Giant River Otters - Sergio Cuba
Macaws - Sergio Cuba
Sunset in Tambopata - Sergio Cuba
Tambopata Reserve 3d/2n - Sandoval Lake Lodge
Located in the Tambopata National Reserve, Sandoval Lake Lodge, perched above what many rainforest specialists feel is the most attractive lake in the entire Peruvian Amazon, provides access to one of the most biologically diverse areas on the planet. The Tambopata National Reserve and the adjacent Bahuaja-Sonene National Park, is home to over 20,000 plant species, over 900 species of birds (more than all the species in the continental USA), 91 mammals, 1230 butterflies, 127 amphibians and reptiles, and much more. It is also a haven for the Amazon's largest, most spectacular and most endangered predators - the Jaguar, the Giant Otter, the Harpy Eagle and the Black Caiman.
This program is recommended to see some of the world's best rain forest wildlife that is available in a short, economical stay. Six species of monkeys inhabit the surrounding forest, a resident family of Giant Otters are regularly seen fishing in the lake, a large flooded palm grove harbors hundreds of Red-Bellied macaws, and at nightfall Black Caimans, the rarest of the crocodilians, head out into the lake to fish.
The lodge is housed in one structure and includes 25 double occupancy rooms with private bath, hot showers, and a spacious dining room overlooking the lake.
For a more relaxed, complete introduction to the rainforest, we recommend a two nights stay. However, the easy access from Puerto Maldonado makes it possible to spend only one night in the rainforest and still get a good preliminary idea of the splendor of the Peruvian Amazon.
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in Puerto Maldonado and Journey to Sandoval Lake Lodge
Transfer from Puerto Maldonado airport to the river port on the Madre de Dios River. A 25 minutes journey down the Madre de Dios River by motor canoe brings you to the riverside trailhead to Sandoval Lake Lodge. From here the trail takes you on a 2-miles (3,2-kilometers) walk through secondary forest, until we reach a small canal where we board canoes and are paddled 220 yards (201 meters) through a flooded forest of 100-foot (30-meters) tall Mauritia palms. As the canal opens onto the shimmering surface of the lake, we are leisurely paddled across half the lake to the lodge.
After lunch and a brief rest to avoid the early afternoon heat, we once again board our boat and set off to explore the entire west end of the lake. Here, in the flooded palm forest we drift to the sounds of hundreds of Red-Bellied Macaws as they return to the palm forest for the night. This macaw species is found locally in parts of the Amazon, always living in flooded palm forests such as the beautiful palm stand at Sandoval Lake. At 500-800 birds, this flock of macaws at Sandoval Lake is currently the largest reported in the world for this highly specialized macaw.
As night falls we will look for the large and extremely rare Black Caimans. If it is a clear starlit night, we will also be able to float in the middle of the lake to marvel at the brilliance of the sky and listen to the sounds of the forest.
We return to the lodge for a short video or slide presentation and dinner. At any point, you could step out from the bar to admire the wide variety of nocturnal moths, beetles and praying mantis attracted to our black light in the lodge clearing.
For those with lots of energy, our guide will take us
on a short night-walk into the forest behind the lodge.
L, D
Day 2 Wildlife sighting at Lake Sandoval/Night excursion searching for Black Caiman
A pre-dawn wake-up call will enable us to be on the lake for sunrise and a hopeful encounter with the family of Giant Otters who frequent the lake and are most active at this time of day. Sandoval Lake offers abundant wildlife including over 40 species of birds resident to its lake margins, most of the fish-eating water birds around the lake actively fish in the early morning as well, and this outing should provide excellent views, of the prehistoric-looking Hoatzins. These are easy to observe and also photograph from the paddled canoes.
After returning for a late breakfast we set off into the cool under story of the tall virgin forest near the lake to see some towering wild Brazil Nut trees and a demonstration of how our hosts collect, open and commercialize this important natural product.
After lunch and an hour or so to relax we once again board the boat to explore the eastern part of the lake, where we might see one or more of the five species of monkeys who live in the forest near the lake, such as the Brown Capuchin Monkey and Squirrel Monkey.
We enjoy dinner at the lodge and optionally go on a
short night walk through the primary forest.
B, L, D
Day 3 Departure Day
After an early breakfast we board the motor canoe for
the 35 minutes return trip to the Puerto Maldonado Airport, taking advantage
of valuable early morning wildlife activity along the river. From here
you fly to Cusco or Lima, where your jungle adventure ends.
B
(*) Please note that the program may vary slightly so as to maximize your wildlife sightings, depending on the reports of our researchers and experienced naturalist guides based at the lodge.
(**) ENIGMA reserves the right to change the order of the activities
Origin |
This extension is available as described starting in Lima or Cusco. |
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Difficulty degree of this extension |
Low |
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Rates 2010 |
This extension is available from (*):
(*) Prices per person in USD based in double occupancy with private bath. Minimum group size: 2. Prices subject to change without prior notice due to reserve entrance fees, tax and other increases beyond our control |
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Departure Dates |
Daily |
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What Is Included |
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What Is Not Included |
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What we recommend that you bring |
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Optional Services |
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Booking Online |
If you would like to make a reservation for this program, please go directly to the Booking Online section of this website. |
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Other Useful Information |
The weather in TambopataRainfall in the Tambopata National Reserve is around 2500-3500 millimeters per year, with most rainfall occurring in the rainy season (November to April). The average temperature in the National Reserve is 28C (82F), with daily highs of 34C (94F) and nightly lows of 22C (72F). During the dry season, the cold fronts from the South Atlantic (“friajes”), occur every month or so, with daily temperatures dropping as low as 16C (59F) and nightly temperatures to 13C (55F). Health / VaccinationsAlthough no yellow fever cases have been reported in Peru for the past years, the Peruvian government nevertheless recommends a yellow fever vaccination for trips to the rainforest. This vaccination is requested for visits to most rainforest areas around the world. The vaccination, which is valid for 10 years, is only effective starting 10 days after it is administered - if you choose to be vaccinated, please keep this in mind and bring your certificate. Sandoval Lake Lodge has a first aid kit that also includes anti-venom. CommunicationsThe lodge is equipped with a short-wave radio and is in contact with Cusco every morning and evening. Cusco can also be contacted through a telephone patch during daylight hours. |
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Customize Your Itinerary 
ENIGMA can create a unique, custom-designed independent itinerary that is fully adapted to your needs, whether you travel solo, with family and friends, or as a group. Please click here to let us know what you are interested in adding or excluding to customize a selected itinerary or to design a completely new program just for you. A travel consultant will contact you within a maximum of two working days.
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