3-day Tambopata wildlife tour: Piranha lake and Sandoval Lake

Boat down the Tambopata River at dusk, spotting capybaras and caimans on the banks.

A 3-day guided tour of Tambopata National Reserve in the Amazon rainforest with small groups of up to nine travelers. You stay in a riverside lodge, take guided wildlife walks, fish for piranhas at dawn, and explore Sandoval Lake by boat. The tour includes meals, transport, accommodations with private bathroom, and rain boots. A live guide speaks English or Spanish.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Sunset, capibaras, and night walk

• Boat ride on Tambopata River
• Search for wild animals on riverbanks
• Dinner at lodge
• Night walk to see tarantulas and night monkeys

Day 2: Tambopata Reserve and Lake Sandoval

• Breakfast at lodge
• Visit Tambopata National Reserve
• Search for monkeys, alligators, snakes, birds, turtles
• Lunch overlooking Lake Sandoval
• Dinner at lodge

Day 3: Piranha fishing and sunrise

• Breakfast at lodge
• Visit Lake Yacumama for piranha fishing
• Observe black alligators and tropical birds at sunrise

The experience

Three days means you reach the deeper jungle sites most day trips skip. The first afternoon takes you by boat down the Tambopata River to hunt for capybaras and caimans along the banks, then a night walk where you spot tarantulas, spiders and night monkeys. You sleep at the Tambopata River Lodge, a small facility on the water itself, so the wildlife continues around you after dark.

Day two is the Sandoval Lake push: after breakfast you head into Tambopata National Reserve proper to search for monkeys, snakes, tropical birds and turtles, then eat lunch on the water looking out at the lake. The third day is the piranha lake, a place the operator calls magical, where you fish for them at sunrise while black caimans surface and parrots wheel overhead. The boat ride back to the lodge closes the loop.

Groups stay under nine travelers, so the guide can position the boat for sightings without the chaos of larger tours. Transport is air-conditioned, and the lodge provides rain boots so you step into the wet forest ready. Meals are included throughout, and your room has a private bathroom. A real comfort when you're three days deep in the reserve.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned transport to and from the lodge.
• three days of guided wildlife walks and boat excursions on the Tambopata River and Sandoval Lake.
• meals throughout.
• accommodation in a private room with bathroom at the Tambopata River Lodge.
• rain boots.
• live guide in English or Spanish.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (26 to 54 years) · Senior (55 to 80 years) · Youth (13 to 25 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years)

GroupUp to 9

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 6 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availableNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by TAMBOPATA LIVING JUNGLE

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or Spanish, so choose the language that fits your comfort. Small groups of up to nine mean you travel with fewer people than larger Amazon tours, which changes how close the boat can get to wildlife without disturbing it.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 25 years); Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (1 to 3 years).

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

Night walks turn up tarantulas, spiders, night monkeys and sloths. The river itself holds caimans and capybaras. Spotting them depends on the season and the time of day, but the guide positions the boat to maximize your chances.

Is Sandoval Lake worth the time on day two?

Sandoval Lake sits inside Tambopata National Reserve and holds monkeys, turtles, tropical birds and snakes. You spend the afternoon there by boat, eating lunch on the water. It is the centerpiece of the middle day.

What is the piranha lake actually like?

The operator calls it a magical place where you fish for piranhas at sunrise while black caimans surface nearby and tropical birds fly overhead. It is a remote site that takes the full third day to reach and explore.

What is included in the price, and what costs extra?

Meals, transport, the riverside lodge with private bathroom, rain boots and all guided excursions are included. The tour runs 3 days and 2 nights.