Upon arrival to Puerto Maldonado, you will be transferred to the boat dock on the Tambopata River. Here we board a motorized canoe and head towards the nearby confluence of the mighty Madre de Dios River, the source of the Amazon tributary. Just 30 minutes downriver is landing at the port that will lead to Sandoval Lake. We walk a trail of 3 Km (2 mi), stopping to watch birds and butterflies, up to a narrow canal boat. From there, we navigate the flooded forest of palm trees that leads to the open waters of this peaceful lake. After a brief rest, we start again by boat to explore the entire eastern end of the lake, following the sound of hundreds of Blue-and-Yellow and Red-Breasted Macaws as they return to the palm forest for the night. Our view from the boat often allows close and extensive encounters with birds and mammals. In Sandoval Lake, the Capuchin Monkey, in particular, has nearly lost its fear of humans. We return to the lodge at dusk for dinner. Afterwards, we take the boat again, in search of caimans, which are now extremely rare in the Amazon but are still common in this protected lake. On clear nights we go by boat farther into the lake for a view of the vast southern sky, unobstructed, with its magnificent views of constellations and the Milky Way.

Wake up early for some coffee or tea and watch the sunrise in the early morning from the shore of the lake. Lake Sandoval is a meander abandoned by the river and, due to its particular ecosystem of calm waters, it is home to exuberant fauna, which includes, among others, giant otters, caimans and "shanshos", an exotic bird with a prehistoric appearance. After enjoying a late breakfast, we will walk the trail through the cool understory of the impressive primary rainforest that surrounds the lake. We will see the great Chestnut trees that abound here. After lunch, we rest for an hour and then explore the west side of the lake where we will have chances to observe different species of monkeys. After dinner, we will have the opportunity to spot caimans in the lake.

Another early wake up call to watch the sunrise from the shore of the lake. Next, you will board the catamaran to explore the Western end of the lake, to look for a family of giant river otters, an endangered mammal that has found peace in these calm waters due to the absence of predators. We return to the lodge for breakfast and afterwards take a break and enjoy the panoramic view from a high point in the lake before leaving to walk through a special circuit which will investigate and learn the use of dozens of medicinal Amazonian plants. This path includes the wild jungle and a small botanical garden dedicated to the cultivation of some native species. After lunch, we take a break and prepare for a walk through the quietest and most secluded part of the forest on the north shore of the lake. In the evening we have one last opportunity to seek the Black Caiman along the lake shore or go for a short walk for your last night in the woods.

After breakfast, we make a final paddle through palm swamps on the west end of the lake. On the clearer mornings, a glorious sunrise and its reflection can be seen in the lake. We return to the Madre de Dios River and head towards Puerto Maldonado and from there on to the airport.

*Please note that itineraries may vary slightly to maximize wildlife viewing, depending on the reports of our local researchers and experienced naturalist guides.