Sandoval Lake Tour

Welcome. Our team warmly welcomes you at the airport, bus terminal, or your accommodation in Puerto Maldonado. Before starting the expedition, we give a short briefing on the program, safety recommendations, and tips to make the most of the Amazon experience, then head to the port to board our boat.

Navigation on the Madre de Dios River. We begin a relaxing journey along one of the most important rivers in the Peruvian Amazon. Along the way you may spot herons, kingfishers, swallows, turtles, capybaras, caimans, and birds of prey. Our naturalist guide explains the river’s ecological importance within the Amazon ecosystem.

Arrival at the lodge. On arrival at the Rainforest Tambopata Wild Lodge, our staff offers a welcome drink made with Amazonian fruits, followed by check-in and room assignment. You will then have time to rest and enjoy the surroundings.

Amazonian lunch. Enjoy a lunch prepared with fresh regional ingredients; vegetarian options and special diets are available if requested in advance.

Interpretive hike. In the afternoon we walk primary forest trails, learning about giant trees over 500 years old, medicinal plants used by Amazonian communities, native palms, lianas, fungi, and tropical insects. With some luck we may spot monkeys, squirrels, toucans, woodpeckers, tanagers, and macaws.

Monkey Island. We board the boat again to visit the famous Monkey Island, a small natural refuge home to several free-living species, including capuchin, squirrel, and tamarin monkeys, and occasionally howler monkeys. Our guide explains their habits, diet, and ecological role in the forest.

Amazonian sunset. On the way back to the lodge we enjoy one of the most beautiful natural spectacles of the trip: sunset over the Madre de Dios River, a perfect opportunity for landscape photography.

Night caiman excursion. After dinner we set out on a nighttime river excursion. With specialized flashlights we search for white and black caimans, capybaras, nocturnal birds, bats, and frogs. The reddish glow in the eyes of the caimans makes for an exciting, unforgettable experience.

We return to the lodge for dinner, free time, and rest.

Amazon awakening. The first sounds of the jungle announce a new day. We enjoy an energizing breakfast before starting the day’s main excursion.

Hike to Lake Sandoval. We enter the Tambopata National Reserve and walk for about an hour along trails surrounded by primary forest, as our guide interprets every element of the ecosystem: centuries-old trees, medicinal plants, palms, giant ferns, orchids, and mammal tracks.

Canoe navigation. On arrival at Lake Sandoval we board a paddle canoe. The silence of this way of navigating increases the chances of spotting giant otters, hoatzins, herons, cormorants, kingfishers, monkeys, caimans, turtles, and a variety of waterbirds. The lake’s scenery is one of the most spectacular in the Peruvian Amazon.

Lunch. We return to the lodge to enjoy a farewell lunch, followed by time to pack.

Return. We begin the trip back, navigating the Madre de Dios River to Puerto Maldonado. Our transport takes passengers to their hotel, the airport, or the bus terminal. End of our services.