9:00–9:30 AM Meeting at Our Puerto Maldonado Office

Your Sandoval Lake Full Day Tour Puerto Maldonado begins at our authorized local office between 9:00 and 9:30 AM. Your professional bilingual guide will welcome you, explain the day’s itinerary, provide important safety recommendations, and accompany you to Puerto El Capitán on the Madre de Dios River.

Motorized Boat Ride Along the Madre de Dios River

From the port, you will board a motorized boat for an approximately 45-minute journey along the Madre de Dios River to the entrance of the Sandoval Lake protected area.

During the ride, you can enjoy views of the Amazon rainforest, riverside vegetation, local communities, and tropical birds such as herons, kingfishers, and other species commonly observed near the riverbanks.

Upon arrival, your guide will assist with the registration and entrance procedures.

Guided Rainforest Walk to Sandoval Lake

After entering the reserve, you will begin an approximately 3-kilometer guided walk through the Amazon rainforest. The journey to Sandoval Lake usually takes around 45 minutes, depending on trail conditions and the pace of the group.

Along the route, your guide will explain the local ecosystem and help identify tropical plants, palm trees, insects, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and signs of wildlife activity. Depending on natural conditions, you may also encounter monkeys, turtles, or other rainforest species.

The trail may be wet, muddy, or uneven, particularly during the rainy season.

Morning Canoe Exploration on Sandoval Lake

Upon reaching the lake, you will board a traditional paddle canoe and begin exploring the calm waters of Sandoval Lake.

The canoe moves quietly without a motor, reducing disturbance and improving the opportunity to observe wildlife in its natural environment. Your guide will help search for species such as:

• Giant river otters
• Black caimans
• River turtles
• Hoatzins
• Kingfishers
• Herons
• Cormorants
• Anhingas
• Monkeys
• Tropical waterbirds

The first canoe session lasts approximately one hour, although the exact duration may vary depending on weather, wildlife activity, and lake conditions. Specific animal sightings cannot be guaranteed because all wildlife moves freely in its natural habitat.

Box Lunch Surrounded by the Rainforest

After the morning exploration, you will stop at an authorized resting area near the lake to enjoy a freshly prepared box lunch. You will have approximately 30 to 40 minutes to eat, relax, and appreciate the peaceful atmosphere of the rainforest before continuing the excursion. Vegetarian, vegan, and other special dietary options are available when requested in advance.

Afternoon Wildlife Observation

After lunch, you will return to the canoe for another period of exploration and wildlife observation. Your guide will continue explaining the ecology of Sandoval Lake while searching for animals around the shoreline, trees, floating vegetation, and open water. Depending on the season and natural activity, you may observe additional birds, monkeys, reptiles, turtles, or giant river otters. As the afternoon progresses, parrots and macaws may also be seen flying across the lake or gathering in the surrounding trees. Wildlife encounters vary from day to day and cannot be guaranteed.

Return Walk and Boat Journey to Puerto Maldonado

After completing the lake excursion, you will leave the canoe and begin the approximately 45-minute return walk through the rainforest to the reserve entrance. You will then board the motorized boat for the journey back along the Madre de Dios River to Puerto El Capitán. From the port, our team will accompany you to the final drop-off point in Puerto Maldonado.

Approximately 4:00 PM – End of the Tour

Arrival in Puerto Maldonado is expected at approximately 4:00 PM. The exact return time may vary depending on weather, river conditions, trail conditions, wildlife-observation stops, and the pace of the group.

Trip Summary

• Meeting time: Between 9:00 and 9:30 AM
• Meeting point: Authorized tour office in Puerto Maldonado
• Tour duration: Approximately 7 to 8 hours
• Boat travel: Approximately 45 minutes each way
• Walking distance: Approximately 6 kilometers round trip
• Estimated walking time: Approximately 45 minutes each way
• Main activity: Guided paddle-canoe exploration of Sandoval Lake
• Difficulty level: Easy to moderate
• Terrain: Flat rainforest trail that may be muddy, wet, or uneven
• Weather: Warm, humid, and tropical, with possible rain
• Main attractions: Madre de Dios River, Amazon rainforest, Sandoval Lake, canoe navigation, and wildlife observation
• Meals included: Box lunch
• Estimated return: Approximately 4:00 PM in Puerto Maldonado
• Good to know: Wildlife sightings depend on the weather, season, time of day, and natural animal behavior.

Tour Inclusions

• Professional bilingual guide
• Transportation between the office and Puerto El Capitán
• Round-trip motorized boat transportation
• Entrance to the Sandoval Lake protected area
• Guided rainforest walk
• Traditional paddle-canoe excursion
• Morning and afternoon wildlife-observation activities
• Box lunch
• Life jacket for river transportation
• Basic first-aid assistance
• Return to Puerto Maldonado at the end of the tour