Tambopata Reserve Tour: Ziplining, Kayaking & Wildlife

Glide through treetops and paddle beside playful monkeys in the Amazon jungle

A 3-day guided tour of Tambopata National Reserve departing from Puerto Maldonado, based at Paradise Amazon Lodge with activities including a 35-meter canopy tower, kayaking on the Madre de Dios River, visits to Monkey Island and Lake Sandoval, night caiman spotting, and a dawn parrot clay lick. Accommodation, all transport from the airport or bus terminal, meals, and a local English-speaking guide are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Amazon Lodge Activities

• Transfer to Puerto Capitania pier
• Boat ride to Paradise Amazon Lodge
• Visit Canopy Tower for birdwatching
• Kayaking on Madre de Dios river
• Boat trip to Monkey Island and feed monkeys
• Evening caiman spotting excursion

Day 2: Lake Sandoval Trek and Night Walk

• Breakfast at lodge
• Register at checkpoint and trek to Lake Sandoval
• Lunch near Lake Sandoval
• Rowboat tour on Lake Sandoval
• Evening nocturnal wildlife walk
• Dinner at lodge

Day 3: Parrot Clay Lick and Fishing

• Early morning visit to Parrot Clay Lick
• Breakfast at lodge
• Fishing excursion in nearby ravine
• Lunch with freshly caught fish
• Transfer back to Tambopata

The experience

The tour starts with a 30-minute boat ride from Puerto Maldonado pier to Paradise Amazon Lodge, your base for the three nights. On day one, you climb the canopy tower (a 35-meter structure next to a massive Lupuna tree), where a local guide points out bird species moving through the canopy. In the early afternoon, you kayak from the lodge with safety equipment and a support boat alongside. Afterward, you swim in the Madre de Dios River to cool off. A 15-minute boat ride downstream brings you to Monkey Island, where capuchin and black monkeys often approach close enough to feed. That evening, you head out with searchlights to spot dwarf and white caimans in the dark.

Day two begins with breakfast and a three-kilometer trek to Lake Sandoval, where giant river otters are frequently spotted. You eat lunch on the lake's shore, then take a rowboat into the water to watch hoatzins, cormorants, and anhingas. At dusk, a guided night walk lets you observe nocturnal species the forest only reveals after dark. On day three, you wake before sunrise to navigate upriver to the Collpa de Loros: a clay lick where hundreds of parrots gather at dawn to eat mineral-rich earth. You watch them arrive as the sun rises, then return for breakfast. After rest, you fish in a nearby ravine for catfish, piranhas, and other species. The lodge chef prepares your catch for lunch. A final transfer gets you back to Puerto Maldonado in time for your onward bus or flight.

The guide speaks English and Spanish, and pickup from the airport or bus terminal is included. Small groups keep the experience personal, and the lodge provides all meals. The itinerary balances water activities, forest exploration, and wildlife observation without requiring technical climbing or extreme fitness, though the days are full and involve early starts.

What’s included

• Private transportation from Puerto Maldonado airport or bus terminal.
• three nights at Paradise Amazon Lodge.
• all meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).
• entrance to Tambopata National Reserve.
• canopy tower access.
• kayaking with safety gear.
• visits to Monkey Island, Lake Sandoval, and the parrot clay lick.
• night caiman spotting.
• night forest walk.
• sport fishing excursion.
• local English-speaking guide throughout.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (7 to 70 years) · Under 7: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 3 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 7 days ago

Good to know

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

Operated by Paradise Yakari Amazon Tours

Is this one for you?The three-day length fits travelers who want immersion in the rainforest without committing to a week-long expedition. It leaves room for other activities in Puerto Maldonado before or after, or time to rest in a larger city. The fixed itinerary and early starts mean you'll be active most daylight hours, so this suits people who came to the Amazon to move through it, not to relax at a lodge.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What birds and wildlife will I actually see on the 3-day Tambopata tour?

The reserve holds over 650 bird species, including harpy eagles, blue-headed parrots, and hoatzins. You'll also encounter capuchin monkeys, river otters, and caimans. Sightings depend on timing and season, but the canopy tower, lake, and night walks target the animals most active at different hours.

How much walking and physical effort is involved each day?

Day two includes a three-kilometer trek to Lake Sandoval on a forest path. The other days mix boat travel, kayaking, and shorter walks. Moderate fitness is needed for the kayaking and the pace of activities, but no technical climbing or extreme endurance is required.

Does the tour include meals and where do I sleep?

You stay at Paradise Amazon Lodge for all three nights with breakfast, lunch, and dinner included. Meals feature fresh ingredients and traditional Peruvian cooking, including fish you catch yourself on day three.

What happens on the first day when I arrive in Puerto Maldonado?

A driver picks you up from the airport or bus terminal and takes you to the pier in Puerto Maldonado. From there, a 30-minute boat ride brings you to the lodge, where you settle in and begin activities that afternoon: the canopy tower, kayaking, and Monkey Island visits.

Is the parrot clay lick worth waking up early on day three?

The Collpa de Loros is a natural gathering where hundreds of parrots descend on a clay cliff at sunrise to eat minerals. It lasts about an hour and offers intense bird photography and viewing. The sunrise over the rainforest is the backdrop.

What should I bring for kayaking and swimming in the river?

The lodge provides kayaks, paddles, and safety equipment. Bring a swimsuit, water shoes or sandals that can get wet, sunscreen, and a waterproof bag for your camera. A support boat stays with the group during kayaking.