Puerto Maldonado is served by Padre Aldamiz International Airport (IATA code PEM) also known as Puerto Maldonado International Airport, which is located approximately 5.2 miles southwest of the Puerto Maldonado center. If you have not booked a private transfer with us then you have a few options. The fastest way to reach city downtown is by taxi. Prices are inexpensive, expect to pay approximately S/3-5 (about $2 USD) to reach the city center. Another option is to arrange transport from your hotel prior to traveling.

If you've booked a stay at one of the jungle lodges your guide will most likely meet you at the airport holding a sign with the lodge's name on it. They will transport you in a van to the river (Puerto Tambopata) to wherever you are going (by boat).

If you are staying in town, taxis almost outnumber everyone else in Puerto Maldonado, so getting around the town is fairly simple. Motorcycle-driving taxis will take you anywhere you want to go, and the most likely destinations (airport - plaza de Armas, airport - Puerto Tambopata, or airport - hotel) will cost you PEN3-5 (about USD1-2). Short trips on a mototaxi will cost you S/1 usually if you bargain. If you chose to rent a moped and ride around yourself, feel free. Motorcycle rentals are everywhere in town and normally cost about 5 soles an hour.

It is very easy to hail a taxi in Puerto Maldonado. All you need to do is wave your hand in the air at the taxi about to pass by, and if the taxi is vacant, the driver will stop and pick you up. Puerto Maldonado taxis are not too expensive, be sure you can share the negotiate a price before getting in. If you prefer to call a taxi, a couple of recommended taxi services are Taxi Maldonado (tel. +51-982- 349724) and Rio Branco Taxi (tel. +51- 987-839 619).

Yes, there are many places you can explore by foot in Puerto Maldonado and the surrounding areas. Tambopata Reserve has many various networks of trails to encounter some of the wildlife and learn about how the rainforest works. Taricaya Research Center has highest canopy walkway in South America at as high as 140 feet. Much of the activity in the Amazon rainforest occurs close to the treetops, or at the canopy level, as it is known. Treetop walks give visitors an extraordinary window onto this hidden world.

No, Puerto Maldonado is not a dangerous city. Today, swollen by the arrival of businesses expecting a boom now that the road to Brazil is open, it’s the thriving, safe (and fairly expensive) capital of a region that feels very much on the threshold of major upheavals. Where, only thirty years ago, there were hardly any four-wheeled vehicles and the town’s only TV was set up outside the municipal building for the locals to watch football, these days enormous Brazilian trucks thunder past and satellite TV dishes have sprouted all over town.

No, the currency of Peru is the Nuevo Sol. US dollars are not accepted. Please be sure to have the correct currency on hand or be prepared to exchange your dollars for soles upon arrival. Currency exchange desks can be found at the airport and many locations throughout the city.

No, about 90 percent of Peruvians speak Spanish as their first language. English may be spoken at your hotel and in the tourist areas, but not everywhere. We suggest you get a good English-Spanish dictionary and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.

No, entry into Peru for U.S. Citizens does not require a tourist visa. The maximum period of stay granted by the authorities is 183 days.

No, the water is not drinkable. We suggest that you carry bottled water with you wherever you travel. Most tourist areas will have bottled water available for purchase. To avoid illness, make sure you don´t eat any raw vegetables or salads that are washed in water.

Peruvian food is among the most varied and best in the world. The national dish of Peru is Ceviche which is fish marinated and cooked in freshly squeezed lime juice. Other dishes you may want to try are causa, lomo saltado, anticuchos, and cuy. Popular dessert items to try are a picarones, and suspiro de limena. The national drink of Peru is the Pisco sour which is a sweet and sour cocktail made with Peruvian pisco (grape brandy) with key lime and simple syrup. If you want a soft drink, try out a Chicha Morada or an Inca Cola.

There are no mandatory vaccines for entry into Peru. Should you wish to visit the Amazonian region of the country, the Ministry of Health recommends vaccinations against yellow fever.