4-day Tambopata jungle tour from Puerto Maldonado: Sandoval Lake

Walk the canopy 35 meters up, paddle Sandoval Lake, fish the Madre de Dios River

A 4-day guided tour of Tambopata National Reserve based in a jungle lodge near Puerto Maldonado, with airport pickup included. You climb a canopy tower built into a Lupuna tree, kayak on Sandoval Lake surrounded by giant otters and turtles, visit an Ese'eja native community, and fish the Madre de Dios River. The guide speaks English or Spanish and leads all excursions. Meals and transport within Puerto Maldonado are your own arrangement.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and jungle introduction

• Arrive at Puerto Maldonado airport or bus station
• Transfer to office and register
• Store excess luggage safely
• Transfer to jungle lodge
• Enjoy welcome drink
• Have lunch at lodge
• Climb Canopy Tower and walk canopy
• Zip-line through forest
• Boat trip on Madre de Dios River to spot caimans and capybaras
• Overnight at jungle lodge

Day 2: Sandoval Lake excursion

• Breakfast at lodge
• Boat to Tambopata National Reserve control
• Walk 1.5 hours through rainforest
• Explore Sandoval Lake by canoe
• Observe wildlife: giant otters, birds, butterflies, turtles, fish
• Rest and relax at lodge
• Overnight at jungle lodge

Day 3: Native community and fishing

• Breakfast at lodge
• Boat downstream on Madre de Dios River
• Visit two Ese’Ejas native communities
• Rustic fishing in Madre de Dios River
• Return to lodge for dinner
• Overnight at jungle lodge

Day 4: Parakeet clay lick and departure

• Early morning visit to parakeet clay lick
• Return to lodge for breakfast
• Boat back to Puerto Maldonado
• Transfer to airport or bus station
• End of service

The experience

The tour starts the day you arrive. After pickup at Puerto Maldonado airport or bus station, you register at the office and head to the lodge. That afternoon, you climb the 35-meter canopy tower built at the base of a massive Lupuna tree (the Amazon's scale becomes physical the moment you step onto it), then zip-line back through the forest. Later, a boat ride down the Madre de Dios River puts you in search of caimans and capybaras along the banks before dark.

Day two is Sandoval Lake. After breakfast, a 90-minute walk through rainforest brings you to one of the region's largest lakes, ringed by ancient trees and vines. You spend hours paddling by canoe, watching for giant otters, turtles, colored butterflies and fish. The rest of the day is yours to rest in the lodge and listen to the jungle. On day three, you travel downstream an hour to visit two families in the Ese'eja native community, about 200 families live there, and return to fish the Madre de Dios River in the afternoon, where you might catch pictus catfish, small mouth, armored catfish or red eye piranha.

The final morning starts before dawn. You leave the lodge early to reach the parakeet clay licks, where thousands of birds arrive each day to eat mineral-rich clay that neutralizes toxins from the seeds and fruits they feed on. Breakfast is back at the lodge around 7am, then a boat ride returns you to Puerto Maldonado by 10:30am for your onward flight or bus. Arrival must be before 1pm on day one and departure after 1pm on day four for the transfers to work.

What’s included

• Three nights at the jungle lodge.
• airport or bus station pickup and drop-off in Puerto Maldonado.
• entrance fees to all sites.
• the canopy tower walk and zip-line.
• kayaking on Sandoval Lake.
• visit to the Ese'eja native community.
• fishing on the Madre de Dios River.
• and a guide in English or Spanish for all excursions.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effort

Operated by PVTravels

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a complete four-day Tambopata experience with all logistics handled (transport, lodge, and guide included) rather than piecing together your own arrangements.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What is the Canopy Tower and what do you do there?

The Canopy Tower stands 35 meters high and is built at the base of a massive Lupuna tree. You climb it to walk through the forest canopy, then zip-line back down through the trees.

What wildlife might I see at Sandoval Lake?

Sandoval Lake is home to giant otters, turtles, colored butterflies, a variety of fish and many bird species. You paddle by canoe for several hours, so sightings depend on the time of day and season.

What does the visit to the native community involve?

You travel downstream on the Madre de Dios River for about an hour to reach the Ese'eja community and visit two families. The community numbers about 200 families total and you spend time learning about their life in the jungle.

What is the parakeet clay lick and why do the birds go there?

The parakeet clay licks are a site where thousands of parakeets gather each morning to eat mineral-rich clay. The clay provides salts and minerals that help them metabolize and neutralize toxins from the seeds, fruits and flowers they eat.

What is included in the 4-day tour price?

The tour includes airport or bus station pickup and drop-off in Puerto Maldonado, three nights at the jungle lodge, all entrance fees, the canopy walk, kayaking at Sandoval Lake, the visit to the native community, fishing, and a guide in English or Spanish. Meals and drinks beyond what is specified in the itinerary are not included.