3-day kayaking Tambopata National Reserve: Sandoval Lake

Paddle rainforest rivers and trek to a 3 km lake where macaws gather at dawn

A 3-day guided kayaking and hiking adventure through Tambopata National Reserve in the Peruvian Amazon, based at an eco-lodge with a bilingual guide, entrance fees and meals included. You paddle the Madre de Dios River on day one, hike 3 km through jungle to Sandoval Lake on day two to watch macaws feed at clay licks, and trek the Tapir Trail on day three before returning to the city. Early starts (4:30 AM on day two) and moderate fitness are required. Night excursions and optional piranha fishing are part of the itinerary.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Kayak Adventure

• Depart office to main port
• Boat ride to eco-lodge
• Welcome and briefing
• Settle into rooms
• Guided rainforest walk
• Lunch at lodge
• Kayaking on Madre de Dios River
• Night boat excursion for caimans
• Dinner at lodge
• Optional jungle bonfire and storytelling

Day 2: Sandoval Lake and Night Walk

• Early breakfast
• Hike to Sandoval Lake
• Observe wildlife and clay palm licks
• Lunch at lodge
• Piranha fishing and fish preparation
• Night jungle walk
• Dinner at lodge

Day 3: Tapir Trail and Return

• Breakfast
• Guided hike on Tapir Trail
• Lunch
• Return to city

The experience

You arrive at the main port by 9:30 AM on day one and board a motorboat for a 40-minute ride upriver to the eco-lodge on the Madre de Dios River. After settling in, a guide leads you on a rainforest walk to spot monkeys, birds and insects, then you kayak to a nearby island where capuchin monkeys live, watching for turtles, butterflies and toucans. After dark, a night boat excursion searches for caimans by flashlight. Their eyes glow red in the beam. An optional jungle bonfire and storytelling happens under the stars.

Day two starts at 4:30 AM with an early breakfast and a 3 km hike through dense jungle to Sandoval Lake, a 3 km body of water inside the reserve. The trail passes clay palm licks where macaws gather in the early morning to feed on minerals, and you'll walk through aguaje palm forests and past giant Amazonian trees like lupuna and shihuahuaco. Wildlife sightings often include red howler monkeys, black caimans, giant river otters, herons, kingfishers and hoatzins. In the afternoon, you can fish for piranha and other Amazon fish species. Anything you catch can be prepared for dinner. A night jungle walk follows, where the ecosystem transforms: you spot fireflies, frogs, tarantulas, snakes and the tree lizard Plica plica, a master of camouflage.

Day three brings a guided hike along the Tapir Trail, which ends in a swampy aguaje palm forest where wild fruits attract tapirs, wild pigs and rodents. The hike takes about three hours. From November to April, this trail floods and becomes a seasonal wetland habitat for anacondas. You return to the city by 4:30 PM. The lodge provides drinking water during activities. Your bilingual guide (English or Spanish) leads all excursions.

What’s included

• Entrance fee to Tambopata National Reserve.
• motorboat transport along the Madre de Dios River.
• 3 nights in the eco-lodge.
• all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner).
• bilingual guide (English or Spanish) for all activities.
• drinking water during excursions.
• kayak access on day one.
• night boat excursions for caiman spotting.
• jungle walks and the hike to Sandoval Lake.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (3 to 60 years) · Under 3: 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 effort

Operated by Machupicchu Holiday

Is this one for you?The early starts (4:30 AM on day two) and moderate fitness requirement mean this trip suits someone ready to wake before dawn and hike 3 km through rainforest to reach the wildlife. The fixed schedule keeps all three days' activities and travel inside the reserve and back to the city. If you need flexibility or prefer a slower pace, a longer multi-day option may fit better.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What wildlife can I expect to see on the Madre de Dios River and at Sandoval Lake?

Sandoval Lake and the surrounding rainforest host red howler monkeys, black caimans, giant river otters, macaws, herons, kingfishers, hoatzins, capuchin monkeys, turtles, butterflies, toucans and parrots. Night excursions may reveal capybaras, armadillos, pacas and nocturnal insects like fireflies and tarantulas.

Why do you start the second day at 4:30 AM?

The early start gets you to Sandoval Lake and the clay palm licks by dawn, when macaws gather to feed on minerals. This is the best time to observe them and other wildlife before the day warms up.

Is the Tapir Trail hike difficult, and what happens if it floods?

The Tapir Trail takes about three hours and requires moderate fitness. From November to April, the trail floods and becomes a seasonal wetland where anacondas live, creating a different ecosystem to explore. The hike is still possible but the landscape and wildlife change with the water.

What meals and drinks are provided during the 3 days?

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included at the lodge each day. You receive a fresh regional fruit juice on arrival and drinking water is available during all activities. Bar beverages are not included.

Can I fish during the trip, and what happens with my catch?

Yes, piranha fishing and fishing for other Amazon species like paco, palometa, sardines and catfish happen on day two in the afternoon. You can keep what you catch and have it prepared for dinner at the lodge.