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- Trip Outline
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Lago Yacumama Sunset Tour – Piranha Fishing & Caiman Spotting
Lago Yacumama Sunset Piranha Fishing & Caiman Spotting — a guided experience in a tranquil Amazonian oxbow lake, ideal for wildlife photography and observation near Puerto Maldonado. This evening activity is perfect for travelers looking to explore the rainforest in a short timeframe while enjoying scenic landscapes, birding, and traditional fishing.
Location: Santa Teresa community, 8 km from Puerto Maldonado, Peru
Duration: 3 hours (3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.)
Type: Sunset Tour | Small Group | Wildlife Observation
Overview – Lago Yacumama Birding and Sunset Wildlife Tour
This late-afternoon adventure begins with pick-up from your lodge or hotel in Puerto Maldonado. We travel 8 km along the Interoceanic Highway until reaching the entrance to Lago Yacumama, a peaceful oxbow lake tucked into the rainforest. From here, you board a paddle canoe or small catamaran, allowing silent navigation through prime wildlife habitat.
The paddling approach grants access to shallow inlets and forest edges, increasing the chance of spotting black caimans, nesting macaws, and other creatures. This tour is specially designed to capture the unique wildlife activity during the transition from day to night in the Amazon basin.
Itinerary – Lago Yacumama Sunset Wildlife Observation Tour
Departure from Puerto Maldonado
We pick you up around mid-afternoon and drive to the Santa Teresa community, passing through lowland Amazonian forest and rural farms until arriving at the lake entrance.
Lake Exploration by Paddle Canoe
On arrival, we board paddle canoes to silently explore the lagoon. This allows us to approach wildlife without engine noise and access areas rich in biodiversity.
We’ll glide past flooded forest, grass-lined shores, and aguaje palm groves, a critical nesting habitat for the red-bellied macaw (Ara manilata) and other parrots that roost in the Mauritia flexuosa forest as night falls.
Piranha Fishing and Caiman Spotting
Using simple fishing lines, you’ll try your hand at catching piranhas — a traditional Amazonian activity. As the sun lowers, look for black caimans along muddy banks or floating near the vegetation. Guides will use spotlights for better visibility as night approaches.
Return at Dusk
The tour concludes as the forest transitions into night, with the sounds of frogs and insects growing louder. We return to Puerto Maldonado around nightfall, dropping you off at your lodge or hotel.
Wildlife Sightings – Lago Yacumama Sunset Caiman & Bird Tour
- Birds: Hoatzins (shanshos), horned screamers, herons, cormorants, oropendolas, kingfishers (Amazon, ringed, green-and-rufous), toucans, tanagers, flycatchers, jacanas, red-bellied macaws, chestnut-fronted macaws, white-eyed parakeets, dusky-headed parakeets, and seasonally black-bellied whistling ducks (wet season)
- Reptiles: Black caimans are frequently observed resting or floating silently near shorelines
- Amphibians & Insects: Jungle sounds intensify with frog calls and nocturnal insects as daylight fades
What’s Included – Lago Yacumama Guided Wildlife Tour
- ✔ Round-trip transportation from your lodge or hotel in Puerto Maldonado
- ✔ Motorized and paddle canoe or catamaran
- ✔ Local naturalist guide (Spanish/English)
- ✔ Basic fishing gear for piranha fishing
- ✔ Life vests and safety equipment
- ✔ Wildlife interpretation during the tour
What’s Not Included
- ✘ Meals or drinks
- ✘ Accommodation (available as an optional add-on)
- ✘ Travel insurance or personal expenses
Optional Add-ons – Enhance Your Lago Yacumama Tour
- 🍽️ Dinner by the river (advance request only)
- 🏨 Overnight bungalow stay on the Madre de Dios or Tambopata River
- 🚐 Airport or bus terminal transfers before or after the tour
Booking & Payment
Price per person: $35 USD
To book the Lago Yacumama tour, please send your name, travel date, number of participants, and hotel/lodge information.
Email: info@tambopatawild.com
WhatsApp: +51 935 485 301
Payment Options
- 💳 Secure online payment by credit or debit card
- 💵 Cash in USD or Soles (by prior arrangement)
Departure & Return – Lago Yacumama Tour
Start: 3:30 p.m. – Pick-up from hotel/lodge in Puerto Maldonado
Return: 6:30 p.m. – Drop-off at your accommodation
Related Jungle Experience
If you’re looking for a night experience, check out our Tambopata Rainforest Night Walk Tour.
Trip Outline – Lago Yacumama Sunset Wildlife Tour
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Tour Name: Lago Yacumama Sunset Tour – Birding, Piranha Fishing & Caiman Spotting
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Location: Santa Teresa Community, 8 km from Puerto Maldonado, Peru
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Duration: 3 hours (approx. 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.)
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Type: Sunset Canoe Tour | Small Group | Wildlife Observation
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Highlights: Birdwatching, piranha fishing, black caiman observation, flooded palm forest, macaw nesting sites
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Level: Easy – Suitable for all ages
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Group Size: 2–7 people
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Language: English and Spanish guides available
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Start Point: Pick-up from hotels and lodges in Puerto Maldonado
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End Point: Drop-off at the same accommodation
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Availability: Daily departures (weather permitting)
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Add-ons Available: Dinner by the river, airport/bus terminal transfer, overnight stay in riverside bungalows
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Price per Person: $35 USD
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Payment Methods: Credit/debit card (online link) or cash in USD/Soles
Itinerarios
Lago Yacumama Sunset Tour
3:30 p.m. – Hotel Pick-up and Transfer to Lago Yacumama
Your guide will meet you at your lodge or hotel in Puerto Maldonado. From there, a short drive of approximately 8 km along the Interoceanic Highway leads to the entrance of the Santa Teresa community. This area marks the gateway to Lago Yacumama, a secluded oxbow lake located within the buffer zone of the Tambopata rainforest. The transfer offers views of rural landscapes, forest patches, and traditional Amazonian farmland before arriving at the edge of the forest trail.
4:00 p.m. – Arrival and Briefing at the Lake Entrance
Upon arrival, you’ll receive a short orientation about the lake’s ecological importance and the activities planned. Life jackets and traditional fishing gear are distributed, and your guide will explain wildlife observation protocols to maximize sightings while minimizing disturbance.
4:15 p.m. – Canoe Exploration and Piranha Fishing
Board a paddle canoe or small catamaran for a slow, silent navigation across the calm waters of Lago Yacumama. This paddle-based approach is ideal for entering dense, quiet corners of the lake where motorboats cannot reach. Your guide will assist in setting up simple fishing gear for traditional piranha fishing, a fun and educational activity. You’ll learn about the ecology and behavior of these iconic Amazonian fish while trying to catch them using bait and line. Any fish caught are released unless otherwise arranged in advance.
4:45 p.m. – Wildlife Observation in the Flooded Palm Forest
As you move deeper into the lake, you’ll enter a unique ecosystem known as the aguaje palm forest (Mauritia flexuosa). This flooded area plays a critical role in the Amazon’s biodiversity, serving as nesting and roosting grounds for numerous bird species.
Here you may witness:
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Red-bellied macaws (Ara manilata) returning to their nests
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Chestnut-fronted macaws, white-eyed parakeets, and dusky-headed parakeets flying in flocks
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Black caimans floating near vegetation or resting at the muddy shore
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Agoutis foraging along the edges of the water
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A symphony of jungle sounds as frogs begin to call and insects emerge at dusk
5:30 p.m. – Sunset Birdwatching and Photography
As the sun begins to descend, the golden-hour light enhances reflections on the lake. This is an exceptional time for birding and photography, with chances to spot:
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Hoatzins (shanshos) perched in wetland vegetation
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Horned screamers, jacanas, herons, cormorants, kingfishers (Amazon, ringed, green-and-rufous)
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Oropendolas, toucans, tanagers, and flycatchers heading to roost
During the wet season, it is also possible to see black-bellied whistling ducks in flight.
6:15 p.m. – Return to Shore and Transfer Back
After a final sweep of the lake's edges, the canoe returns to the dock. Your guide will assist you as you disembark, and the group boards the vehicle for the return trip to Puerto Maldonado.
6:30 p.m. – Drop-off at Accommodation
Arrive back at your lodge or hotel with unforgettable impressions of the Amazon’s wildlife at sunset, plus photos and memories of rare species and magical forest light.
What’s Included – Lago Yacumama Sunset Tour
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✔ Hotel or lodge pick-up and drop-off in Puerto Maldonado
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✔ Round-trip transport by private vehicle to Santa Teresa
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✔ Guided exploration in paddle canoe or catamaran
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✔ Traditional fishing gear for piranha fishing
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✔ Wildlife interpretation by experienced naturalist guide (Spanish/English)
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✔ Life jackets and safety equipment
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✔ Access to flooded palm forest and Aguaje ecosystem
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✔ Birdwatching, caiman spotting, and sunset photography session
What’s Not Included
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✘ Meals, drinks, or snacks
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✘ Tips or gratuities for the guide (optional)
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✘ Personal expenses
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✘ Travel insurance
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✘ Transfers from remote lodges outside Puerto Maldonado
1. What is the Lago Yacumama sunset tour and what does it include?
The Lago Yacumama sunset tour is a guided wildlife excursion to a peaceful oxbow lake near Puerto Maldonado. It includes round-trip transportation, a paddle canoe or catamaran ride, piranha fishing, black caiman spotting, birdwatching, and the chance to observe red-bellied macaws nesting in flooded palm forests at sunset. A naturalist guide provides interpretation throughout the experience.
2. Where does the Lago Yacumama sunset tour take place?
This tour takes place at Lago Yacumama, located approximately 8 km from Puerto Maldonado, near the Santa Teresa community. Access is via the Interoceanic Highway followed by a short walk to the lake entrance.
3. What wildlife can I see during the Lago Yacumama sunset tour?
During the Lago Yacumama sunset tour, participants often see hoatzins, horned screamers, cormorants, herons, oropendolas, parrots, toucans, tanagers, and macaws. Reptiles such as black caimans are often visible, and agoutis can be spotted along the shore. Red-bellied macaws nest in the aguaje palm forest, especially at dusk. Seasonal sightings include black-bellied whistling ducks.
4. Is the Lago Yacumama sunset tour suitable for children and older adults?
Yes. The tour involves calm paddling or riding in a stable catamaran, making it safe and accessible for families with children, older adults, and anyone seeking a relaxing nature experience. Life jackets and assistance are provided.
5. What time does the Lago Yacumama sunset tour start and end?
The tour begins at approximately 3:30 p.m. with pick-up from your hotel in Puerto Maldonado and returns around 6:30 p.m. This schedule allows visitors to experience the transition between day and night, which is ideal for wildlife observation and photography.
6. How physically demanding is the Lago Yacumama sunset tour?
This is a low-intensity activity. Participants board a boat with minimal walking required. The paddle segment is gentle and guided. The experience is more about observing nature in silence rather than physical exertion.
7. What should I bring for the Lago Yacumama sunset tour?
We recommend wearing lightweight, long-sleeved clothing, insect repellent, comfortable shoes, sunscreen, a hat, and bringing binoculars and a camera. Flashlights are not required, but water and personal medication should be carried if needed.
8. What kind of boats are used on the Lago Yacumama sunset tour?
Depending on group size and water levels, the tour uses paddle canoes or small catamarans. Paddling allows silent navigation through vegetation and greater proximity to wildlife such as caimans or nesting birds.
9. How can I book the Lago Yacumama sunset tour?
To book the Lago Yacumama sunset tour, contact us via WhatsApp or email with your name, preferred date, number of travelers, and your accommodation details. We will confirm availability and send a secure payment link.
10. Can the Lago Yacumama sunset tour be combined with other activities?
Yes. This tour is an excellent add-on for visitors with limited time in Puerto Maldonado. It can be combined with morning jungle walks, river kayaking, canopy bridges, or added to the start or end of a multi-day Amazon itinerary.
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