3-Day Tambopata Amazon Tour

The 3-Day Tambopata Amazon Tour is a compact itinerary focused on the places that make this route special: the Tambopata River at sunset, the forest trails and flooded palm zones of Lake Sandoval, the protected habitats of the Tambopata National Reserve, and a traditional Parrot Clay Lick at sunrise. Starting from Puerto Maldonado, this tour is made for travelers who want a real Tambopata jungle tour without rushing through the experience, combining river navigation, canopy observation, lake exploration, nocturnal wildlife and one of the most colorful birdwatching moments in the Peruvian Amazon.

Day 1 – Puerto Maldonado, Tambopata River Sunset & White Caimans

After arriving in Puerto Maldonado, our team will meet you at the airport, bus station or your hotel before transferring you to the lodge area. Once you have settled in and enjoyed lunch, the first activity begins on the Tambopata River, one of the main natural corridors of this Amazon region. In the late afternoon, the riverbanks become more active, giving good chances to see monkeys moving through the trees, turtles resting near the water, capybaras along the shore and different riverside birds flying back before nightfall.

As the sun goes down over the Tambopata rainforest, the same river route changes completely. We continue by boat with flashlights to look for White Caimans along the riverbanks, where their eyes reflect in the dark. This nocturnal navigation on the Tambopata River is not just a short add-on; it is one of the clearest ways to understand how different the Amazon feels after sunset, when capybaras, caimans and other nocturnal animals begin to move near the water.

Day 2 – Canopy Walkway, Tambopata National Reserve & Lake Sandoval

After breakfast, the day starts above the forest floor on the Canopy Walkways, where the experience changes from trail-level jungle to upper-canopy observation. This part of the tour is especially valuable because many Amazon birds and mammals spend much of their time in the higher forest layers. From this elevated viewpoint, you may observe toucans, parrots, woodpeckers, tanagers, monkeys and other species that are often harder to spot from ground level.

After lunch, the itinerary continues to Lake Sandoval, one of the most recognized natural attractions inside the Tambopata National Reserve. To reach the lake, we walk approximately 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) through primary rainforest, a trail where the journey itself is part of the experience. Along the way, it is possible to observe Brown Capuchin Monkeys, Squirrel Monkeys, colorful butterflies, forest birds and, with luck, Sloths resting in the trees.

At the end of the trail, the forest opens into the Palm Swamp Forest surrounding Lake Sandoval. This flooded palm habitat is one of the reasons the area feels so different from the river and canopy sections of the tour. From here, we board a traditional rowing canoe to explore the lake quietly, looking for Giant River Otters, Black Caimans, Hoatzins, turtles, herons, kingfishers, monkeys and aquatic birds. This is one of the strongest wildlife moments of the 3-Day Tambopata Amazon Tour, because Lake Sandoval concentrates several Amazon habitats in one protected area.

After exploring Lake Sandoval, we return along the same forest trail to the river, where the boat will be waiting for the transfer back to the lodge. This day connects three very specific Tambopata settings: the Canopy Walkways, the primary forest trail of the Tambopata National Reserve, and the calm waters of Lake Sandoval.

Day 3 – Parrot Clay Lick & Return to Puerto Maldonado

Before sunrise, we visit a nearby Parrot Clay Lick, one of the most distinctive wildlife experiences in Tambopata. At first light, parrots and parakeets begin gathering near the exposed clay bank to feed on mineral-rich clay. The activity is usually strongest in the early morning, when the forest is still cool and the birds arrive in groups, filling the area with movement, color and sound.

Species commonly observed at the Parrot Clay Lick include Blue-headed Parrots, Dusky-headed Parakeets, Chestnut-fronted Macaws, Blue-headed Macaws and several species of small green parrots. This final activity gives the tour a strong birdwatching focus and adds a different type of Amazon wildlife experience compared with the Tambopata River, the canopy area and Lake Sandoval.

After returning to the lodge, breakfast will be served before check-out. Guests with early flights can be transferred directly to Puerto Maldonado Airport, while travelers with later departures may remain at the lodge until their scheduled transfer to the airport, bus station or hotel in Puerto Maldonado.

This 3-Day Tambopata Amazon Tour from Puerto Maldonado is not a generic jungle program. It is built around specific Tambopata destinations: the Tambopata River for sunset and nocturnal wildlife, the Canopy Walkways for upper-forest observation, Lake Sandoval and its Palm Swamp Forest inside the Tambopata National Reserve, and the Parrot Clay Lick for early morning bird activity. Together, these places create a varied Amazon itinerary with river landscapes, protected rainforest, lake wildlife, canopy views and birdwatching in one short but complete tour.

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• Reception at Puerto Maldonado Airport, bus station, or your hotel.
• Round-trip transfers between Puerto Maldonado and the jungle lodge.
• 2 nights accommodation at our jungle lodge.
• Breakfast (2), lunch (2), and dinner (2).
• Tambopata River sunset boat excursion.
• Nocturnal wildlife search for Spectacled Caimans (White Caimans), capybaras, and other nocturnal species.
• Canopy Walkway excursion.
• Guided visit to Lake Sandoval inside the Tambopata National Reserve.
• 3 km rainforest hike to and from Lake Sandoval.
• Traditional rowing canoe exploration on Lake Sandoval.
• Early morning visit to the Parrot Clay Lick.
• Professional bilingual naturalist guide.
• Boat transportation for all scheduled river excursions.
• Entrance fees to the Tambopata National Reserve.
• Return transfer to Puerto Maldonado Airport, bus station, or hotel.

• Flights to and from Puerto Maldonado.
• Bus tickets.
• Travel insurance.
• Alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, and bottled beverages.
• Personal expenses.
• Tips for guides, boat drivers, and lodge staff.
• Meals not specified in the itinerary.
• Additional activities not mentioned in the program.