Founded in 1912, Puerto Maldonado the capital city of Madre de Dios is an obligatory stop along the way to gain entrance to the national parks and reserves located in the area, At present, two of the main economic activities there are eco-tourism and chestnut harvesting. It's the most important towm of the Southest Amazon Rainforest.
River access is available from the towns of Covija in Bolivia (6 hours) and Assis in Brazil (242 km.). Despite its commercial history, Puerto Maldonado has grown slowly. Recently, both government and non-government agencies have proposed the development of tourist services and attractions in Puerto Maldonado, "The Capital of Biodiversity". The government is interested in making this area an important destination for travelers. This year, a new airport building was constructed as well as a new road access to the city.
The tourist high season in Puerto Maldonado is from May to November. Lots of young people walk around the Army Square and nearby streets and restaurants, pizza places, ice-cream shops. Even more, discotheques provide the opportunity for enjoyable stopovers before and after visits to the rainforest.
 There are daily flights from Lima or Cusco to Puerto Maldonado. For the most adventure travelers, there is a narrow path from Cusco that takes a minimum of three days by truck.
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