Lake Expedition Program
4 Days / 3 Nights
Lake Expedition
Resume Overview:
This four-day program focuses on the diverse aquatic systems of the region, featuring an in-depth visit to Lake Sandoval along with a complete exploration of our conservation and canopy projects.
Day 1: Arrival and River Exploration Upon arrival in Puerto Maldonado, you will be transferred by boat to the lodge. The afternoon includes a guided walk to observe the local flora and fauna, followed by a night river cruise to search for caimans and observe the Amazonian stars.
Day 2: Conservation and Canopy Observation The morning is dedicated to visiting the Taricaya Rescue Center to learn about wildlife rehabilitation. In the afternoon, you will visit the Canopy Walkway and its 45-meter high platform, followed by an informative talk on our ongoing conservation efforts.
Day 3: Lake Sandoval and Sunset Cruise You will embark on an excursion to Lake Sandoval within the Tambopata National Reserve, a primary habitat for giant river otters and diverse birdlife. The day concludes with a scenic sunset cruise along the Madre de Dios River.
Day 4: Breakfast and Departure After breakfast at the lodge, a boat transfer will take you back to Puerto Maldonado. Our staff will coordinate your transfer to the airport or bus station in accordance with your departure schedule, marking the conclusion of our services.
Program Includes
- Pick up and Drop off to Airport, bus or Hotel.
- River transfers to and from the Lodge (1h to 1.5h motorboat ride).
- 03 Nights’ accommodation in Amazon Planet lodge.
- Meals, from lunch on first day to breakfast on last day.
- Guided tours (max 8-10 pax per guide).
- All reserve entrance fees.
- Activities according to the itinerary.
Activities Included
- Day and night jungle walks.
- Taricaya Canopy walkway & Highest Platform
- Tour of the Taricaya rescue center
- Sunset cruise on the river
- Night river cruise (caimans & stars)
- Visit to Lake Sandoval (Tambopata)
- Conservation talk
Recommended add-ons (additional cost):
- Ese-Eja Tribal Experience
- Fishing testing
- Yoga & Forest Bathing
- Jungle Bike Trek
Detailed Daily Itinerary
Arrival to Puerto Maldonado. Pick up from Padre Aldamis Airport in Puerto Maldonado, bus station or hotel in the city. Transfer to our office to repack only the necessary for your jungle stay. Make sure you have all the elements you will need for your stay. Check the travel guide where you will find a l ist of what to bring to the jungle to prepare beforehand for your trip Travel down the Madre de Dios river through the heart of the jungle surrounded by the flora, fauna and breathtaking scenery of the Amazon jungle before arriving at Amazon Planet Lodge ( Approx. 1 hour).
12:00h Transfer IN: When all guests on that day arrive before 11:00h. Arrive to Amazon Planet at 13:00h for registration at the main house and enjoy a refreshing fruit water to start lunch. After lunch, settle in to your private bungalow (Your bags will be taken to your bungalow by our staff) and take a rest before your first activity.
14:15h Transfer IN: When some guests arrive after 12:00h. Arrive to Amazon Planet at 15:15h for quick registration at the main house and enjoy a refreshing fruit water to start your first activity (Your bags will be taken to your bungalow by our staff). You will settle into your cabin after the activity.
15:45h Jungle walk: Begin your first activity with an introduction walk of the surrounding Jungle with your guide and group (Approx. 1hour).
18:30h Night Walk: Take a night walk with your guide and experience the jungle as it transforms from day into night making way for nocturnal animals especially adapted for the dark (1 hour).
19:30h Dinner: Dinner and enjoy delicious Amazonian cocktails at the bar. Rest and end of day.
07:30h Breakfast: Breakfast is served. 08:30h Rescue Center Excursion: Start your day with an excursion along the forest parallel to the river until you reach the Taricaya Volunteers Lodge and Research Center. You will visit one of the lead conservation projects in the Reserve, the Taricaya Wildlife Rescue Center. Encounter many different wild animals including macaws, toucans, spider monkeys, howler monkeys, jaguarondi, bush dog river turtles and tortoises, the Andean Spectacled bears (rescued from a circus) and more. The animals you visit are in enclosures which is the necessary first step in their rehabilitation process to be released back into the wild if possible. Some animals are residents who cannot be released for human or their own wellbeing and are given a good quality of life at the center.
PLEASE BE AWARE THIS IS A RESCUE CENTRE NOT A ZOO!!!! These animals are in the process of rehabilitation before being released back into the wild, we do not support or condone animals in captivity for purposes of tourist attractions! Taricaya has single handedly repopulated these parts of the jungle with animals that have been able to return to the wild including the black spider monkey who was extinct in this area, through the first Reintroduction Program for Wildlife in Peru. You will also see the artificial beaches of the Taricaya turtle project (between July, August and September you will see the flags pointing out the turtle nests in the sand, relocated to be kept safe from poachers until they hatch and are released back to the beach the eggs were collected in November). Enjoy the sun setting from the tower close to the river and then walk back to the Lodge along the forest (2 hours).
13:00h Lunch: Lunch is served. After lunch relax in the hammock area, enjoy a cocktail from the Tunche bar or have a rest in the comfort of your private bungalow.
15:45h Canopy Walkway: Start your afternoon with a deep excursion into Taricaya Ecoreserve along an original primary protected forest surrounded by 300+ year old trees while your guide explains the history and biology of the flora and fauna by sight and sound. Arrive at our first platform located 15 meters high to access the canopy walkway, a 90-meter long suspension bridge, that takes you to the Canopy platform, the highest tree platform in South America. Located 45 meters high up in the crown of an ancient Kapok tree, it is not for the faint hearted and a great challenge for adventure seekers. Catch a glimpse of flying Macaws, parrots or Toucans; we enjoy the amazing view of the forest from above as we gaze at the sun coming down for a truly unforgettable sunset experience!
18:00h Return Walk: Come down from the platform and we walk back to the Lodge as we experience the forest changing from day to night making way for nocturnal animals especially adapted for the dark (1 hour).
19:30h Dinner: Dinner and enjoy delicious Amazonian cocktails at the bar. Rest and end of day.
04:30h Lake Sandoval: A very early wake before the sunrise, a cup of coffee and a to-go breakfast before heading upriver for 1h travel on the motorboat to the entrance of the Tambopata National Reserve. (Why so early? 2 main reasons: first, because the earlier we go, the best chances to see wildlife. Second, because the lake is an open area and the heat during the paddle gets very strong and overwhelming from 10am onward).
06:00h - Start your 3 km trek to Lake Sandoval. Upon the way enjoy the diverse ecosystem spotting wildlife on the way like squirrel monkeys, howler monkey, blue and yellow macaw and more. Arrive to the mouth of the lake and hop on a rowboat, your guide will paddle your group around the pristine mirror like lake to enjoy the beautiful scenery with the opportunity to encounter the impressive large black caiman. Continue on your search for the family of the endangered giant river otter that calls this lake home (Approx. 5 hours) Take your snack by the water's edge.
11:00h After enjoying the amazing nature of the lake we leave we return via the 3km hike back to our motorboat and travel downriver back to the Lodge.
12:00h Return to the lodge for a well-deserved rest.
13:00h Lunch is served.
14:00h Relax in the hammocks area, enjoy a cocktail at the bar or rest in the comfort of your private bungalow.
16:00h Sunset cruise. Meet your guide at the main house to explore the river on the motorboat with the opportunity to see turtles, monkeys, herons and other birds that are usually along the river side. At the point, we go to the middle of the river and turn off the engine to let the current flow take us on a relaxing ride while enjoying the beautiful backdrop of the sunset over the river. For the adventurous type, you can take a refreshing dive in the river. In dry season (July to Oct) we stop at the beach to feel the river water on our feet and take a swim (Approx. 1.5h).
18:30h Night Cruise. Prepare yourself for a night river cruise on the motorboat to go along the river. We will search for the spectacled caimans as they lay along the river banks at night, might jars, capybaras (biggest rodent in the world) if we are luck. On an open night you will enjoy the amazing sky filled with stars and look for constellations as we float downriver enjoying the quite energy of the night in the jungle.
19:30h Dinner and enjoy delicious Amazonian cocktails at the bar. Rest and end of day.
07:00h - Check out from your bungalow. (Leave your bags packed and ready for our HK staff to carry them to the boat and PLEASE don't forget anything in your room) Breakfast is served. The boat is ready to leave at 8:00h.
08:00h Travel up river back to the city.
9:30h Arrival at AP house/office, transfer to the airport and end of our services. If you have a later flight, feel free to stay at our house/office, we recommend places to visit for a self city tour and arrange you a later transfer to the airport following your flight schedule.
- Activities in itinerary are subject to change with short notice due to weather or other unforseen circumstances out of our control.
- Order of activities is variable depending on date of arrival and tour availability.
- Established schedules can be modified in coordination with the guide and in agreement with other guests in the tour.
- In the case you do not want, or are not able to participate on anexcursion, you may choose to stay at the lodge.
