Day 1    Puerto Maldonado - Tambopata River
We will meet you at the airport or your hotel then stop by our office in Puerto Maldonado where you can leave your large luggage. We'll begin by land in a 4X4 (2 hrs) first on the highway then by trail until we reach the Tambopata river port where we'll take a motorboat (40 mins) to our lodge. We have the possibility to see birds such as herons, cormorants, wild turkeys, shanshos (Hoatzins), vultures, kingfishers, eagles and caracaras. With any luck we can find caiman, turtles or capybaras sunning themselves on the river banks. After arriving at our lodge we'll have a welcome drink and short briefing on the lodge services before we settle into our comfortable rooms. We'll have lunch then go on a walk through primary forest to learn about different species of medicinal plants, giant trees, orchids, ferns and the Brazil nut. We'll see a variety of insects, monkeys, birds and other mammals In their natural habitat. We will return to our lodge for dinner before setting off again on a night walk in search of nocturnal animals such as night monkeys, frogs, tarantulas and scorpions. Night in lodge.

Meals LD

Day 2    Macaw Clay Lick Center - Lake Sandoval
Early in the morning at 5 am we'll set out on our motorboat (1.5 hrs) to the Tambopata Reserve checkpoint. Along the way we can enjoy the sunrise while spotting shorebirds, capybaras and white caiman before reaching our destination at the macaw clay lick (colpa). Here the cliffside is made of clay which contains sodium and calcium which aids the birds' digestion. 100's of squawking red, blue, green and yellow parrots and macaws come here every morning to eat the clay. After witnessing all the colorful activity we will have breakfast before returning by boat to our lodge. From here we will return to Puerto Maldonado for our next excursion to the Lake Sandoval Reserve. We'll first transfer to the port "Puerto de Capitanía" where we'll take a motorboat 35 mins on the Madre de Dios river to the Lake Sandoval National Reserve checkpoint then begin a nature hike 1.5 hrs through a narrow channel through the forest until it opens up to Sandoval lake. We are now surrounded by strange sounds, open waters and palm trees. We'll cross the lake in canoes for 25 mins until we reach the other side where we walk 5 mins to our lodge "Maloka" with private rooms, showers and mosquito nets. At night we can go on a night walk looking for nocturnal animals.

Meals LD

Day 3    Giant Otter Observation - Giant Trees - Black Caiman
After our breakfast at dawn we head out on the lake on our boat in search of a large family of giant otters which have become comfortable with visitors over the years which we can get very close to for excellent pictures. We can also spot macaws such as Ara genus with its multicolored chest in yellow and red or blue which illuminates the nearby trees and palms. We can also see the "Maracanás" Chestnut-fronted or Severe macaw (Ara severas) and the "Maracanás de Aguajal" Red-bellied macaw (Orthopsittaca manilatus) flying over the lake. Multicolored butterflies seem to accompany us on our trip. Back at the lodge we can swim in a special lake area and observe the diversity of palm trees that form a garden oasis. After lunch at the lodge we will hike through the lush jungle and primary forest with its ancient trees such as Shihuahuacos, kapok and rebels which are home to all types of mammals and shelter for parrots and partridges which also eat their fruit. We will also learn about hallucinogenic plants such as ayahuasca and others used for healing. Returning to our lodge we have the chance for spotting black caiman out in the lake as well as other reptiles and birds coming down for an afternoon drink. Dinner at our lodge. Night in lodge.

Meals BLD

Day 4    Macaw Palm Lick - Sandoval Lake - Canopy Tower
Early in the morning we will visit the macaw palm lick, 35 mins walk from the lake. We'll observe their customary ceremony of commotion before they begin feeding. Macaws and multi-colored parrots congregate at the Shebon lining palm (Attalea butyracea) and begin to extract the stem from the palm while making wonderful noises. We can also observe other species of birds from our lookout such as the eagles that try to catch them. After the show we'll go back to the lake to see more wildlife before returning to our lodge for lunch. After a short break we'll return to the lakeshores in search of 5 species of monkey such as the howler, monk and Titi Monkey "tocon" which can be found in the overhanging trees. We can get good views as many don't mind being close to us. In the afternoon we can climb the observation tower to get a great view of the lake. From here we can see various birds flying over and even see and hear the famous Amazonian fish "Pirarucu" near the surface making loud noises with its giant fins. At dusk we can again look for the black caiman as other insects, birds and amphibians welcome the night with different songs. Dinner in our lodge. Night in lodge.

Meals BLD

Day 5    Lake Sandoval - Puerto Maldonado
After breakfast, we'll first take a canoe across Lake Sandoval followed by a nature walk back to the checkpoint where we'll take a motorboat upriver on the Madre de Dios to Puerto Maldonado. We'll pick up our baggage in the office and transfer to the airport or bus terminal.

Meals B