Is Puerto Maldonado safe?
Manageable with care in town. Petty theft, motorbike bag snatches, river travel and illegal-mining areas outside town need caution.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 3/5, take real precautions.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2025-05-15.
- Homicide rate in Peru: 8.6 per 100,000 people (2021, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Peru: 13.6 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 105 · Ambulance 106 · Fire 116.
Safety in Puerto Maldonado at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Crime | Phone and bag snatching from motorbikes; thefts from hostels; the surrounding areas see illegal mining and trafficking. |
| At night | The centre stays lively until late; stick to lit streets and use a taxi after dark. |
| Solo women | Fine in daytime; avoid isolated streets at night and book lodges and guides through reputable agencies. |
| Other risks | Mosquito-borne dengue and malaria; yellow fever vaccine recommended; Heat and humidity; Boat travel with few life jackets or a failing motor |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Unlicensed guides selling cheap Amazon tours with poor safety
- Taxi and boat drivers overcharging at the port
- Fake lodge bookings paid in advance to unknown agents
Take care
- Off the main streets at night: poor lighting, motorbike robberies
- Illegal mining zones (La Pampa): avoid; violence and exploitation
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Touching, climbing or removing anything at archaeological sites brings fines or arrest.
- Flying a drone at Machu Picchu and other archaeological sites needs a permit.
- Carry your passport or a copy; police ID checks happen.
How Puerto Maldonado compares in Peru
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Machu Picchu | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Sacred Valley | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Huacachina | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Huaraz | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Paracas | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lima | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Cusco | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Arequipa | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Máncora | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Puno | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Iquitos | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Nazca | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Puerto Maldonado | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Puerto Maldonado safe for solo female travelers?
Fine in daytime; avoid isolated streets at night and book lodges and guides through reputable agencies.
Is Puerto Maldonado safe at night?
The centre stays lively until late; stick to lit streets and use a taxi after dark.
What is the crime rate in Puerto Maldonado?
Phone and bag snatching from motorbikes; thefts from hostels; the surrounding areas see illegal mining and trafficking. Nationally, Peru records 8.6 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2021).
What number do I call in an emergency in Puerto Maldonado?
Police 105 · Ambulance 106 · Fire 116.
More about Puerto Maldonado
Going to Puerto Maldonado solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- SERNANP (Tambopata National Reserve)
- Ministerio de Salud (MINSA)
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.