and are considered ‘living fossils’ because according to the fossil record they’ve not changed considerably in the last million years.) This is a slightly more expensive restaurant, where you can expect to pay about US$10 for an appetizer, an entrée, and a drink. For a cheaper, set-menu lunch, you can fill up at El Tampo for just S/7.

You can learn a little about the area reptiles from the volunteers and the museum of the Snake Rescue House, which is located on the main road from the airport. There’s also a zoo which offers a look at a variety of wildlife from the area. Be warned, however, that while the animals are loved and well-fed, their habitats are much lacking compared to a proper zoo.