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The Sandoval Classic is an interesting visit
to the Sandoval Lake, the Reserved Zone, and the adjacent Bahuaje-Sonene
National Park. This park is home to over 20,000 plant species, over
900 species of birds (more than all the species in the continental
USA), 91 mammals, 1230 butterflies, 127 amphibians and reptiles, and
much more! It is also a haven for the Amazon's largest, most
spectacular and most endangered predators - the Jaguar, the Giant
Otter, the Harpy Eagle and the Black Caiman. 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. 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. For a more relaxed,
complete introduction to the rainforest, we recommend a two nights
stay.
However, with the easy access from Puerto Maldonado, it is possible
to spend only one night in the rainforest and still get a good
preliminary idea of the splendor of the Peruvian Amazon.
Day 1 : DISCOVER THE JUNGLE
Transfer from Puerto Maldonado airport to the river port on the
Madre de Dios River. A 25 minutes journey down the Madre de Dios
River by motor canoe brings you to the end of the trail in to
Sandoval Lake Lodge. From here the trail takes you on a 2-mile walk/or
rickshaw ride through secondary forest, until we reach a small canal
where we board canoes and are paddled 220 yards through a flooded
forest of 100-foot tall Mauritia palms. As the canal opens onto the
shimmering surface of the lake, we transfer to a catamaran and are
leisurely paddled across half the lake to the 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. Here, in 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 will return to the canoes to look for the large and
extremely rare Black Caimans. If it is a clear starlit night, we
will also be able to float in the middle of the lake and marvel at
the brillance of the sky. (L,D)
Day 2 : SANDOVAL LAKE
A pre-dawn wake-up call will enable us to be on the lake for sunrise
and a hopeful encounter with the family of Giant Otters which
frequent the lake and are most active at this time of day. Most of
the fish-eating water birds around the lake actively fish in the
early morning as well, and 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
understory of the tall virgin forest near the lake to see some
towering wild Brazil Nut trees and a demonstration of how our hosts
collect, open and commercialize this important 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.(B,L,D)
Day 3 : RAINFOREST
Rising once again at dawn, we have a quick snack before boarding the
catamarans to explore the western end of the lake in the hope of an
encounter with Giant Otters.
After a late breakfast we explore some of the rain forest trails
with our knowledgeable resident naturalist guide. As we walk the
forest will be brought to life as your guide explains the ecology of
the rain forest and its diverse flora and fauna.
We return for lunch, and then there is an optional rest for those
who would like to escape the early afternoon heat. For those still
full of energy, there is an option to independently explore some of
the forest trails.
In the cooler late afternoon we will once again board the catamaran
to explore the eastern end of the lake, and hopefully experience a
spectacular sunset over the lake before returning to the lodge for
dinner.
After dinner, there is a final chance to look for Black Caiman on
the lake, or to go on a short night hike through the forest.(B,L,D)
Day 4 : TRANSFER OUT
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.
(B)
END OF OUR SERVICE
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| Please note that the program may vary slightly so as
to maximize your wildlife sightings, depending on the reports of our
researchers and experienced naturalist guides based at the lodge.
INCLUDES: All hotel and lodge accommodations based on double
occupancy. All scheduled land, lake and river transportation. All
transfers. All scheduled excursions with English-speaking guide
services. All entrance fees. Meals as specified in the itinerary. B=Breakfast;L=Lunch;D=Dinner.
NOT INCLUDED IN THE FEE:
International or Domestic airfares, airport departure taxes or visa
fees, excess baggage charges, additional nights during the trip due
to flight cancellations, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages or
bottled water, snacks, insurance of any kind, laundry, phone calls,
radio calls or messages, reconfirmation of International or Domestic
flights and items of personal nature.
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