The story of the man behind the name of Puerto Maldonado Airport.
Spanish-born priest who ministered to the indigenous of Madre de Dios.
Became a pilot in order to better serve his parishioners.
Joseba Aldamiz-Etxebarria Koskorrotza was born in Lequeitio in Spain’s Basque Country in 1920. But he made his name in Peru’s Amazon region, where he was known as Padre José Aldamiz … and where he ultimately lost his life.
Having been ordained as a Dominican priest in Spain, he headed to Peru to undertake missionary work. This brought him into contact with the indigenous peoples in the Amazon rainforest of Madre de Dios Department.
Father Aldamiz in aviator guise.
At this time, all transport was by river, making communication and the provision of services difficult.
As a response to this, Aldamiz looked to modern technology to assist. He set up Radio Madre de Dios, broadcasting from Puerto Maldonado.
He also obtained his civilian pilot’s licence in 1960, and got hold of a Cessna 695, which he christened Martin de Porres, in honour of the Dominican monk (and eventually, saint) who had been known for his work with the poor and sick in Lima in the 17th Century.
Aldamiz used this plane to ferry the sick to hospital, and deliver messages and vital goods, using small airfields on the outskirts of indigenous villages.
On 24th December, 1966 he left the village of Iberia, on Madre de Dios’ Bolivian border, to fly four girls to Puerto Esperanza in Ucayali Department, so that they could spend Christmas with their families.
Sadly, the Cessna’s motor failed and the plane crashed into the forest of Flor de Acre. Two of the girls survived, but Aldamiz and the other two girls did not.
The surviving girls described how Aldamiz had calmly granted absolution to the passengers, as the plane descended.
In honour of his sacrifice, the President of Peru declared Aldamiz to be a ‘Warrior for Peace’ and named Puerto Maldonado’s airport after him - Aeropuerto Padre Aldamiz.
How to Visit with PeruNorth:
You will most probably experience the services of Puerto Maldonado Airport - which is small and user-friendly! - when visiting the following Southern Amazon lodges: