Visiting: Puerto Maldonado · Madre de Dios River · Tambopata River · Tambopata National Reserve · Sandoval Lake · Monkey Island · Cachuela clay lick
Overview
The Tambopata National Reserve 3 Days takes you deep into the southern Peruvian Amazon, one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. The tour starts and ends in Puerto Maldonado — reached by a short flight — from where a motorized canoe carries you up the river to a comfortable jungle lodge for two nights. You explore by boat, on foot and by paddle, looking for macaws, giant river otters, monkeys, caimans and tropical birds in their natural habitat.
It's an easy, relaxed adventure suitable for most travellers — the walks are short and flat, and you're fully supported by a certified bilingual naturalist guide, a professional chef and a private boat crew. Highlights include a canopy walkway and zip line, a kayak excursion to Monkey Island, a night caiman safari, a full day on Sandoval Lake inside the reserve, and a dawn visit to the Cachuela parrot clay lick. All meals, river transport and entrance fees are included.
📅 Good to know. Tambopata is the southern lowland Amazon — completely different from Manu, and reached by flight to Puerto Maldonado rather than by road from Cusco. The climate is warm and tropical year-round. Flights to Puerto Maldonado are not included in the tour price, so book them to line up with your tour dates.
Day by Day
-
1
Puerto Maldonado → jungle lodge → canopy & zip line → kayak to Monkey Island → night caiman safari
Your tour begins on arrival in Puerto Maldonado, where our team meets you at the airport or bus terminal for a short registration; any luggage you don't need can be stored safely at our office. You may stop at the Plaza Grau viewpoint for a first look at the confluence of the Madre de Dios and Tambopata rivers, then head to the Port of Capitanía to board a motorized canoe for a scenic 40-minute boat ride along the Madre de Dios River to the Amazon Garden Lodge, your home for the next two nights, where you're welcomed with a tropical fruit drink and shown to your private bungalow.
Your first jungle activity is a guided walk to the canopy walkway and suspension bridge to discover the rainforest from above, followed by an exciting zip-line adventure with a full safety briefing and equipment. After lunch and a rest, you set off on a kayak excursion on the Madre de Dios River (with a support boat) toward the famous Monkey Island, where several species of monkeys live freely. At sunset you return for dinner before heading out on a night boat safari, using a spotlight to look for caimans, capybaras, birds and other nocturnal wildlife along the riverbanks.
Good to know: The weather is warm and tropical — light, breathable clothing, insect repellent and a headlamp make the canopy walk and night safari far more comfortable.
-
2
Sandoval Lake inside the Tambopata National Reserve
After breakfast you dedicate the entire day to Sandoval Lake, one of the most beautiful and wildlife-rich corners of the Peruvian Amazon, located inside the Tambopata National Reserve. The day begins with a short 10-minute boat ride to the entrance of the reserve, followed by a guided 3-kilometre jungle walk of about 45 minutes through primary rainforest, where your guide helps you spot birds, insects, reptiles and other Amazon wildlife along the trail.
Once at Sandoval Lake, you may have the chance to swim before boarding a paddle boat to explore its calm waters. This is one of the best places in the reserve to observe giant river otters, one of the Amazon's most iconic and endangered animals — you may also see hoatzins, cormorants, anhingas, black caimans and many tropical birds. A traditional jungle lunch is served during the visit, and the afternoon continues with more wildlife observation and photography before returning to the lodge.
Good to know: Giant otters are most active in the early hours and are shy — keep quiet on the paddle boat and bring binoculars and a zoom lens for the best wildlife sightings.
-
3
Dawn at the Cachuela parrot clay lick → return to Puerto Maldonado
Your final day begins very early, with a 4:30 AM boat departure from the lodge. You travel about 1.5 hours along the Madre de Dios River to reach the famous Cachuela parrot clay lick, one of the most impressive wildlife spectacles in the Amazon. Arriving around 6:00 AM, you take up a position at a safe distance to watch hundreds of colourful parrots gather on the mineral-rich clay wall — commonly blue-headed parrots, aurora parakeets and sometimes macaws — feeding on the clay as part of their natural diet against the backdrop of sunrise.
After enjoying this extraordinary natural event, you return to the lodge for a final breakfast. Then you take the boat back to Puerto Maldonado, followed by your transfer to the airport or bus terminal, marking the end of your 3-day Amazon adventure. Plan your return flight for the afternoon to allow plenty of time for the clay lick and the river journey back.
Good to know: The clay lick is an early-morning event, so don't book a morning departure flight — an afternoon flight from Puerto Maldonado gives you time for the dawn spectacle and the boat ride back.
Tour at a Glance
| Duration | 3 days / 2 nights |
| Wildlife | Macaws & parrots · giant river otters · monkeys · caimans |
| Starts / ends | Puerto Maldonado (reached by flight) |
| Difficulty | Easy — short, flat jungle walks |
| Accommodation | 2 nights at Amazon Garden Lodge (private bungalow) |
| Reserve | Sandoval Lake, Tambopata National Reserve |
| Meals | All meals from Day 1 lunch to Day 3 breakfast |
| Group size | Max 12 travelers · small group |
What's Included
Tap any item to see the full details.
Included
Not included
Price — 2026 Season
An all-inclusive small-group service into the Tambopata National Reserve, starting and ending in Puerto Maldonado. One simple rate per person covers your guide, river transport, lodge, meals, activities and all entrance fees.
Price per person in a shared small group (maximum 12 travelers). Includes the certified naturalist guide, all river and land transport, 2 nights at Amazon Garden Lodge, all meals from Day 1 lunch to Day 3 breakfast, all listed activities and all entrance fees. Flights to and from Puerto Maldonado are not included.
What to Pack
You travel light into the jungle — luggage you don't need can be stored at our office in Puerto Maldonado. Pack a small daypack with the essentials for a warm, humid rainforest:
- Always with you: original passport, cash in soles (for drinks, souvenirs & tips), and your flight tickets.
- Clothing: light long-sleeve shirts and trousers, a poncho or light rain jacket, comfortable walking shoes or rubber boots, a swimsuit (for Sandoval Lake) and a hat.
- Extras: strong insect repellent, high-SPF sunscreen, a headlamp or flashlight, binoculars and a camera with a zoom lens for the wildlife.
How to Book
Book online or message our local team. Tell us your preferred dates and the number of travelers, and we'll confirm availability for your small group and help you line up your flights to Puerto Maldonado.
- Check availability for your travel dates.
- Confirm the number of travelers and any dietary preferences.
- Share each traveler's details so we can prepare your reserve permits.
- Reserve your place — our team follows up by WhatsApp with everything you need to know before you fly.
Frequently Asked Questions
The tour starts and ends in Puerto Maldonado, the gateway to the Tambopata National Reserve, which is reached by a short flight (commonly from Cusco or Lima). Flights are not included in the tour price. Our team meets you at the Puerto Maldonado airport or bus terminal and takes care of everything from there.
Tambopata is famous for its biodiversity. On this tour you have the chance to see giant river otters at Sandoval Lake, several species of monkeys at Monkey Island, caimans on the night safari, and hundreds of parrots and sometimes macaws at the Cachuela clay lick, along with hoatzins, cormorants, anhingas and many tropical birds. Wildlife is wild, so sightings are never guaranteed, but the chances are excellent.
The tour is rated easy. Most of the travel is by boat, and the walks are short and flat — for example a 3 km jungle trail of about 45 minutes to Sandoval Lake. It's suitable for most travellers, including families. The main thing to be ready for is the warm, humid tropical climate and the very early start on Day 3 for the clay lick.
You spend 2 nights at the Amazon Garden Lodge, surrounded by rainforest, in a private wooden tropical bungalow with a thatched roof, private bathroom and private shower. On arrival you're welcomed with a refreshing tropical fruit drink.
Yes — all meals from lunch on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 3 are included, prepared fresh by a professional chef. Vegetarian options are available at no extra cost; let us know any dietary preference or food restriction when you book. Purified mineral water is provided throughout; alcoholic and soft drinks are not included.
Both are Amazon rainforest destinations in southern Peru, but they're reached very differently. Tambopata is the southern lowland Amazon, accessed by a quick flight to Puerto Maldonado and ideal if you have less time. Manu is reached by a long road journey from Cusco over the Andes and into the cloud forest, on longer expeditions. This tour is the Tambopata option.
