Tour Sandoval & Valencia Lakes 3 Days

DAY 1 : Puerto Maldonado – Sandoval Lake – Payara Lodge

Reception at the airport or bus station and transfer to our office where you can leave some luggage that is not going to take the tour and then begin our adventure. Then we will go to the dock of the river “Madre de Dios” where our boat and motorist will take us down the river, crossing over the Tambopata River. After an one hour in the Madre de Dios river we will arrive at the entrance of the Tambopata National Reserve. During this journey we have the chance to observe birds like herons and egrets, sometimes is also possible to see white caiman on the riverbank. After registering at the control point, we will take between half an hours and two hours through secondary forest (6 km) depending on how muddy or stopping on the way to admire the native ficus and other plants, birds, butterflies and if they are in luck, see rainforest animals. We will enjoy environmental interpretation of the reserve. The trail connects to extraordinary water body rich in ichthyological species surrounded by an extensive swamp forest where mauritia flexuosa palm trees, also known as aguajales, grow and créate an extraordinary landscape, these palm grow up to 30 m (nearly 100 ft) tall flexuosa.

Visiting the most beautiful and isolated lake Sandoval in the Tambopata National Reserve is an unique excursión not to be missed. It gives the visitor a chance to understand an oxbow lake ecosystem of approx. 3 km (1,8 miles) long .1 km (0.6 miles) wide and 0,5-5 m (1,6-9,8 ft) deep. Visitors are paddle around the lake o non-motorised canoes with guides who will point out and give explanations about the wildlife and ecosystems in the área.

At lake Sandoval we will travel via canoe are rowing around the lake and enjoying the views. Around the edge of this beautiful lake exposed rich flora and fauna which will observe in their natural habitat. There are 2 species living in lake Sandoval considered the flagship to look for giant river otters and black caiman. Lake Sandoval is one of the few places where we can observe a family of the critically endangered giant river otters when are often seen hunting for fish to eat in the lake frequently in small groups. There is an 80 percent chance of seeing them during an one day visit to the lake.

The lake is surrounded by swamp forest also provide hábitats for an incredible variety of other wildlife such as six types of monkeys. A great variety of Amazon birds, such as macaws, toucans, parrots, and the prehistoric-looking hoatzins, turtles, black caimans and many more. Now that I’ve told you what the lake is like and what we can see during the day visit, we will continue toward the home of a local family that lives within the reserve. They will greet us with a delicious lunch – a traditional meal prepared wrapped in a leaf from the jungle to seal in the flavor, accompanied by a typical drink. Then, after resting, we can return to the lake. We will continue our journey through the lake, enjoying the view of not just the animals that we can see, but also the gorgeous view that we have of the lake.

Then we will go to the dock of the river “Madre de Dios” where our boat and motorist will take us down the river, enjoying the views to our lodge and pernoct.

Note: Giant river otters are highly endangered and sensitive animals. You will be asked to remain on your seat in the boat, not to talk above a whisper, especially while they are less than 100 m (330 ft.) away, and to not use flash photography.

Day 2:  Valencia Lake – Piranha fishing – Swiming by the Lake – spotting wildlife – Night Walk – Twilight Lake

We will wake up early to walk around primary forest at payara lodge where visitors will see many huge tropical trees such as the ceiba, quinilla, palm and spotting wildlife learning about the ecosystem,medicinal plants ,economic activities in the area and I’m sure you will enjoy it .We will return to the payara lodge for a complete breakfast and then after a short rest. We will be ready to take our boat and motorist will take us down the river arriving to cannal of the lake valencia rich in flora and fauna which will observe in their natural habitat such as monkeys, birds, caiman and the prehistoric looking hoatzins, turtles and many more many include.

Lake Valencia is a beautiful oxbow lake formed by the Madre de Dios river land are very close to the border with Bolivia with magnificent scenery and an abundance of flora and fauna. The richness of its waters attracts a large variety of aquatic birds and animals and is used for fishing by a native Ese-Eja community and local settlers. It is one of the largest and longest lakes in the region at 15 km (9.3 miles) long, 800 m (0.5 miles) wide and about 0.5 – 15 m (1.6 – 49 ft.) deep – about three times larger than Sandoval lake.

Like all the animals in the Amazon, fishes are wild and ferocious, big and strong. We invite you to enjoy with us the exciting bites, hard fighting, high jumping of these ferocious gamefish in one of the biggest rainforest of the world, don’t miss out on being one of the first to take advantage of these new piranha fishing destination.

The fishing: The waters of Valencia lake offers us a variety of fishes such as Payaras, Pacu (Giant Piranha), Catfish (Zungaros, Piros, Surubim, etc.) an the biggest fish from the amazon arapaima giga (250 kg) we usually fish for piranha. The technique is to cast from the boat and searching for a good place to fishing piranhas.

Piranhas takes only fruits and fish meat, so we use sardines for bait and hooks and weights with multifilament lines on the reels. They are really strong, after fishing we will have the opportunity to swim in the lake.

There is also a “Bird Island” on the lake where hundreds of birds congregate in the late afternoon to spend the night there. Trips to the lake consist of wildlife spotting from a canoe learning about the ecosystem is an unique excursión not to be missed the evening at the lake with the sunset is the best an incredible views, if the nature give to us it is a great time to take amazing photos. We will go back to have dinner which we will have a really great night walk through the primary forest (3km). We will look for insects, frogs, mammals and maybe even some snakes or tarantulas that always appear in the night.

Day 3: Puerto Maldonado.

After breakfast or lunch we will return to Puerto Maldonado by boat equipped with outboard motors and head upstream to Puerto Maldonado, the boat ride is pleasant often includes our twice sightings, aquatic birds, and other species that frequent the edge of the river and rainforest. The duration of the boat ride varies but usually takes two hours

Important: According to the flight schedule or bus tickets we will arrive two hours early to the airport, in case any inconvenience and local suggestions and transfer to the airport or bus station in Puerto Maldonado and ending our services.

All excursions are guided by one of our trained professional naturalist guides in spanish or english (other languages available upon request, and may be subject to additional cost). Their knowledge and interpretive skills combine to provide understanding, insight, and an enhanced experience of the surrounding environment.

The excursions that are mentioned are as reference, it can be change according to the weather conditions with the the assistance and advice of the naturalist guide, considering your expectations.