Day 1: Monkey Island
Reception at the airport or bus terminal and transfer to our office to receive information about the route. Transfer to the port where we will take a boat for one hour to our ecolodge. After settling into our bungalows, we will embark on a two-hour introductory walk through the jungle in the dense tropical forest of Tambopata, guided by a local expert who will help you spot a variety of trees that may be over five hundred years old. During this time, you may see some wild animal species such as toucans, oropendolas, parrots, monkeys, snakes, butterflies, etc. You will have the opportunity to experience the magic of our Amazon jungle within the Tambopata National Reserve (278,000 hectares protected under Peruvian law).
After lunch, we will visit Monkey Island located across from our lodge via the Madre de Dios River. This area is home to different monkey species, such as the brown capuchin and the squirrel monkey, all found on the island. After this activity, we will return to the jungle lodge.
At night, we will search for caimans, which are usually found along the banks of the Madre de Dios River. You will need to bring a torch as this activity takes place in the darkness of night. With a bit of luck, we may see the largest family of the world, which is the family of Peruvian guinea pigs. After this, we will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight accommodation.
Day 2: Lake Sandoval
Before an early breakfast, we will take a short boat ride to the entrance of Lake Sandoval, where we will check in at the control point and then hike 3 kilometres (2 miles) to Lake Sandoval. After an enjoyable interpretive walk in the nature reserve, our wildlife guides will help us spot species such as the hoatzin, tiger heron, eagles, howler monkeys, black capuchins, and black caimans. During our canoe ride, we may also see the giant river otters (which are endangered) and the largest caiman, measuring over 4 metres long.
We will return to the lodge to enjoy a typical lunch. After lunch, there will be some hours to relax by the pool. Around 4 PM, we will return to the city of Puerto Maldonado, generally arriving around 5 PM, ready for your transfer to the bus station or hotel.
