Overview

The Tambopata Tour 3 Days from Puerto Maldonado starts at the town's small airport or bus terminal and moves straight into the jungle by road and river. Puerto Maldonado sits at 200 m above sea level, where the Madre de Dios and Tambopata rivers meet, and it is the last urban point before the reserve.
After a short transfer to the port, the journey continues upriver by motorised canoe. Lodges within the Tambopata National Reserve are between 45 minutes and three hours away depending on the programme, with caimans and turtles often visible along the banks.
The reserve protects 274,690 hectares of lowland Amazon rainforest. It borders the Bahuaja-Sonene National Park and forms one of the most biodiverse blocks on the planet, with more than 630 bird species, 1,200 butterfly species and 200 mammals recorded so far.
Lake Sandoval is the highlight most travellers come for. Reaching it involves a 3 km walk through palm swamp followed by a paddle canoe ride across the oxbow lake, where a family of giant river otters has lived for years. Hoatzins, herons and red howler monkeys are common in the surrounding trees.
The clay lick, or collpa, is the other signature stop. Shortly after sunrise, parrots and macaws gather on exposed riverbank clay to eat mineral-rich soil that neutralises toxins from the seeds in their diet. Early arrival matters, since the activity fades once the sun rises high.
Night walks reveal a different forest. Tarantulas, tree frogs, stick insects and hunting spiders appear along the trails, and guides point out species that are almost impossible to spot in daylight.
Most lodges also include canopy towers of 25 to 35 m, built for viewing the forest from above. Toucans, oropendolas and troops of squirrel monkeys move through the upper branches at first light.
Because the Tambopata Tour 3 Days from Puerto Maldonado ends back in town on the third morning, it fits neatly between flights to Cusco or Lima. Travellers coming from Puno or Cusco usually connect through Puerto Maldonado's Padre Aldamiz airport, a flight of under an hour from Cusco.

Itinerary

Day 1: Brazil Nut Camp & Caiman Safari

The Tambopata Tour 3 Days from Puerto Maldonado begins with reception at the airport and a transfer to the office in the center of town, where extra luggage can be stored safely before the 40-minute boat journey to the lodge along the Madre de Dios River aboard the vessel Puerto de Capitanía.
At the Lodge Corto Maltés Amazonía, guests are welcomed with seasonal fruit refreshments and briefed on the stay before checking into their bungalow for lunch and a short rest. At 3:30 pm, the first jungle excursion sets out through 60 hectares of Brazil nut concession, visiting an active harvesting camp and learning about one of the region's key economic activities over a two- to three-hour trek.
The evening brings free time at the lodge — pool, hammocks, a cocktail at the bar or a riverside sunset — followed by a 7:00 pm nocturnal boat trip in search of caimans, before dinner at 8:00 pm in the riverside dining room.

Includes: airport pick-up, river transport to the lodge, bungalow accommodation, full board meals, guided Brazil nut camp trek, nocturnal caiman safari.

Excludes: flights, tips, extra expenses.

Day 2: Lake Sandoval & Lookout Tower

Day two starts at 5:30 am with coffee or tea before a short river trip to Lake Sandoval, followed by a 3-kilometer hike through dense vegetation into Tambopata National Reserve, where giant trees, snakes, monkeys and birds like the Hoatzin are common sightings.
On the lake, small rowboats carry the group in search of giant river otters, with breakfast served once the guide finds a good spot for wildlife viewing. Depending on the season, an optional stop at Monkey Island may follow, home to around five wild monkey species accustomed to visitors.
After lunch back at the lodge, the afternoon includes a visit to one of the property's lookout towers, reaching 20 or 42 meters for birdwatching and canopy views, plus a stop at a reconstructed shiringuero camp to see how rubber, or latex, was traditionally harvested and processed. Free time at the pool, bar or spa follows before dinner at 8:00 pm.

Includes: full board meals, guided Lake Sandoval excursion, rowboat transport on the lake, lookout tower visit, shiringuero camp visit.

Excludes: Monkey Island visit (seasonal, at guide's discretion), tips, extra expenses.

Day 3: Parrots Clay Lick & Departure

The final day begins at 5:30 am with coffee or tea before a 20-minute walk to the clay lick, where 3 to 5 species of parrots gather to ingest mineral-rich clay essential to their metabolism, creating one of Tambopata's most colorful wildlife displays.
After breakfast and some free time, the group returns to Puerto Maldonado by boat, with a brief stop at the office followed by a short visit to the local market to see typical products of the region.
From there, transport continues to the airport for check-in, closing out the trip.

Includes: breakfast, guided clay lick excursion, river and road transport to the airport, local market visit.

Excludes: flights, lunch, tips.

Tambopata tours 3d

Overview

Itinerary

Day 1: Brazil Nut Camp & Caiman Safari

Day 2: Lake Sandoval & Lookout Tower

Day 3: Parrots Clay Lick & Departure

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