3-day kayaking in Puerto Maldonado: Sandoval Lake & giant otters

Three days paddling past giant otters and macaws at clay licks

A 3-day kayaking and wildlife tour in Puerto Maldonado's Tambopata National Reserve, based at a jungle lodge on the Madre de Dios River. You paddle Sandoval Lake to spot giant river otters and macaws at clay licks, hike through 500-year-old forest, fish for piranhas in the afternoon, and search for caimans and capybaras on night boat rides. A bilingual local guide leads all activities.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and jungle introduction

• Meet guide at Plaza de Armas
• Travel to lodge near Tambopata River
• Settle into riverside room
• Introductory 1-hour jungle walk
• Enjoy Amazonian lunch
• Boat ride on Tambopata River at sunset
• Night wildlife spotting with flashlights

Day 2: Lake Sandoval and fishing activities

• Early departure to Lake Sandoval
• Observe wildlife at clay palm licks
• Return to lodge for lunch
• Afternoon sport fishing
• Evening jungle walk to spot nocturnal animals

Day 3: Sunrise and parrot clay lick visit

• Early sunrise on Tambopata River
• Visit parrot clay lick
• Continental breakfast at lodge
• Pack up and return to city
• Drop-off at airport or bus station

The experience

The tour starts at Plaza de Armas in Puerto Maldonado and moves to the lodge 25 minutes away, where you settle into a riverside room overlooking the Tambopata River. Before dark, you walk for an hour through ancient forest with your guide, spotting toucans, oropendolas, monkeys and butterflies among trees over 500 years old. At 3:30 pm you board a boat for a sunset ride along the river, scanning the banks from panoramic seats for sloths and tropical birds. Once night falls, the guide uses a flashlight to hunt for white caimans, herons, and capybaras, which show up roughly 90% of the time.

Day two takes you on a 3 km hike to Sandoval Lake inside Tambopata National Reserve, where you paddle past clay palm licks crowded with macaws, black caimans and monkeys, and watch for endangered giant river otters. Back at the lodge after lunch, you spend the afternoon sport fishing (typically for piranhas, paco and catfish), then walk the jungle at dusk to find frogs, tarantulas and reptiles while listening to the rainforest's night sounds.

On the final morning you start before sunrise on the Tambopata River to watch parrots gather at the clay lick, feeding on mineral-rich clay and filling the air with sound. After a continental breakfast, you pack up and return to Puerto Maldonado around 10:30 am, with drop-off at the airport or bus station. The guide speaks both English and Spanish throughout.

What’s included

• Entrance to Tambopata National Reserve.
• bilingual local guide for all activities.
• river transport by boat.
• accommodation in the jungle lodge.
• refillable drinking water during kayaking and hikes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (5 to 60 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancy

Operated by Machupicchu Holiday

Is this one for you?Choose this trip if you want to paddle and hike through the jungle at a measured pace with a small group, rather than move quickly between many stops.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What wildlife will I actually see on the Tambopata River at night?

White caimans, herons and capybaras appear regularly on the flashlight searches along the riverbank. Capybaras show up about 90% of the time. You'll also hear frogs and other jungle sounds from the boat.

How far is the hike to Sandoval Lake and what's it like?

The hike to Sandoval Lake is 3 km through forest inside Tambopata National Reserve. You'll pass clay palm licks where macaws and other birds feed, and watch for black caimans and giant river otters in and around the water.

What's included in the 3 days, and what do I need to bring?

The tour includes entrance to Tambopata Reserve, a bilingual local guide, river transport, accommodation in the jungle lodge, and refillable drinking water during activities. Meals beyond what the lodge provides are not included, so plan for extra expenses in town.

How long does the tour take and when does it end?

The tour runs three full days. You meet at Plaza de Armas in Puerto Maldonado on day one and return to the city around 10:30 am on day three, with drop-off at the airport or bus station.