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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 SERVICE |
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Tambopata National Reserve
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