Explore Tambopata: 5 Days

Begin your Tambopata Amazon adventure with a warm welcome upon arrival in Puerto Maldonado. After organizing your luggage at our office, we’ll drive through lush jungle landscapes to the river port and board a motorized canoe along the Tambopata and Malinowski Rivers. Enjoy the first wildlife sightings and stunning views as we travel deep into the rainforest toward our eco-lodge, where a refreshing tropical drink and lunch await. In the afternoon, take an introductory guided walk through the lodge’s private trails to spot howler monkeys, toucans, butterflies, and giant trees. After dark, experience an Amazon night walk, discovering glass frogs, colorful insects, tarantulas, and perhaps even nocturnal monkeys or snakes — an unforgettable start to your Amazonian journey.

After breakfast, we’ll hike through pristine forest to reach a mammal clay lick, a natural mineral site where tapirs, peccaries, deer, agoutis, and monkeys gather to replenish essential nutrients. While sightings vary, the walk offers an immersive experience filled with the sounds and scents of the rainforest. In the afternoon, join a traditional river fishing activity on the Tambopata River, guided by local experts. Learn ancient techniques used by Amazonian communities and try your hand at catching boquichico, doncella, or catfish — a relaxing, cultural, and sustainable experience by the river.

Rise before dawn for an excursion to the breathtaking Chuncho Clay Lick, one of the largest and most colorful in the entire Amazon. From a scenic viewpoint, marvel as hundreds of macaws, parrots, and parakeets gather to feed on the mineral-rich clay — a symphony of color, sound, and motion. During the river journey, you might spot capybaras, caimans, and playful monkeys along the banks. After lunch, climb a 50-meter canopy tower for panoramic views of the Tambopata rainforest, where toucans, macaws, and primates move freely among the treetops. The day concludes with a golden Amazon sunset over the river, offering perfect photo opportunities and peaceful reflection.

After breakfast, we’ll return to Puerto Maldonado and continue to the Tambopata National Reserve, entering the path to the famous Sandoval Lake. Enjoy a 3 km jungle hike surrounded by vibrant flora and fauna — colorful birds, squirrel monkeys, giant trees, and medicinal plants — before boarding a paddle canoe across the mirror-like waters of Sandoval. Here, you may encounter giant river otters, caimans, turtles (taricaya), and rare birds like hoatzins and kingfishers. As dusk approaches, admire the spectacular colors of the sunset reflecting over the lake. When night falls, embark on a silent canoe ride to spot caimans by flashlight — their glowing eyes and the sounds of the nocturnal forest make this an unforgettable adventure.

Our final morning begins early with a peaceful sunrise canoe ride on Sandoval Lake, when the wildlife is most active and the light is simply magical. Look for giant otters, aquatic birds, and early-rising monkeys as the jungle awakens. After breakfast, take part in a guided botanical walk to learn about medicinal plants, towering trees, and traditional Amazon uses of the forest’s natural resources. After lunch, we’ll return by boat to Puerto Maldonado, reflecting on an extraordinary journey filled with unforgettable wildlife encounters, cultural experiences, and a deep connection to the living Amazon rainforest.