Sandoval Lake Full Day Review: A worthwhile adventure?

If you are thinking of a day jaunt into the Amazon from Puerto Maldonado, Peru, well a visit to Sandoval Lake might be just what you’re after. Very often talked about as a pretty good alternative to the tougher, multi-day trips deeper into the Tambopata National Reserve, this lake promises a little peek at wildlife, tranquil scenery, and, too it’s relatively easy accessibility makes it a pretty appealing choice, doesn’t it? This detailed look basically aims to tell you what the experience is actually like, providing you, just like your, a pretty honest look at what you can realistically expect. Let’s examine everything, right from getting there to seeing some wildlife, in order that you can decide if it suits you, or if a longer Amazonian visit might be a better choice for what you’re hoping to see!

What to Expect on a Sandoval Lake Tour

First things first, in fact this ‘full day’ visit really tends to fill the better part of your day. Typically, things get underway rather early – somewhere around 7 or 8 AM – to miss, very very, the real heat of the day, of course to make the most of wildlife activity. The tour almost always begins with a rather bouncy ride from Puerto Maldonado to the entry point of the Tambopata Reserve. Don’t go thinking you will just coast along though; expect an at least, very bumpy, journey – typically about half an hour – as a matter of fact you could describe it as something like, so something that jolts you awake. Once you actually arrive, the real adventure begins, right so prepare for a walk. You, or maybe just me, are probably looking at roughly 5 km, or just over 3 miles, trekking, which will generally take a couple of hours depending, honestly, on how fast your group moves and also of course the conditions; a wet season can, arguably, slow things up somewhat. And speaking of slowness and groups, do you like the people you are travelling with? Just kidding but they really will have an impact on how good the day ends up.

That said, the walk there, now that is where you, kind of, start to feel like you are actually in the Amazon, right. The path is fairly flat, for instance it goes, usually, through a pretty dense rainforest, but don’t get your hopes up for a challenging hike that would tax the muscles and joints because in this way, it is not really very tough going underfoot. The humidity can sometimes be very intense and the heat really beating down on you so remember to keep properly hydrated and try wearing light clothing. As you trudge along, alright listen out because, in fact your guide will probably start pointing out tons of cool stuff about the surrounding flora and fauna; that too is, more or less, what you paid for too, to see and listen and feel it all. You could see howler monkeys way up, so up above, in the trees or perhaps you’ll, just like your guide, catch sight of cool insects, absolutely big butterflies and other smaller critters if you, or at least, your guide look very closely! It is often very interesting and worthwhile learning about the symbiotic relationships and survival strategies employed within this complex ecological system.

Eventually, what do you know, just there, that would be the edge of Sandoval Lake. Once there, generally you’ll get onto a catamaran or perhaps a canoe – the specific type of boat does actually differ slightly depending on your tour operator. And what happens then? I’ll tell you, so there’s a leisurely paddle across the water. What to expect? Hopefully not an empty lake! As you do go across, you will be able to see wildlife along the shores. Macaws or other types of parrots often fly overhead, and that will keep the noise levels high, I tell you. Keep peeled for monkeys swinging in the trees at the edge of the lake too, yet the real stars tend to be those giant river otters, or maybe caimans, yet honestly sightings do really depend on luck, doesn’t it? Lunch generally tends to be served on the boat or perhaps at a spot overlooking the lake. Right, then it is time to begin the return trip: back along the lake and then trekking back through the forest to Puerto Maldonado.

Wildlife Viewing on Sandoval Lake

Truthfully, you, kind of, can’t review a Sandoval Lake tour without properly discussing the wildlife aspect – because it’s often the thing most people really want to experience, really! You should know that the area round the lake really hosts some cool critters. As has been stated already, the giants that live there are probably giant river otters (Pteronura brasiliensis). They are sometimes known as ‘river wolves,’ and these fun fellas tend to be rather social creatures that live and even hunt in packs. They are almost as amazing to watch fishing around or maybe just playing in the water; they really do add excitement. If your guide actually spots them, just know that you should feel extra lucky: Their populations really have declined in the wild. Often they’re a major highlight. In the lake, in that case, is also somewhere you might see caimans. You’ll often find these crocodilian relatives actually lurking at the water’s edge and waiting. And that gives them a perfect ambush set up for dinner! At night the black caiman could possibly grow to, perhaps, something truly massive, right?

If it is birds you fancy, well you should know it, too it’s not at all uncommon that you would spot brightly colored macaws up in the canopy of trees and a whole host of different species of parrots. Honestly, it’s quite a cacophony. So you will hear more often than you actually see. You’ll, kind of, want to have binoculars to hand in order to actually enjoy those brilliant views of feathers at their finest in such dense habitats. When moving through the forest be sure that you watch very carefully to spot different types of monkeys! These could tend to include howler monkeys, those are loud ones you hear making the howling noise. Squirrel monkeys and capuchins may sometimes make an appearance, however in that case it is important to bear in mind that sightings often do really depend greatly on the time of year and really on the time of day and actually even the individual temperament and knowledge of the tour guide. Let me put that a different way for you, alright sometimes you get really lucky, but perhaps not on other occasions.

Also, what should be considered is that seeing wildlife honestly depends greatly on luck and on conditions; also there is the season you actually visit in order to keep in mind when booking your trip. Honestly the dry season which ranges from May to October tends to be best. Less rain typically does make those trails easier to get along, also it allows far more comfortable exploration plus in fact some animals become so very easier to spot as the water level of the rivers do actually drop. Bring just like your rain gear along for safety just in case – but honestly this is pretty prudent irrespective of just when you are actually going.

What to Bring for a Sandoval Lake Tour

Talking about how to get ready properly and efficiently may actually make the differences from an excursion is average too genuinely magnificent and it makes you fully enjoying every bit and pieces you would see. This list actually covers every basis so please do make notes. To begin with: Protection. Think sunscreen – definitely very high factor. To also avoid uncomfortable heat-stroke and terrible bites in addition do always protect ones self of bugs and other insect carrying vector borne nasty parasites and always be ready with both of that things. Also, always buy or bring your most favorite bottled anti-bug/insect repellent in strong-formula to stop biting pests – mosquitos/gnats that bites hard which probably loves dining upon tourists fresh meaty portions. Should these terrible biters are annoying: they can also transfers really bad stuffs on you such as malaria as a matter of fact even Zika virus or, perhaps yellow fever in several extreme-rare unlucky unfortunate tourists.

Clothing, that, really must have to be breath-easy along lightweight kind of stuffs that do quickly dries on any circumstance (so humidity probably occurs). Do buy pants (or perhaps long sleeved shirts stuffs too) that can provides defense against probably cuts/scratches – thorny underbrushes may always occur every areas. Try purchasing those cozy waterproof/water resistant lightweight hiking boots while wearing. To actually do hike across swampy/rainforest treks which these are super ideal including providing your feets for getting pretty dry all times which comfort you through miles of adventure too really enjoy – instead using flip-flops may possibly bad for these. The final items is probably rain wears – pack super light rain jackets or perhaps a collapsible mini umbrela. Conditions tends getting seriously soaked suddenly which keeps everyone safe of probably catch-cold including getting wet every minutes hiking.

Last but not least? Add probably, if any room’s remains into any packing/rucksack, that of all must-carry stuffs could it fit – small lightweight-pack with those handy water bottles also throw-in snacks if everyone might felt quite hungrier (for hiking snacks reasons, in that case). Carry super mini first-aid pouch as it also includes anything which it alleviate itches or perhaps even sting discomfort from possible bad-insect nibbling on visitors to probably aid visitors as emergency rescue as-soon its required (for any unlikely occasions purposes only). Really great mini-item, such as handy cameras with portable power-source or batteries, so for getting scenic amazonian selfies – don’t, really, forgets bringing those useful gadget because every moment’s there only capture it once, seriously. Mini-binoculars for sightings – this thing probably will improving probably your animal spotting during deep canopy tours but the tour guide one can borrow but bringing each owned gadgets is useful.

Is Sandoval Lake Worth It?

You really need to consider various things as regards, right, or as to deciding of a full-day visits for one might be quite truly ‘worthy’, it can depend on those interests which actually is, really, on that what you are seriously wanting doing along by judging on overall experiences. This might suit best; to any tourists whose that might not having those longer trip schedules to travel much deeper to amazon yet these still probably wanting look with a real real good short overview – for Sandoval really can providing the easily route within amazon. Any quick adventurers/those that actually isn’t fond from arduous treks and challenging long durations and by that this actually can making the pretty amazing trips because, actually, of short jungle tour versions which it also has wildlife seeking adventures: actually easy, so actually accessible by pretty amazonian sightseeing in addition (that’s just pretty cool!).

If the main focuses will be the amazing animal observation – you possibly needs being seriously mindful though that – although this kind excursions might bring a tastes from wildlife this does not really promising some ensured encounters: Animal viewings tends variable which will be mostly from a pure sheer luck and will totally dependant to ones visitations, seasons with sometimes time-by-days weather’s/patterns of such particular timing you travels (for instance for the animal hide-outs while rains falling; therefore these not probably might viewed unless stopped). As regard to what probably is the best out of everything; any nature lovers/passionate/naturalists/animal-observers must know that by scheduling beyond and even scheduling various tour version this thing does possibly yields one greater/broader array, with a probably bigger odds with any interesting amazing/adventures-based jungle encounter while inside the wilderness regions of it there! It is pretty tough actually seeing it every minutes so better luck next tour, too, right?

If this all would consider a better money choice along to any spending one may wants during holidays! So by overall considerations this might tends good, too. Budget short trips? As in this versions probably doesn’t involves any staying-in accommodations including expensive travels – those shorter travel/treks really are truly good to any budgeting limitations of everyone, that and for making these probably truly very affordable versions within those genuine rain forest encountering on the peruvian territory!. This type probably won’t actually hurts any saving funds, it too can delivers awesome bits from what amazonian-peruvian regions tends brings that on, or that. Does it? As has been probably that full vacation is indeed what actually tourists are really for? This will actually comes from their own travel-interests though by making these holidays experiences feels as most probably wonderful!