Isuyama Hostel

Isuyama made Puerto Maldonado feel at its best. The hosts are charming and feel genuinely local to the area. Everyone on staff was so warm, the place was clean and organized, and the atmosphere made it easy to meet people. The beds were incredibly comfortable, and the whole stay felt like being at home. I loved it and can’t recommend a better place to stay.

The river and jungle tour was incredible, and I’d definitely recommend it. This family-run hostel is right by the Tambopata River in a natural setting, though only about a 5-10 minute drive from town. Breakfast was good, and there’s a nice kitchen if you want to cook. Rooms have fans and mosquito nets on every bed, with shared bathrooms. Plenty of hammocks and common areas for downtime, plus a basic bar with water, beer, coconut water and a few other things. Loved it here!

We first booked three nights, but ended up extending because we loved the family, the place, and everything we got to do there. They cooked for us and treated us with wonderful hospitality, all for great value. On the tours we saw caimans, turtles, monkeys and capybaras, and learned a lot about local plants and how they’re used. Visiting the family’s jungle farm across the river was especially exciting for us as farmers back home. On our last morning, they took us out at 3:30am to see thousands of birds, and we also tried a little piranha fishing. I’d recommend it over and over, and would love to return.

Roger and his family made us feel so welcome. The hostel and the tours were great, and we had the best experience we could have hoped for.