THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Spend a full day exploring Laguna Sandoval in Tambopata National Reserve: a river transfer, a short rainforest hike, and a guided rowboat trip that puts you close to otters, monkeys, caimans, and a rich birdlife. Ideal for visitors with limited time in Puerto Maldonado.
Spend a full day exploring Laguna Sandoval in Tambopata National Reserve: a river transfer, a short rainforest hike, and a guided rowboat trip that puts you close to otters, monkeys, caimans, and a rich birdlife. Ideal for visitors with limited time in Puerto Maldonado.
Book with Zarate Adventours
Book directly with Zarate Adventours for the best rates and real-time scheduling.
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Operated by Zarate Adventours · Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios
Morning light slips across the Madre de Dios River as a narrow motorboat cuts toward the rainforest, the river seeming to urge you forward. After a 45-minute ride from Puerto Maldonado, the jungle closes in: towering floodplain trees, the heat of a living canopy, and the distant howl of monkeys. A 3-km trail leads through humid forest to Laguna Sandoval, a blackwater lake where piranhas glint and the shoreline bristles with life.
moderate.
9–9.5 hours.
Moderate fitness recommended—able to walk 3 km on uneven jungle trails and board small boats several times.
The guided trail is about 3 km (one way) through rainforest with uneven footing; guides set the pace and take breaks.
Giant otters are present but elusive—sightings are possible, especially during quieter early-morning and late-afternoon rowboat sessions, but not guaranteed.
This tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers and requires moderate fitness; children can join but should be able to handle a full day and boat transfers.
Typical inclusions are round-trip boat transport from Puerto Maldonado, park tickets, a guided hike, the rowboat on Sandoval Lake, and a traditional juane lunch.
Tambopata’s oxbow lakes like Sandoval formed from meandering river dynamics over millennia; local communities have long relied on these productive floodplain systems for food and transport.
The area is protected within Tambopata National Reserve and emphasizes minimal-impact tourism—follow guide instructions to reduce disturbance and avoid single-use plastics.
Zarate Adventours operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
Book with Zarate Adventours
Book directly with Zarate Adventours for the best rates and real-time scheduling.
Reserve Now