Madre de Dios is a region in southeastern Peru, set in the vast Amazon rainforest. It is one of the country's most biodiverse areas, and for many travellers it is the Amazon that Peru is best known for.
What the region holds
The landscape is dominated by rainforest, rivers and wide tracts of forest that stretch away from the towns. Within the region lies Manu National Park, a protected area that gives visitors a chance to see the forest in a relatively undisturbed state. The sheer variety of plant and animal life is the main reason people come here.
Gold mining is also a significant activity in Madre de Dios. Its presence shapes the economy and the look of parts of the region, and it is worth knowing about before you arrive.
What kind of visit it makes
A trip here suits travellers who want to spend time in nature and who are comfortable with the pace of rainforest travel. Visits are typically built around the forest itself, with time on the rivers and in the protected areas.
- Nature and wildlife: the exceptional biodiversity of the rainforest.
- Protected areas: Manu National Park as a central draw.
- Rivers and forest: the Amazon landscape at its most typical.
Plan ahead for access and for the conditions of rainforest travel, and check current arrangements for entering protected areas before setting out.
