|
|
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. You have the opportunity to observe several
wild species among which the rare giant otter and the black cayman.
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.
The Itinerary
Day 1:
Welcome at Puerto Maldonado airport (coming from Cuzco or Lima) and transfer to the pier on the Madre
de Dios River. After a 25 minutes journey down the Madre de Dios River by
motor canoe we start a 2-mile walk/or rickshaw ride through
secondary forest to a small canal. We then board canoes
and paddle through a flooded forest of 100-foot tall
Mauritia Palms. As the canal opens onto the shimmering surface of
Sandoval Lake, we board a catamaran and leisurely sail across
half the lake to Sandoval Lake 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. Inside 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 return to the canoes to search for the large and
extremely rare Black Caimans. If it is a clear starlit night, we
float in the middle of the lake and marvel at the brilliance of the sky.
Accommodation at the lodge (L D)
Day 2:
A pre-dawn wake-up call enable us to be on the lake for sunrise
and a hopeful encounter with the families of Giant Otters which frequent
the lake. Most of the fish-eating
water birds around the lake actively fish in the early morning as well.
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 tall virgin forest near the lake to see some towering wild Brazil Nut
trees and a demonstration of how our hosts collect, open and commercialise
this 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.
Accommodation at the lodge (B L D)
Day 3:
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 or Cuzco. (B)
General Information
Rated: Easy
You can extend this journey to the Heath's Pampa on the Bolivian Border. Wildlife is plentyful, more visible and
the main attraction is the Macaw Lick where tens of multi-coloured parrots gather for a wonderful
show. Ask for information!
| Sandoval Lake Lodge | |||||||||
| High Season | Low Season | ||||||||
| Duration | 3 days/2 nights | 4 days/3 nights | 3 days/2 nights | 4 days/3 nights | SGL Supp. | ||||
| USD | $ 190 | $ 260 | $ 170 | $ 230 | $ 30 | ||||
| EUR | € 157 | € 215 | € 141 | € 190 | € 24 | ||||
| GBP | £ 106 | £ 145 | £ 95 | £ 128 | £ 16 | ||||
| Domestic Flights: USD 190 / GBP 106 / EUR 157 | |||||||||
Included:
Meals as specified, all transportation, lodging in double room,
professional local guides, excursion mentioned shared with the lodge guests.
Not included:
domestic flights, airport tax (at present $4USD), drinks tip
Home
French
Belize
Bay Islands
Costa Rica
Guatemala
Nicaragua
Panama
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Chile & Easter Island
Colombia
Ecuador
Falklands
Guyana
Paraguay
Peru
Venezuela
Arctic
Antarctica