Puerto Maldonado Arrival & Tambopata River Sunset

Arrival and Transfer to Your Jungle Lodge

Your Tambopata experience begins in Puerto Maldonado, where our local team welcomes you and arranges your scheduled transfer to the jungle lodge. After arrival, settle into your accommodation, enjoy lunch and meet your naturalist guide. Your guide will introduce the rainforest environment, explain the planned excursions and help you prepare for the days ahead.

Exploring the Tambopata River

In the afternoon, travel by boat along the Tambopata River. The river passes through forested landscapes, with overhanging branches, open water and riverbanks that provide habitat for a variety of wildlife. Your guide will watch the shoreline and treetops for birds and other animals. Herons, kingfishers, monkeys, capybaras and sloths occur in the wider river environment, although sightings depend on natural activity and local conditions.

Sunset and Caiman Search

Enjoy the softer evening light as the sun sets over the river. When conditions are suitable, continue with a guided caiman search. Your guide uses a flashlight to look for the reflective eyes of caimans near the water's edge. Return to the lodge for dinner and your first night in the Amazon.

Explore an Oxbow Lake Surrounded by Rainforest

Rainforest Trail to Lake Sandoval

After breakfast, travel toward Lake Sandoval, one of the best-known natural attractions within Tambopata National Reserve. The visit begins with an approximately three-kilometer walk along a rainforest trail. As you walk, your guide introduces the vegetation and helps you recognize bird calls, animal tracks and signs of wildlife activity. The trail can be muddy or uneven, especially after rainfall.

Canoeing on Lake Sandoval

At the lake, board a canoe and explore the quiet waters surrounded by palms and tropical forest. This environment offers opportunities to observe waterbirds and other animals that inhabit the lakeshore. Hoatzins are often found among the vegetation, while kingfishers patrol the water's edge and caimans may rest along the shore. Monkeys inhabit the surrounding forest, and giant river otters also live in Lake Sandoval. Your guide will help you observe quietly and understand the wildlife and habitats you encounter.

Return to the Jungle Lodge

After the canoe excursion, follow the approximately three-kilometer trail back and return to the lodge. Enjoy time to rest before dinner and the evening activity.

Guided Rainforest Night Walk

Once darkness falls, join your guide for a walk along a suitable rainforest trail. Listen for frogs and insects, observe nocturnal invertebrates and discover the smaller creatures that become active after sunset. The night walk offers a different perspective on the forest, with an emphasis on observation, listening and understanding nocturnal activity.

Morning Birdwatching and Views Above the Forest Floor

Early Morning at La Cachuela

Begin the day with an early visit to La Cachuela Parrot Clay Lick. Parrots may gather in the surrounding trees before approaching the exposed clay bank. Their calls and movements make this an interesting place to observe the forest in the early morning. Your naturalist guide will help identify the birds and explain what is known about their behavior. Shared Vortex binoculars and spotting scopes are available during suitable observation conditions. After the visit, return for breakfast and continue with the day's activities.

Discover the Rainforest Canopy

Later, visit the canopy walkways for a different perspective on the forest. Elevated bridges and observation platforms provide views across the upper branches and reveal the height and structure of the rainforest. Birds such as toucans, parrots and other canopy species inhabit this environment. Your guide will help you scan the treetops and understand how different animals use the forest's vertical layers.

Evening at the Lodge

Return to your jungle lodge for dinner and time to relax. After a day that begins with early-morning birdwatching and continues above the forest floor, enjoy the evening sounds of the rainforest.

Discover the Flooded Palm Forests of Yacumama

Sunrise on Yacumama Lake

Begin your final day before sunrise with an excursion to Yacumama Lake. This wetland is surrounded by aguaje palms, which create a distinctive landscape of flooded forest and open water. Explore by canoe as morning light reaches the wetland. Watch for herons and other waterbirds, listen to the first bird calls of the day and learn about the wildlife associated with these habitats. Red-bellied macaws may also be active in the surrounding palm forest.

Understanding the Aguajal Ecosystem

Your guide will introduce the ecological importance of the aguaje palm (Mauritia flexuosa). Its fruit provides food for wildlife, while cavities in dead palm trunks can be used by red-bellied macaws for nesting. Learn how these flooded forests support wildlife and contribute to the wider Amazonian landscape.

Traditional Piranha Fishing

When local conditions allow, try fishing with traditional equipment used in the region. Your guide will demonstrate the techniques and explain more about the fish inhabiting these waters.

Breakfast and Departure Transfer

Return for breakfast, collect your belongings and prepare for your scheduled transfer to Puerto Maldonado. Our team will coordinate the departure arrangements according to the flight information confirmed before your tour.