Pto Maldonado is the most important ecological area in Peru. As well as Manu, this reserve also has a population of macaws that extend in an approximate number of 150 along the Tambopata River. This reserve is considered one of the most diverse on the planet, including 547 species of birds, 200 species of reptiles and amphibians, mammals and 24,000 acres of virgin rainforest. The general recommendation to people who visit to see the macaw clay licks in their habitat is to visit preferably in the months of August, September and October and in the early hours after sunset with a probability of seeing macaw clay licks, in the rainy months of November to April the chance varies between 93% to 98%. We can also observe hundreds of diverse parrots that can be seen from the top of a tower built mainly for this purpose in the middle of the jungle. In this part you will be able to see river otters, monkeys, turtles, parrots, etc.
Madre de Dios River Area, this river is located in the southeast of Peru on the border with Bolivia and Brazil, it is the most accessible jungle of Cusco, 98% of its territory is composed of virgin rainforest, it is the territory with the lowest population density, 60,000 inhabitants in 80,000 Km2 (19,768,400 acres) of jungle. There are three protected areas located in this territory, including Manu National Park, together they comprise 3.2 million hectares (8648,500 acres) of protected forest ecosystems and represent the largest and richest area of biodiversity in the world. The capital of the Region is Pto. Maldonado, the most important town which is located at 210 m.a.s.l., at the intersection of the Tambopata and Madre de Dios rivers. The flow of the river facilitates access to the towns of Riberalta in Bolivia (5 hours) and ASSIS in Brazil (242 km). Recently both governments have proposed the promotion of services and tourist attractions in Puerto Maldonado “THE CAPITAL OF BIODIVERSITY”. Pto. Maldonado is the starting point for trips to Tambopata and the lower regions of Madre de Dios. Lake Sandoval is an exceptional place to observe a great diversity of wildlife including macaws small parrots caimans alligators turtles giant otters etc.. Lake Sandoval is located 8 km or about an hour from Puerto Maldonado (including 15 minutes downstream (Madre de Dios River).
On this trip it will also be possible to visit native communities as this was initially considered as the national sanctuary of native communities where you can find more than five language groups and more than thirty racial types throughout the province. Some of these groups live outside their original habitat so they mixed their race with the outside population, but other native groups are still preserved in their own reserves.
Climate
The jungle is generally hot and humid, on the banks of the river it reaches a permanent heat and the sun is very intense, so it is necessary to wear a sunscreen. However, occasionally there is a seasonal cold that comes from the Andes, very popularly called “friaje” in the area. The temperature can drop from 40º to 9º, this happens on very sporadic occasions, so the tour leader will take all the precautions if this happens.