Day 1    Puerto Maldonado - Monkey Island - Lake Sandoval - Maloka Lodge
We will welcome you at the airport or bus terminal in Puerto Maldonado then stop by our office where you can leave your large luggage. Plan on taking a small backpack for your personal items. Then we'll transfer to the port "Puerto Capitanía" where we'll take a motorboat 35 mins down the Madre de Dios River. On the way, we have the chance to see turtles, birds, lizards, monkeys and caimans. We'll dock at Monkey Island to see monkey species such as maquisapas, capuchins, lion monkeys "leoncillo", frailes, cotos and other mammals such as the coati and sloth. After we pass the Sandoval Lake Reserve checkpoint we'll walk 5km/3mi (1.5 hrs) until we reach Lake Sandoval where we'll paddle a canoe across the lake to our Lodge. After we settle in and have lunch, we'll explore the lake by canoe in search of giant river otters, black caiman, the prehistoric "shansho", herons, cormorants, kingfishers and the famous taricayas which rest on the dry fallen logs in the middle of the lake. We can also identify the Aguaje palm (Maurita flexuosa) among other plant species. In the afternoon we'll return to our lodge for dinner then return to the lake for a night caiman-spotting expedition. Night in the Maloka lodge.

Meals LD

Day 2    Giant Otter Observation - Giant Trees - Black Caiman
After our breakfast at dawn we head out on the lake on our boat in search of a large family of giant otters which have become comfortable with visitors over the years which we can get very close to for excellent pictures. We can also spot macaws such as Ara genus with its multicolored chest in yellow and red or blue which illuminates the nearby trees and palms. We can also see the "Maracanás" Chestnut-fronted or Severe macaw (Ara severas) and the "Maracanás de Aguajal" Red-bellied macaw (Orthopsittaca manilatus) flying over the lake. Multicolored butterflies seem to accompany us on our trip. Back at the lodge we can swim in a special lake area and observe the diversity of palm trees that form a garden oasis. After lunch at the lodge we will hike through the lush jungle and primary forest with its ancient trees such as Shihuahuacos, kapok and rebels which are home to all types of mammals and shelter for parrots and partridges which also eat their fruit. We will also learn about hallucinogenic plants such as ayahuasca and others used for healing. Returning to our lodge we have the chance for spotting black caiman out in the lake as well as other reptiles and birds coming down for an afternoon drink. Dinner at our lodge. Night in lodge.

Meals BLD

Day 3    Macaw Palm Lick - Sandoval Lake - Canopy Tower
Early in the morning we will visit the macaw palm lick, 35 mins walk from the lake. We'll observe their customary ceremony of commotion before they begin feeding. Macaws and multi-colored parrots congregate at the Shebon lining palm (Attalea butyracea) and begin to extract the stem from the palm while making wonderful noises. We can also observe other species of birds from our lookout such as the eagles that try to catch them. After the show we'll go back to the lake to see more wildlife before returning to our lodge for lunch. After a short break we'll return to the lakeshores in search of 5 species of monkey such as the howler, monk and Titi Monkey "tocon" which can be found in the overhanging trees. We can get good views as many don't mind being close to us. In the afternoon we can climb the observation tower to get a great view of the lake. From here we can see various birds flying over and even see and hear the famous Amazonian fish "Pirarucu" near the surface making loud noises with its giant fins. At dusk we can again look for the black caiman as other insects, birds and amphibians welcome the night with different songs. Dinner in our lodge. Night in lodge.

Meals BLD

Day 4    Lake Sandoval - Puerto Maldonado
After breakfast, we'll first take a canoe across Lake Sandoval followed by a nature walk back to the checkpoint where we'll take a motorboat upriver on the Madre de Dios to Puerto Maldonado. We'll pick up our baggage in the office and transfer to the airport or bus terminal.

Meals B