Sandoval Lake: The Amazon’s Swimming Pool

A sample itinerary of a Puerto Maldonado Amazon tour, as described by a Peru travel expert at Peru For Less

One of the best ways to explore all that the Amazon has to offer is to pick a small section of the massive, largely untamed jungle, and explore only that region. The Sandoval Lake, near Puerto Maldonado, is an excellent cross-section of the Amazon.

The lake offers nearly all the elements of a complete Amazon experience: a placid, sunny, oxbow lake with palm, kapok and caoba trees, orchids, and other flowers along its edges. Mauritanian palms – which can tower up to 100 feet tall – also flourish here. There are plenty of wildlife creatures here as well, such as brightly colored toucans, macaws, parrots, and waterfowl, plus tapires, river otters, and reptiles like turtles and caimans. Botanists, arborists, bird enthusiasts, and other travelers need go no further than the far reaches of this beautiful Amazon lake.

Day 1: Fly to Puerto Maldonado, the small tourist spot that acts as the launch point into the jungle interior. From the nearby port, you will pick up a boat to take you along the Madre de Dios river to Sandoval Lake. The trek to Sandoval is an adventure in itself: you’ll take a 25 minute boat ride, followed by a 2 mile short walk, to another river that will lead you to the lake.

Once there, you will have the chance to relax, eat lunch, and explore the lodge, before you set off to explore this large lake. You will take a small catamaran to the west edge, where macaws nest in the tall palms. Then, retire to the lodge and enjoy dinner.

In the evening, you will take another boat excursion, this time in the dark, so that you can look for the elusive black caimans that are active in the evenings. 

Day 2: You will want to wake up early so as to do the most exploring before midday, when the sun is most potent. Take a tour at sunrise around the lake, because this is the best time to spot giant river otters. You also might see hoatzins and other exotic birds.

Enjoy breakfast in the lodge before taking a tour of the Brazil Nut trees that grow near the lake. Then you will return to the lodge to relax, have lunch, and explore the surrounding area before setting off for another exploration of the lake, this time of the east edge. On this side reside several species of monkeys.  

After dinner, you can choose to go on another night tour around the lake, take a nature hike, or relax in the lodge.

Day 3: Waking early for breakfast, you will head out to the lake for another spin, before heading back to Puerto Maldonado. If you wish, you have the option of booking a four day tour, which would allow you an additional day to explore this wonderous lake full of rare sights and experiences. 

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