8. From Puerto Maldonado: Tambopata National Reserve 3-Day Tour
Day 1: Puerto Maldonado – Jungle Lodge – Caiman Area You will be welcome at the airport or bus station once you arrive in Peru’s biodiversity capital (Puerto Maldonado). After meeting your team, you will go to the port boat to board a motorized riverboat. Then you will navigate on the Madre de Dios River for 1 hour approximately before arriving at the Tambopata reserve zone. There you will be welcomed by our adventure staff and get an introduction to our lodge lands. Then your guide will organize the bungalow for your stay. Then, you can discover the lodge, or if you prefer, you can take some time to rest while your chef will be preparing your lunch with some local products. After a satisfying lunch, the group will convene to embark on an adventure to Monkey Island, situated just in front of the lodge. To reach the island, you'll cross the river accompanied by your tour guide, who will lead you on a fascinating tour. Along the way, you'll encounter a variety of monkeys indigenous to the area, as well as learn about the lush jungle and its native plants and trees. Upon returning to the lodge, you'll have time to relax and prepare for an unforgettable evening. At around 7:00 pm, your group will embark on a Caiman Safari with your guide. As you navigate the river, you'll be treated to glimpses of the vibrant nightlife along the riverbank. Finally, you'll return to the lodge for a delicious dinner, during which you can discuss plans for the following day. Day 2: Lodge – Sandoval Lake and Jungle Hike You will wake up around 6:00 am. Then you will enjoy our breakfast and get the last details from our guide for the day. After breakfast, you will walk to Sandoval Lake. Then you have a hike inside of Tambopata National Reserve (Sandoval Lake). Here you will have the chance to see an exciting diversity of animals – snakes, howlers, and hundreds of birds. Once you are at the Sandoval Lake, you will get into a smaller rowing boat, and, with our guide and staff, you’ll go in search of the giant otters. Also waiting for you to discover are caiman, piranhas, snakes, tapirs, turtles, cormorants, herons and of course lots of birds. Then you will go back to your lodge, where you can enjoy spectacular views of the sunset panoramas of the Jungle. If you still have energy left after dark, why not embark on an exciting adventure with your guide to explore the nocturnal wildlife? You can discover a variety of fascinating creatures such as insects, capybaras, and other nocturnal animals, while gaining knowledge about their behaviors and habitats under the stars. Then you finish the day with a delicious dinner. Day 3: Jungle activities – Puerto Maldonado After waking up, you will enjoy breakfast and get ready to walk near your lodge, and enjoy the views from lookouts (canopy). if you are lucky, you will see different animals like snakes, parrots, monkeys, and others. Then you will get ready and take a boat, and your transfer will take you back to Puerto Maldonado.