Tambopata jungle ziplining: 4-day Amazon adventure

Forty meters up in the canopy, spotting monkeys from above

A 4-day jungle tour from Puerto Maldonado into Tambopata National Reserve with ziplining, piranha fishing, kayaking and night wildlife spotting. The itinerary packs four separate activities (canopy walk, lake exploration, tree-climbing and a parrot clay lick) into four days, with eight meals, a professional guide in English or Spanish, and lodge accommodation included. Groups stay under eight people.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and jungle introduction

• Pick up from airport or bus station
• Register at Palotoa Amazon Travel office
• Boat ride to lodge on Madre de Dios river
• Receive exotic fruit juice and room key
• Rest at lodge
• Two-hour jungle walk with guide
• Evening boat ride to spot caimans
• Dinner at lodge

Day 2: Canopy walk and Sandoval Lake

• Early wake up at 5:30am
• Visit 40-meter high canopy to see monkeys
• Boat ride to Tambopata National Reserve
• Three-kilometer walk to Sandoval Lake
• Typical lunch
• Boat ride on Sandoval Lake to see wildlife
• Return to lodge at sunset
• Dinner and free time

Day 3: Piranha fishing and jungle challenge

• Breakfast at lodge
• Short jungle walk to Small River for piranha fishing
• Lunch and nap
• Jungle adventure with tree-climbing and challenges
• Dinner at lodge

Day 4: Parrot clay lick and local culture

• Breakfast at lodge
• Motorized boat to parrot clay lick
• Return to lodge for breakfast
• Visit native jungle family and learn customs
• Lunch at lodge
• Visit local market in Puerto Maldonado
• Transfer to bus station

The experience

The tour starts with a boat ride down the Madre de Dios River to your jungle lodge, where you'll rest and then walk the forest floor for two hours before a sunset boat ride hunting for caimans with a flashlight. Day two moves into the canopy: you'll climb 40 meters up to spot monkeys from above, then take the boat to Sandoval Lake for a 3-kilometer walk through the reserve. The lake itself is where you might see giant otters or five-meter black caimans. You'll kayak closer to the animals after lunch and return at sunset.

Day three is the action day. After breakfast you'll walk to a small river to fish for piranhas, then tackle tree-climbing in the afternoon with a specialist on hand. Day four takes you to a parrot clay lick where you'll watch parrots eat the mineral-rich clay, then visit a native family to learn about jungle life before heading back to Puerto Maldonado to explore the local market and catch your onward transport. Eight meals are prepared at the lodge. You'll sleep there each night.

Your guide speaks English or Spanish and points out wildlife throughout. Transport from the airport or bus station, rubber boots and the motorized boat are all included. The lodge provides the base for each day's excursion, so you're not moving accommodation or spending hours in transit.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English or Spanish.
• motorized boat transport on the Madre de Dios River and Sandoval Lake.
• rubber boots.
• eight prepared meals at the lodge (breakfast, lunch and dinner on days one through three, breakfast on day four).
• jungle lodge accommodation for three nights.
• pickup from airport or bus station and return transfer to the city.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 10:00 and 11:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (11 to 65 years) · Under 11: can't be booked

GroupUp to 18

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.

Paid on siteUS$ 20

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Machupicchu Peru Company

Is this one for you?Four days is long enough to move beyond the standard lake tour and reach the canopy, the clay lick and the river activities, but short enough to fit into a longer Peru itinerary without eating your whole week in the jungle. If you need to stay in Puerto Maldonado itself or move on quickly, a shorter tour might suit better.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What animals might I actually see on the Tambopata tour?

Monkeys, sloths, birds including macaws and parrots, caimans, capybaras and snakes are common sightings. Giant otters and five-meter black caimans are possible but less frequent, depending on the day and conditions.

How physically demanding is the ziplining and tree-climbing?

The canopy walk at 40 meters high and the tree-climbing on day three both require at least moderate fitness. A specialist guides you through the climbing, and the tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health or pregnancy.

Do I need to bring my own meals or is food included?

Eight meals are prepared at the lodge: breakfast, lunch and dinner on days one through three, plus breakfast on day four. You'll eat at the lodge and at the lake. Drinks from the bar are not included.

What's the schedule like each morning?

Day two starts at 5:30am to reach the canopy at first light. Other mornings begin with breakfast at the lodge before that day's activity. The early start on day two gives you the best chance to see monkeys in the canopy.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the lodge?

No. Your guide picks you up from Puerto Maldonado airport or the bus station, takes you to the Palotoa Amazon Travel office to register, then boats you down the Madre de Dios River to the lodge. The return transfer to the bus station is included on day four.