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Sandoval
Classic ( 4 days and 3 nights )
| Low Season |
High Season |
Low Season
$295 |
High Season
$335 |
| low season (From Dic 01 to April 14) |
The Sandoval Classic is an interesting visit to the Sandoval
Lake, the
Reserved Zone, and the adjacent Bahuaje-Sonene National Park. This park is
home to over 20,000 plant species, over 900 species of birds (more than all
the species in the continental USA), 91 mammals, 1230 butterflies, 127
amphibians and reptiles, and much more! It is also a haven for the Amazon's
largest, most spectacular and most endangered predators - the Jaguar, the
Giant Otter, the Harpy Eagle and the Black Caiman. Located a 25 minute motor
canoe ride down the River Madre de Dios from Puerto Maldonado, Sandoval Lake
Lodge is perched above what many rainforest specialists feel is the most
attractive lake in Southern Peru, if not in the entire Peruvian Amazon. The
whole complex is housed in one structure and includes 25 double occupancy
rooms (16 with private baths and 9 with sharing facilities), hot showers,
and a spacious dining room overlooking the lake. For a more relaxed,
complete introduction to the rainforest, we recommend a two nights stay.
However, with the easy access from Puerto Maldonado, it is possible to
spend only one night in the rainforest and still get a good preliminary idea
of the splendor of the Peruvian Amazon.
Day 1: DISCOVER THE JUNGLE
Transfer from Puerto Maldonado airport to the river port on the Madre de
Dios River. A 25 minutes journey down the Madre de Dios River by motor canoe
brings you to the end of the trail in to Sandoval Lake Lodge. From here the
trail takes you on a 2-mile walk/or rickshaw ride through secondary forest,
until we reach a small canal where we board canoes and are paddled 220 yards
through a flooded forest of 100-foot tall Mauritia palms. As the canal opens
onto the shimmering surface of the lake, we transfer to a catamaran and are
leisurely paddled across half the lake to the lodge. After lunch and a brief
rest to avoid the early afternoon heat, we once again board the catamaran
and set off to explore the entire west end of the lake. Here, in the flooded
palm forest we drift to the sounds of hundreds of Red-Bellied Macaws as they
return to the palm forest for the night. We return to the lodge around
nightfall for dinner. After dinner we will return to the canoes to look for
the large and extremely rare Black Caimans. If it is a clear starlit night,
we will also be able to float in the middle of the lake and marvel at the
brillance of the sky. (L,D)
Day 2: SANDOVAL LAKE
A pre-dawn wake-up call will enable us to be on the lake for sunrise and a
hopeful encounter with the family of Giant Otters which frequent the lake
and are most active at this time of day. Most of the fish-eating water birds
around the lake actively fish in the early morning as well, and this outing
should provide excellent views, and photographs, of the prehistoric- looking
Hoatzins.
After returning for a late breakfast we set off into the cool understory of
the tall virgin forest near the lake to see some towering wild Brazil Nut
trees and a demonstration of how our hosts collect, open and commercialize
this important natural product. After lunch and an hour or so to relax we
once again board the catamaran to explore the eastern part of the lake,
where we might see one or more of the five species of monkeys which live in
the forest near the lake, such as the Brown Capuchin Monkey. There is a
final chance after dinner to try and spot some Black Caimans on the lake, or
to go on a short night walk through the primary forest.(B,L,D)
Day 3: RAINFOREST
Rising once again at dawn, we have a quick snack before boarding the
catamarans to explore the western end of the lake in the hope of an
encounter with Giant Otters. After a late breakfast we explore some of the
rain forest trails with our knowledgeable resident naturalist guide. As we
walk the forest will be brought to life as your guide explains the ecology
of the rain forest and its diverse flora and fauna. We return for lunch, and
then there is an optional rest for those who would like to escape the early
afternoon heat. For those still full of energy, there is an option to
independently explore some of the forest trails. In the cooler late
afternoon we will once again board the catamaran to explore the eastern end
of the lake, and hopefully experience a spectacular
sunset over the lake before returning to the lodge for dinner.
After dinner, there is a final chance to look for Black Caiman on the lake,
or to go on a short night hike through the forest. (B,L,D)
Day 4: TRANSFER OUT
After a dawn breakfast we take a final, shorter paddle around the west end
of the lake to try and glimpse the Giant Otters before returning to Puerto
Maldonado to catch the flight to Lima.
(B)
END OF OUR SERVICES
Please note that the program may vary slightly so as to maximize your wildlife sightings, depending on the reports of our researchers and experienced naturalist guides based at the lodge. |
Click to Enlarge

Area Map
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Accommodation |

Sandoval Lodge |

Sandoval Lake's
Black Cayman |

Giant Otters |
INCLUDES: All hotel and lodge accommodations based on double occupancy.
All scheduled land, lake and river transportation. All transfers. All
scheduled excursions with English-speaking guide services. All entrance
fees. Meals as specified in the itinerary. B=Breakfast;L=Lunch;D=Dinner.
NOT INCLUDED IN THE FEE
International or domestic airfares, airport departure taxes or visa
fees, excess baggage charges, additional nights during the trip due
to flight cancellations, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages or bottled
water, snacks, insurance of any kind, laundry, phone calls, radio calls
or messages, reconfirmation of international flights and items of personal
nature.
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