Amazon rainforest · 4 days

Tambopata: Lake Sandoval and Monkey Island

Four days in a lodge on the Madre de Dios River with canopy, zip line, kayaking to Monkey Island, Lake Sandoval, and the parrot clay lick at dawn. For travelers who want to experience the Amazon with activities every day and meals taken care of.

4 days / 3 nightsTambopata National ReserveMeals at the lodgeSpanish and English guide

Duration4 days / 3 nights

GuideSpanish and English

PickupAirport or bus terminal in Puerto Maldonado

EntrancesTambopata Reserve and Lake Sandoval

Highlights

What you’ll experience

Lake Sandoval3 km walk and rowboat ride to see hoatzins, cormorants, and anhingas.
Monkey IslandKayak down the river with a support boat, and a visit to an island with several monkey species.
Canopy and zip lineWalkway between the trees and two 190-meter lines over the rainforest.
Parrot clay lickAt dawn, blue-headed parrots and parakeets come to the cliff to eat clay.

Itinerary

Day by day

On day 1 the boat to the lodge leaves at 11:00 a.m., so it is best to arrive in Puerto Maldonado before then.

Day1

Puerto Maldonado – Lodge

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We pick you up at the Puerto Maldonado airport or bus terminal and take you to our office, where you can leave what you don't need in storage. If time allows, you can visit the main plaza and the Plaza Grau lookout, which overlooks the confluence of the Madre de Dios and Tambopata rivers. At 11:00 a.m. you go to the dock and travel 40 minutes down the Madre de Dios to the lodge, where you are welcomed with fruit juice.

Afterward you walk to the canopy bridge, a good spot for birdwatching, and do the zip line: a 190-meter line, a 75-meter bridge, and another 190-meter line on the way back. You have lunch at the lodge and time to rest in the hammocks.

In the afternoon, wearing a life jacket, you kayak down the river with a support boat and visit Monkey Island with a naturalist guide. After sunset you go on a guided walk to look for caimans, insects, and some mammals, such as capybaras. Dinner is at the lodge.

Overnight: Lodge in Tambopata

Day2

Lake Sandoval

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At 8:00 a.m. you travel about 10 minutes downriver to the entrance of Lake Sandoval, in the heart of the Tambopata National Reserve. After checking in at the control post, you walk 3 km (about 45 minutes) while observing birds and plant life. You can take a dip in the lake before lunch, which has a view of the rainforest.

Afterward you row toward the center of the lake to see hoatzins, cormorants, anhingas, and other birds. In the afternoon you return to the Madre de Dios River and the lodge for dinner.

Overnight: Lodge in Tambopata

Day3

Native Family and Fishing

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After breakfast you take a short walk to visit native families in the area, who share the customs and traditions they have kept for generations. After lunch you go out by boat for rustic fishing: the lake has catfish, mojarras, sardines, and piranhas. After sunset you return to the lodge for dinner.

Overnight: Lodge in Tambopata

Day4

Parrot Clay Lick – Puerto Maldonado

Breakfast

At 4:30 a.m. you leave by boat: about an hour and a half down the Madre de Dios as the Amazon wakes up. At 6:00 a.m. you reach the observation point, at a safe distance from the cliff, to watch blue-headed parrots, parakeets, and other birds that come to eat clay. You spend an hour there with the guide.

Around 7:00 a.m. you return to the lodge for breakfast, then sail back to Puerto Maldonado. You pick up your luggage at the office, and we take you to the bus terminal or airport.

✓Included

Transportation from the airport or bus terminal in Puerto Maldonado.
Professional bilingual guide for the 4 days of exploration.
Bungalow accommodation in the jungle with all basic comforts.
Meals: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 3 dinners.
First-aid kit and mineral water.
Entrance to Tambopata National Reserve and Lake Sandoval.

✕Not included

Tips for the guide and support team.
Additional snacks and alcoholic drinks.

Frequently asked questions

About Tambopata: Lake Sandoval and Monkey Island

Where does the tour start?+

At the airport or bus terminal in Puerto Maldonado, where we pick you up. The boat to the lodge leaves at 11:00 a.m. on day 1. Flights or bus fare to Puerto Maldonado are not included.

Which meals are included?+

Three breakfasts, three lunches, and three dinners at the lodge or en route, from lunch on day 1 to breakfast on day 4, plus mineral water.

How demanding is it?+

The walks are short (the longest is 3 km to Lake Sandoval), but there is kayaking, rowing, humid heat, and a 4:30 a.m. departure on the last day. It is not suitable for pregnant women, people with mobility limitations, people in low physical condition, or wheelchair users.

What do I do with my luggage?+

You can leave what you don't need in storage at our office in Puerto Maldonado and pick it up when you return on the last day.

What language is the guide in?+

The guide speaks Spanish and English.

What is the cancellation policy?+

A 70% refund applies with 45 days or more notice; between 30 and 44 days, 50%. With less than 30 days' notice or if you do not show up, there is no refund.

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