The region Madre de Dios is in southeastern Peru, bordering Brazil, Bolivia and the Peruvian regions of Puno, Cusco and Ucayali. Its capital is the city of Puerto Maldonado. The name of the region is a very common Spanish-language designation for the Virgin Mary, literally meaning mother of God.
Its population 101,644 ( census 2005 ) this year 2007 is around 103,000. Its elevation ( lowest town 183m Puerto Maldonado ) ( highest town 500m. Manu River ).
The region is divided into three provinces, which are composed of 10 districts. The provinces and their capitals are as fallows:
1.- Manu ( Manu ).
2.- Tahuamanu ( Iñapari ).
3.- Tambopata ( Puerto Maldonado )
ATTRACTIONS
Reserva Nacional de Tambopata-Candamo. This reserve is located at the junction of the La Torre and Tambopata rivers. With an extension of 5,500 hectares of virgin Jungle, it stands out for the richness and variety of its different species of birds (above 600), butterflies (over 900) and dragonflies (approximately 115).
Santuario Nacional de las Pampas del Heath. With an extension of 109 hectares, this reserve was founded in 1983. It houses the priceless lobo de crin (horsehair wolf).
Reserva de la Biósfera del Manu. In 1973, UNESCO declared this region a natural reserve. It has an extension of 1'881,200 hectares and is divided into three areas: the Parque Nacional del Manu (1'532,806 hectares), an intangible territory; Zona Reservada (257,000 hectares), an area for tourist activities; and Bajo Manu (91,394 hectares), a free zone inhabited by different human groups. There are beautiful lagoons in the region, such as, Valencia, Copa Manu, Sandoval, La Pastora, Tambopata, Madre de Dios, Cocococha, Tres Chimbadas y Amigos. The rivers that run through this territory are Manu, Tambopata, Madre de Dios, La Torre, Manuripe, Las Piedras and Tahuamanu.
This reserve is an ecosystem that has had an unchanging evolution throughout thousands of years, housing one of the biggest variety of flora and fauna in the world. It is estimated that there are more than 1,000 bird species in the park and over 200 mammals. There are between 2,000 and 3,000 plant species, 10% of which are still unknown by scientists.
To go into the reserve visitors must have the authorization of the Dirección del Parque Nacional. Visitors need a travel time of, at least, a full week.
RAINFOREST ECOTOURISM FLORA AND FAUNA
Puerto Maldonado is a city in the southeastern of Peru. It is the Capital of Madre de Dios Region. Its altitude 183 meters above sea level. It is in the Amazon forest 55 km west of the Bolivian border of Tambopata. The climate is hence tropical. The chief industries in Puerto Maldonado are: logging, gold dredging, Brazil nut collection, boat building and ecotourism. Generally speaking, ecotourism focuses on local culture, wilderness adventures, volunteering, personal growth and learning new ways to live on the planet; typically involving travel to destinations where the flora, fauna, and cultural heritage are the primary attractions.
Nearby are the Manu and Tambopata – Candamo the national reserve park. These are the most pristine primary rain forest in the world. There are several tourist eco-lodges within the reserves which are accessed by boat from Puerto Maldonado. One of the main attractions are the hundreds of macaws.
The area is virtually logged out; only one mill remains. Rubber collection is long gone. Nowadays small amounts of gold are collected from the river, mostly by small teams of men with hand tools. Eco tourism and building the boats to transport them are the major source of income now.
There is a range of inexpensive hotels catering for backpackers and tourists. The climate is hot and humid at all times, 76 °F. 24 °C. The wet season runs from October to April when road travel often becomes impossible, because it is the rainy season.
Do not drink water from the tap. Only drink bottled water. |