There are two main forms of transport to Puerto Maldonado: truck or plane. Given the poor condition of the road connecting Cusco and Puerto Maldonado, most travelers choose to hop on a plane rather than endure the bumpy two-day journey via truck. Aeropuerto Internacional Padre Aldamiz Puerto Maldonado is located just eight kilometers outside the city.

Flights can be booked through Lan (www.lan.com). The best way to get to town from the airport is to hire a motocarro. Those armed with unflagging patience and plenty of pluck (or anyone who is just plain crazy) can catch a truck from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado. This route covers more than 500 kilometers of rugged Andean landscape—passing through Ocongate village and over the peak of Ausangate before dropping over the east side of the Andes—and is by far one of the worst roads in Peru.

During the dry season the journey takes two to three days, and it can take up to ten days in the wet season. With less than zero comfort to speak of, this mode of transportation is in a class all its own. Trucks cost around $15 and leave from Plaza Túpac Amaru in Cusco. Should you survive this jaw-knocking journey, you’ll be dropped off at the Mercado Modelo on Calle Ernesto Rivero. Besides a sore backside, the journey will leave you with a lifetime of stories and plenty of bragging rights.