4-day Amazon kayaking in Tambopata National Reserve

You paddle the river yourself instead of watching from a boat.

A 4-day tour through Tambopata National Reserve where you kayak the Madre de Dios River, hike 3 km to Sandoval Lake at dawn to see macaws at the clay licks, and stay in a jungle lodge with a local guide. Days mix paddling, night boat excursions for caimans, sport fishing, zip-lining through the canopy, and guided walks to spot giant otters, monkeys, and nocturnal wildlife.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Night Safari on the River

• Depart office to main port
• Boat ride to jungle lodge
• Welcome drink and orientation
• Lunch at the lodge
• Guided jungle walk
• Night boat excursion to spot caimans
• Dinner at the lodge

Day 2: Sandoval Lake & Night Jungle Walk

• Early breakfast
• Hike to Sandoval Lake
• Observe wildlife and flora
• Lunch at the lodge
• Amazon sport fishing
• Night jungle walk
• Dinner at the lodge

Day 3: Kayaking, Monkey Island & Zipline Adventure

• Breakfast
• Kayak on Madre de Dios River
• Visit Monkey Island and interact
• Lunch
• Boat ride and jungle hike
• Zip-line and hanging bridge
• Optional nighttime bonfire

Day 4: Tapir Trail and Return

• Breakfast
• Jungle walk on Tapir Trail
• Lunch at the lodge
• Relax in hammocks or play pool
• Return to the city

The experience

The tour starts at 9:30 AM from the office with a 40-minute boat ride to the lodge on the Madre de Dios River. That first afternoon you walk into the jungle to see millenary trees and whatever monkeys or birds are moving through the canopy, then take a night boat out to spot caimans: their eyes glow when the light hits them. The lodge provides meals, fresh water during excursions, and a local guide who speaks English or Spanish.

Day two is the early one: you leave at 5 AM to hike 3 km through the jungle to Sandoval Lake inside the reserve, passing mineral-rich palm clay licks where macaws gather at dawn. The hike passes giant trees like lupuna and shihuahuaco, and you'll see giant otters, black caimans, herons, toucans, and hoatzins: prehistoric-looking birds that still live here. After lunch back at the lodge, you can try sport fishing for piranhas and paco, or prepare your catch with the chef for dinner. The night walk that follows is when you spot fireflies, tarantulas, frogs, and the camouflaged plica plica lizard.

Day three is the kayaking day. You paddle the Madre de Dios River in the morning, getting close enough to spot aquatic turtles and butterflies, then visit Monkey Island where rescued monkeys live freely and will take fruit from your hand. After lunch, a short boat ride takes you to the canopy zip-line and hanging bridge: a 10-minute hike through the jungle gets you there. Day four follows the Tapir Trail through swampy aguaje palm habitat where you look for wild pig and bird tracks. From November to April this area floods and anacondas move in. You return to the city at 4:30 PM.

What’s included

• Local guide in English or Spanish.
• entrance fees to Tambopata National Reserve.
• all meals with vegetarian and vegan options.
• river transportation by boat and kayak.
• drinking water during excursions.
• accommodation in the jungle lodge for four nights.

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 9 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effort

Operated by Machupicchu Holiday

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to paddle and hike yourself rather than watch from a boat, and if you're comfortable with early mornings and moderate physical activity spread across four days. Small groups keep the experience intimate and give the guide room to spot wildlife without managing a crowd.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What wildlife will I actually see on the Madre de Dios River?

Giant otters, black caimans, aquatic turtles, and butterflies appear during the kayaking and boat excursions. Night boat trips specifically target caimans, whose eyes reflect light, along with capybaras, armadillos, and pacas. Monkeys, macaws, herons, toucans, and hoatzins show up during the jungle hikes, especially at Sandoval Lake at dawn.

How physically demanding is the 3 km hike to Sandoval Lake?

The operator requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness for this tour. The hike to Sandoval Lake is 3 km through jungle terrain and starts at 5 AM, so early rising and steady walking pace matter more than speed.

Can I actually catch fish, or is the sport fishing more for show?

You fish for piranhas, paco, gamitana, catfish, and other species on day two. If you catch something, the lodge chef will prepare it for your dinner that night, so the fishing is real and has a direct outcome.

What happens on the optional nighttime bonfire?

The bonfire on day three is optional and happens after the zip-line activity. You hear jungle stories and learn how to make fire in the dark: a practical skill demonstration rather than a formal activity.