City in Madre de Dios, Peru
Getting around Puerto Maldonado
How to get around Puerto Maldonado
Mototaxis and taxis cover town. Lodges arrange airport pickups and boat transfers; buses run along the Interoceanic Highway to Cusco, Iñapari and Brazil.
Ways to get around Puerto Maldonado
| Option | Fare | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Mototaxi | S/ 3–8 | Ubiquitous in town; agree the fare first |
| Taxi | S/ 6–15 | Short rides in the centre |
| Bus to Cusco (Interoceanic Highway) | S/ 60–100 | About 10–12 hours, usually overnight |
| Lodge boat transfers | Included with lodge | By boat along the Madre de Dios and Tambopata rivers |
Taxis in Puerto Maldonado
- No ride-hailing apps operate here. Ride apps are unreliable here. Use mototaxis and registered taxis, agree the fare first, and let your lodge arrange transfers.
Arriving in Puerto Maldonado
Padre Aldamiz International (PEM)
About 7 km from the centre. Mototaxi S/ 8–15, taxi S/ 15–30, about 15–20 minutes. Flights from Cusco about 1 hour and from Lima about 2 hours.
Driving and onward travel
- Scooters: Motorbike rentals are common (S/ 40–70 a day), but traffic and potholes make it risky. A motorcycle licence is required.
- Driving: on the right. Tourists can drive with a home licence plus an IDP for a limited period; driving in Lima is chaotic.
- Onward travel in Peru: Premium overnight buses (Cruz del Sur, Oltursa) link the coast and Andes; flying Lima–Cusco saves a long day. Trains run only to Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca.
Quick answers
Is there Uber in Puerto Maldonado?
No ride-hailing apps work here. Ride apps are unreliable here. Use mototaxis and registered taxis, agree the fare first, and let your lodge arrange transfers.
What's the best way to get around Puerto Maldonado?
Mototaxis and taxis cover town. Lodges arrange airport pickups and boat transfers; buses run along the Interoceanic Highway to Cusco, Iñapari and Brazil.
How do I get from the airport to Puerto Maldonado?
About 7 km from the centre. Mototaxi S/ 8–15, taxi S/ 15–30, about 15–20 minutes. Flights from Cusco about 1 hour and from Lima about 2 hours.
Is Puerto Maldonado walkable?
Walkable center.
More about Puerto Maldonado
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Sources
- Cruz del Sur
- PeruRail
- Inca Rail
- redBus Peru
- SERNANP (Tambopata National Reserve)
- Ministerio de Salud (MINSA)
Fares are typical 2026 prices; check the operator for today's fares. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.