Peru · Jungle Expedition

3-Day Tambopata National Reserve Tour with Kayaking and Night Wildlife

3 Days Round trip from Rio Tambopata - Reserva Nacional Bahuaja Sonene Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Explore exotic and endemic flora and fauna in the Tambopata National Reserve
  • 02 Reach the remote Lake Lagartococha and explore its pristine waters by boat
  • 03 Kayak along River Tower deep in Bahuaja-Sonene National Park
  • 04 Watch the sunset over the Tambopata River from the Bahuaja lookout ravine

Embark on a 3-day journey into the Tambopata National Reserve, where exotic and endemic flora and fauna, river travel, and jungle exploration come together in one immersive experience. Travel by land and boat to Inotawa, hike to the remote Lake Lagartococha, kayak along River Tower, and enjoy sunset views from the Bahuaja lookout ravine. Night walks and boat excursions add opportunities to observe nocturnal wildlife and experience the sounds of the Amazon after dark.

Embark on a 3-day journey into the Tambopata National Reserve, where exotic and endemic flora and fauna, river travel, and jungle exploration come together in one immersive experience.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 3 Days
Tour type Private
Activity level Easy
Accommodation Included · Standard
Transport Included
Wheelchair access Not applicable
Cities Cusco, Puerto Maldonado, Lima, Tambopata National Reserve
Languages Dutch, English, Spanish

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Arrival in Puerto Maldonado and Transfer to Inotawa

  • Get picked up from the airport, then transfer by land and river to Inotawa.
  • Travel by land to the native community of Infierno. During the trip, we will see aguajales, gorges, traditional papaya and citrus crops, and pastures for livestock, among others.
  • Once there, board a boat in the harbour area and begin our journey of 1 hour and 15 minutes along the Tambopata River.
  • Enter the buffer zone of the Tambopata National Reserve in Bahuaja-Sonene National Park. During the trip, observe riparian flora made up of reedbeds, cecropias, and focus, as well as fauna including birds that live near the rivers, such as orioles with their impressive hanging nests, herons, macaws, and toucans crossing the sky. Occasionally, you may also see capybara, reptiles resting on the riverbanks, white alligators, and turtles.

Check in at the Private Conservation Area (ACP).

  • Be greeted by the manager on arrival at Inotawa, and receive directions from our guide to enjoy your stay in the best way possible. We will show you the common areas of the lodge and your room. Then, there will be time to rest, freshen up at the cafeteria or bar, and wander around our facilities. Night walks by the ACP are also possible.
  • Depart with our guide to hike the trails of the ACP and observe the nocturnal and crepuscular wildlife that inhabits this place. Species such as trogons, partridges, and turkeys can be spotted, along with trees such as shihuahuacos, kapok, and almendrillos. At dusk, insects and arthropods begin their routine, including tarantulas, stick insects, grasshoppers, and various species of frogs, in what becomes an actual tropical concert.
  • After dinner, our guide will give a descriptive talk about the various activities of the program. Those who want to have a drink can go up to the bar.
2
Day 02

Lagartococha Hike, Kayaking, Sunset Viewpoint and Night Boat Ride

  • Around 5:15 am, start the hike to Lake Lagartococha. This lake is one of the most remote and lonely areas of the Tambopata National Reserve. For 3 hours, we will walk through a floodable ecosystem surrounding the lake, where mammals feed on the collapse.
  • Then continue for 20 minutes to Lake Lagartococha, where we will embark on a boat ride to explore this pristine water mirror. Measuring 500 meters long and 30 meters wide, Lagartococha is part of the lake system of River La Torre, which also includes the Seca Cocha lakes, Cocha Montes, and Patococha Lake. In addition, some of the large mammals of the Peruvian Amazon can also be seen here, including tapir, the giant river otter, and the black caiman. The capybara, a giant rodent, can also be seen in the area.
  • At 8:30 am, take a short break to enjoy breakfast consisting of 2 sandwiches, one fruit, one pancake, granola, and 1/2 litre of water.
  • At 10:30 am, go kayaking on River Tower. Begin with a 10-minute walk up River La Torre, deep in Bahuaja-Sonene National Park. Here, we will wait for the kayaks to come down and then enjoy 1 hour of absolute calm - only you, the sounds of nature, and the murmur of water to the rhythm of your paddle. The guide will give instructions on using the equipment, including the helmet, vest, boots, paddles, and kayak, as well as a technical description of the river.
  • We will have two stops, Shajaoo Beach and the Amtuset ravine, along the route before reaching the Tambopata River. Here, you can see how the water mixes its colours. Once on the Tambopata, we will move closer to the shore, looking for wildlife such as alligators, capybaras, and turtles, paddling up to Inotawa where we can freshen up at the bar with a cold drink.
  • At 1:00 pm, lunch will include a delicious Peruvian food buffet with local ingredients.
  • At 4:30 pm, head to Mirador Bahuaja. After a 30-minute walk opposite Inotawa, there will be a ravine of red clay approximately 50 meters high. On the way, we can observe different forest species such as chestnut, the screw, and the syrinx. After reaching the cliff's edge, we can observe the rivers from another perspective. This viewpoint has large roofed seats that will allow you to relax and watch the sunset over the Tambopata River in all its glory. Here, we will have a beautiful jungle sunset experience.
  • At 6:30 pm, enjoy a night boat ride and wildlife spotting. At dusk, we will leave by boat up the Tambopata River to enjoy the sounds of the jungle invading the night. In addition, we will see southern constellations such as Scorpio, Sagittarius, and the Southern Cross. You can also spot them using the boat reflector. It is common to find caimans, capybaras, or chotacabras on the meandering riverbanks.
  • At 7:30 pm, dinner.
  • At 8:30 pm, attend a screening of camera trap videos and a presentation of conservation projects. Thanks to your visit, Inotawa can develop various conservation projects. Among them, wildlife monitoring with camera traps is quite common. This directly helps observe the state of our protected areas, since the sighting of large mammals serves as an indicator of a healthy ecosystem. We will project the best images captured by the cameras and identify the animals while learning about their behaviour patterns. In addition, other Inotawa conservation projects will be presented so that we understand their importance, scope, and the different ways to help.
3
Day 03

Return to Puerto Maldonado

  • After an early breakfast, we will return to the tour office in Puerto Maldonado with your guide, who will help you with your flight back to Lima or Cusco.
  • If there is enough time between your arrival in town and your flight, you can ask your guide for a city tour. Add-ons are available at the time of reservation.
  • You can also check our conservation projects.
Lake Lagartococha, River Tower, Mirador Bahuaja, Tambopata River

Where this trip takes you

Lake Lagartococha, River Tower, Mirador Bahuaja, Tambopata River

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Rio Tambopata - Reserva Nacional Bahuaja Sonene 4 cities · 3 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Includes pick-up and drop-off from Puerto Maldonado Airport.

  • All transportation by land and river.

  • All 3 meals per day at Inotawa.

  • A bilingual local professional guide.

  • A private room with a private toilet.

What's Not Included

  • Drinks at the bar.

  • Lunch on the third day before the airport transfer, as we will take you to the city before midday.

  • No electricity in the rooms.

  • Wi-Fi is only available at the bar in dry weather.

  • Solar lamps are available on request.

Know before you go

  • All expeditions need to be booked at least with a month's advance notice and confirmed at the admin office.

  • Expedition subject to availability.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Rio Tambopata - Reserva Nacional Bahuaja Sonene, Puerto Maldonado 17000, Peru
Tour start
Rio Tambopata - Reserva Nacional Bahuaja Sonene, Puerto Maldonado 17000, Peru
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 3 days finish where they began, in Rio Tambopata - Reserva Nacional Bahuaja Sonene.

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