The sleepy town of Puerto Maldonado, linked by short daily flights from Cuzco and Lima, is the most popular starting point for Amazon trips in Peru. Characteristics of the jungle here include meandering rivers and ox-bow lakes, which are thriving with animal life. On the banks of the rivers just outside the town, it is not uncommon to spot foraging capybara, the world’s largest rodent, whilst throngs of small parrots can be found feeding on small clay licks hidden in small creeks. A couple of the world’s most bizarre-looking creatures are also resident here - the tapir, with its spiky mane, and the pre-historic hoatzin bird, which hops around the edges of the numerous lakes.