Sandoval Lake Full Day Tour from Puerto Maldonado: The Amazon in One Day

A boat on the Madre de Dios River, a 3 km rainforest walk and a paddle canoe on Sandoval Lake, looking for giant river otters, caimans and monkeys. From USD 35 per person.

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4.9 Excellent · 2,800+ reviews on Google & Tripadvisor

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FULL DAY TOUR

Tour Overview

The Amazon in One Day

Sandoval Lake Full Day Tour: Giant Otters, Caimans and Rainforest

The Sandoval Lake Full Day Tour is the best way to experience the wildlife of the Peruvian Amazon in just one day from Puerto Maldonado, inside the Tambopata National Reserve.

You travel by motorized boat on the Madre de Dios River, walk 3 km through the rainforest and explore Sandoval Lake by paddle canoe, morning and afternoon, looking for giant river otters, black caimans, monkeys and tropical birds. Box lunch and bilingual guide included.

This Puerto Maldonado day tour costs USD 40 per person, or USD 35 with our promotional price. We meet at our office in Puerto Maldonado at 9:00 to 9:30 AM and return around 4:00 PM, with a 45-minute boat ride and a 3 km walk each way. The Lake Sandoval Tambopata reserve entrance (S/ 30 for foreign visitors) is paid on site in cash.

Duration9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

PriceFrom USD 35

Start / EndPuerto Maldonado

Group8–10, max. 12

DifficultyEasy to moderate

Sandoval Lake by Canoe

Calm waters surrounded by primary rainforest.

Giant River Otters

One of the best places in Peru to look for them.

Madre de Dios River

A 45-minute motorized boat ride each way.

Lunch in the Rainforest

A box lunch by the lake, with vegetarian options.

Read the full Sandoval Lake Full Day Tour description

We meet at 9:00 to 9:30 AM at our office in Puerto Maldonado and go to Puerto El Capitán, where a motorized boat takes us 45 minutes along the Madre de Dios River. A 3 km walk (about 45 minutes) leads to Sandoval Lake.

We explore the lake by canoe, have a box lunch and go back out in the afternoon for more wildlife, returning to Puerto Maldonado around 4:00 PM. Wildlife sightings can’t be guaranteed, as all animals live freely.

Want to sleep in the jungle? Try the Tambopata National Reserve 2 Days Tour or the Tambopata National Reserve 3 Days Tour, which also include the Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick.

Private Sandoval Lake Tour

Enjoy the Sandoval Lake Tour at your own pace with a private tour for you, your family or friends: flexible departure times, a personalized itinerary and a private guide. Send us your preferred date and group size for a custom quote.

Promotional Price: USD 35

Have you traveled with Machu Picchu Team before, or are you booking another tour with us? You pay the promotional price of USD 35 instead of USD 40. Just mention your other booking when you reserve.

Availability & Booking

Online Booking and Availability

The Sandoval Lake Full Day Tour runs every day of the year, subject to availability. Book months ahead or at short notice: when spaces are available, we accept bookings until 7:00 PM the day before.

Click BOOK NOW and open the calendar.

Choose your date and enter your details.

Pay a 50% deposit online and receive your confirmation; the balance is due by 10:00 PM the day before.

DeparturesDaily, all year

Book until7:00 PM the day before

Group size8–10, max. 12

Questions? 💬 WhatsApp +51 974 217 700 · 📧 info@machupicchuteam.com

Highlights

Why You’ll Love the Sandoval Lake Full Day Tour

Nine reasons to explore Sandoval Lake with Machu Picchu Team.

✓Sandoval Lake by Canoe
A traditional paddle canoe, morning and afternoon.
✓Giant River Otters
Plus black caimans, monkeys, hoatzins and macaws.
✓Madre de Dios River
A motorized boat ride into the Tambopata National Reserve.
✓3 km Rainforest Walk
A guided trail through the Amazon jungle.
✓Lunch in the Rainforest
Box lunch included, with vegetarian and vegan options.
✓The Amazon in One Day
Back in Puerto Maldonado around 4:00 PM.
✓Bilingual Guide
Wildlife explained in English and Spanish.
✓Small Groups
8 to 10 travelers, maximum 12.
✓Daily Departures
Every day of the year, even at short notice.

BOOK ONLINE

FROM

USD 35 per person (Promotional Price)

Duration FULL DAY TOUR

Starts in Puerto Maldonado Meet at Office 9:00 – 9:30 AM

Group size Max: 12 People per group

Departures Daily Departures Available

Physical level Easy

Trip style Jungle & Wildlife

Meals 0 B, 1 L, 0 D

4.9 Excellent · 2,800+ reviews

"Une superbe expérience ! L’équipe est au top, une superbe ambiance un tracé magnifiqu..."

Bouhet M 28/09/2026

"Just finished 4 days with Yuri & Jose, they were both amazing, super helpful and attent..."

BoardingPass605159 28/09/2026

"Great experience, an unforgettable adventure all thanks to Eduardo and Marx. Big thank ..."

Kristina K 27/09/2026

"Eduardo is the best guide! Really tailored our experience around our pace and flexibili..."

Zak L 27/09/2026

"This experience was amazing. The guys are really nice and the landscapes seems like AI...."

Jose Alejandro Navarro 27/09/2026

"I had such a great time on this guided tour! Everything was really well organised, and ..."

Mihai 26/09/2026

"Incredible, a very polite and attentive person, he knows a lot about the mountain, a to..."

Renato C 26/09/2026

"Nothing to say about the trek itself. The landscapes are magnificent and the organizati..."

lara j 25/09/2026

"The trek is magnificent, the landscapes are breathtaking, and the organization is decen..."

nuno29 25/09/2026

"We did the 2-day trail and were very satisfied with our guides Miguel and Alice. The wa..."

Thomas L 25/09/2026

Sandoval Lake Full Day Tour Itinerary

Puerto Maldonado → Puerto El Capitán → Madre de Dios River → 3 km Walk → Sandoval Lake → Puerto Maldonado

Your Sandoval Lake Full Day Tour starts at 9:00 to 9:30 AM at our office in Puerto Maldonado, where your guide explains the day and the safety tips. We go to Puerto El Capitán and board a motorized boat for about 45 minutes along the Madre de Dios River.

A guided 3 km walk (about 45 minutes) through the rainforest takes us to Sandoval Lake. We explore it for about an hour by paddle canoe, looking for giant river otters, black caimans, monkeys and tropical birds.

After a box lunch by the lake (30 to 40 minutes), we go back out by canoe for more wildlife, then walk and sail back, arriving in Puerto Maldonado around 4:00 PM.

DifficultyEasy to moderate

Boat45 min each way

Walk3 km each way

BackAbout 4:00 PM

Good to know: Bring cash in soles for the Sandoval Lake entrance (S/30 for foreigners). The trail can be muddy after rain.

Included Today

✓Bilingual guide
✓Transport to Puerto El Capitán
✓Round-trip boat
✓Paddle canoe
✓Box lunch

Drop-off

At the designated point in Puerto Maldonado.

Sandoval Lake Full Day Tour from Puerto Maldonado: The Amazon in One Day

What Is Included in the Sandoval Lake Full Day Tour

Professional Bilingual Guide

English and Spanish, from start to finish.

Transport to Puerto El Capitán

From our office in Puerto Maldonado and back.

Round-Trip Motorized Boat

On the Madre de Dios River.

Guided Rainforest Walk

About 3 km each way to the lake.

Paddle Canoe on Sandoval Lake

Morning and afternoon wildlife observation.

Box Lunch

Vegetarian and vegan options on request.

Safety

Life jacket for the boat and basic first aid.

Sandoval Lake Entrance Ticket

Foreign visitors: S/30. Peruvian visitors: S/15. Paid directly at the entrance, in cash.

Travel and Medical Insurance

Recommended.

Tips

Optional, for your guide.

Sandoval Lake Packing List: What to Bring

For the Sandoval Lake Full Day Tour wear light, neutral-colored clothes (green, brown or beige) and bring cash for the entrance.

What to Wear

✓Light long-sleeved shirt and breathable long pants
✓Closed walking shoes with good grip
✓Hat or cap and sunglasses
✓Light rain jacket or poncho

In Your Backpack

✓Original passport or ID
✓Insect repellent and high-SPF sunscreen
✓Reusable water bottle
✓Camera, binoculars and power bank
✓Waterproof bag for documents and electronics
✓Small towel and personal medication
✓Cash in soles for the entrance

Prices and options

Official Rates & Pricing Plans

* All rates are in USD per person

Book online

Rate Option	Price per person
STANDARD Standard Price	$40 USD
PROMO Promotional Price	$35 USD

2026 & 2027 prices: the rates above are valid for bookings with travel dates in 2026 and 2027.

Sandoval Lake Full Day Tour Price: Standard or Promotional?

The Sandoval Lake Full Day Tour includes the same services at both rates. The promotional price is our thank-you to travelers who also explore Peru with us.

Standard

Standard Price

USD 40 per person

For all travelers who book this tour on its own.

Best for: travelers with one free day in Puerto Maldonado who want a taste of the Amazon.

Promo

Promotional Price

USD 35 per person

For travelers who also book another tour with Machu Picchu Team, or who have traveled with us before.

How to get it: mention your other Machu Picchu Team booking when you reserve this tour.

A 50% deposit confirms your booking; pay the balance online or at our office until 10:00 PM the day before the tour.

Your day

Sandoval Lake

Meet at our office in Puerto Maldonado between 9:00 and 9:30 am
45-minute boat ride on the Madre de Dios River
3 km rainforest walk (about 45 minutes) to the lake
Paddle canoe on Sandoval Lake, looking for giant river otters, black caimans, monkeys and birds
Box lunch in the rainforest
Back in Puerto Maldonado around 4:00 pm

Included

What Your Price Covers

Transport to and from Puerto El Capitán
Round-trip motorized boat
Paddle canoe excursion on the lake
Box lunch (vegetarian or vegan on request)
Professional bilingual guide
Life jacket and first aid kit

Entrance fee not included: the Tambopata National Reserve ticket (S/ 30 for foreign visitors) is paid on the day, in cash and in Peruvian soles.

Come prepared: the trail is flat but can be muddy and wet. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring insect repellent, a rain jacket and sunscreen.

Good to know: an easy to moderate day of 6 to 7 hours. Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Want more time in the jungle? Add a lodge night and the macaw clay lick with our 2, 3 or 4-day Tambopata tours.

Group Size

Our groups usually have 8 to 10 travelers, with a maximum of 12.

Book solo, as a couple or with friends: you’ll join travelers from around the world who booked the same date.

Daily Departures

We depart every day of the year.

You can book online until 7:00 pm the day before your tour.

Cancellation Policy

72 hours or more before: 100% of your deposit refunded. Between 72 and 24 hours: 50% of your deposit refunded.

Less than 24 hours before, or no-show: no refund.

Travel information

Booking Guide

How to Book the Sandoval Lake Full Day Tour

You can book the Sandoval Lake Full Day Tour until 7:00 PM the day before, subject to availability.

Option 1

Book Online

Pay a 50% deposit or the full amount by bank transfer at no extra cost, or by debit or credit card (3.99% processing fee).

Option 2

Pay in Person

At our office in Cusco, Portal Nuevo 270, Plaza Regocijo (open every day from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM), in cash (soles or US dollars) or by card.

Book Online in 4 Easy Steps

Choose your date

Click Book Now and select your tour date.

Enter your details

Traveler information and WhatsApp number.

Pay securely

A 50% deposit (USD 20 standard or USD 17.50 promotional per person) or the full amount.

Receive your confirmation

With the meeting time and tour details.

Sandoval Lake Tour Booking Policy

1. Booking Deposit: 50%

A deposit of 50% of the tour price confirms your booking: USD 20 standard or USD 17.50 promotional per person. You can also pay the full amount.

2. Payment of the Remaining Balance

Pay the balance online at any time, or at our office, until 10:00 PM the day before the tour.

3. Free Date Changes

Change your date at no extra cost until 7:00 PM the day before, subject to availability.

4. Cancellation and Refunds

72 hours or more before departure: 100% of your deposit is refunded. Between 72 and 24 hours before: 50% of your deposit is refunded. Less than 24 hours before, or no-show: no refund. Card fees may be non-refundable.

5. Entrance Ticket

Paid directly at the Sandoval Lake entrance, in cash and in soles: S/ 30 for foreign visitors and S/ 15 for Peruvians.

6. Weather and Safety

Times may vary depending on weather, river and trail conditions. Wildlife sightings can’t be guaranteed.

FAQs

Sandoval Lake Full Day Tour: Frequently Asked Questions

1. How much is the Sandoval Lake Full Day Tour?

The Sandoval Lake Full Day Tour costs USD 40 per person, or USD 35 with the promotional price if you book another tour with us or have traveled with us before. A 50% deposit confirms your booking.

2. Where does the Sandoval Lake Puerto Maldonado tour start?

The Sandoval Lake Puerto Maldonado tour starts at our office in Puerto Maldonado at 9:00 to 9:30 AM. We drive to Puerto El Capitán, take a 45-minute boat on the Madre de Dios River and walk 3 km to the lake. We return around 4:00 PM.

3. Is this the best Puerto Maldonado day tour?

It is our Puerto Maldonado day tour for travelers with only one free day: you see Sandoval Lake by canoe, morning and afternoon, without sleeping in the jungle. To add a lodge night and the macaw clay lick, choose the Tambopata 2 Days Tour.

4. Is Lake Sandoval in Tambopata?

Yes. Lake Sandoval is inside the Tambopata National Reserve, near Puerto Maldonado. A Lake Sandoval Tambopata visit requires the reserve entrance ticket, paid on site.

5. Is the entrance ticket included?

No. It is paid at the entrance: S/ 30 for foreign visitors and S/ 15 for Peruvians, in cash and in soles.

6. What animals can I see?

Giant river otters, black caimans, monkeys, hoatzins, macaws and many birds. Sightings can’t be guaranteed.

7. How difficult is it?

Easy to moderate: a 3 km walk each way on a flat trail that can be muddy, plus canoeing. The full day lasts 6 to 7 hours.

8. Is lunch included?

Yes, a box lunch by the lake. Vegetarian and vegan options on request.

9. Until when can I book?

Online until 7:00 PM the day before, subject to availability. Departures run every day of the year.

10. What is the cancellation policy?

You can change your date for free until 7:00 PM the day before. 72 hours or more before departure: 100% of your deposit is refunded. Between 72 and 24 hours before: 50% of your deposit is refunded. Less than 24 hours before, or no-show: no refund.

11. What should I wear?

Light, neutral-colored long sleeves and long pants, closed walking shoes, a hat and a rain jacket. Bring insect repellent, sunscreen, water, your passport and cash in soles for the entrance.

12. Can I book a private tour?

Yes, on request, with a personalized quote. Contact us by WhatsApp or email.

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Why choose Machupicchu Team

The Machu Picchu Team Difference

Why Book the Sandoval Lake Full Day Tour with Machu Picchu Team?

Direct Local Operator

We run the tour directly, with no intermediaries.

Great Value

From USD 35, with guide, boats, canoe and lunch.

Daily Departures

Book any day, until 7:00 PM the day before.

Small Groups

8 to 10 travelers, maximum 12.

Plan your trip with our team in Cusco

Hi! We are Raquel, Robert, Estefany and Noemi, your local team in Cusco. Real people, no bots: we all speak English, answer every message personally and help you choose the right tour for your dates and fitness.

Raquel Machu Picchu Tour Expert
Robert Experienced Local Guide
Estefany Peru Trip Planner
Noemi Cusco Tours Specialist

Message us on WhatsApp

+51 974 217 700
info@machupicchuteam.com
Every day, 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM (Peru time)
Portal Nuevo 270, Plaza Regocijo, Cusco

Send an inquiry

Just finished 4 days with Yuri & Jose, they were both amazing, super helpful and attentive. Thank you to the kitchen staff as well! Definitely a challenge, but in the end it all worth it!

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Bouhet M

Level Regular

Group 1 to 10 travelers

Departures Daily Departures Available

From US $ 27 per person

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Price from

$ 35 USD per person (Promotional Price)

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