The Ultimate Guide For Visiting Sandoval Lake In Peru

One of the main highlights of a visit to the Tambopata Jungle, we really feel that Sandoval Lake is one of the best places you can visit in all of the Peruvian Amazon Jungle. 

Here we’ll find a perfect setting to spot all kinds of animals and birds that rest and feed here, and can also enjoy a thrilling boat ride over the lake too.

In this comprehensive ultimate guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Sandoval Lake in Peru. This includes why you should visit, how to get there, booking tours, staying safe and much more.

Is Sandoval Lake Worth Visiting?

There are many reasons why you’ll want to visit Sandoval when in the region of Madre de Dios. 

Firstly it’s actually very easy to get to, and is just a short boat ride away from Puerto Maldonado. This means you can explore the lake without going on a longer overnight tour, although these also do have their own benefits too. Later in this guide we’ll look into more detail on how you can get here.

Of course the biggest reason Lake Sandoval has become so popular – and is one of the best reasons to visit – is due to its abundance of exotic animal species. 

From the lakeside you’ll see various Macaws and Parakeets flying overhead, and also different types of Monkeys swaying high up in the jungle canopy. Once you take a boat out onto Lake Sandoval, keep an eye out for the Black Caiman as well as the infamous Giant River Otters.

How To Get To Lake Sandoval

Now that you’ve decided you will want to visit Lake Sandoval when in this area of Peru, we now need to work out how we will get here. Thankfully it’s pretty simple, as we’ll cover below.

Arriving Into Puerto Maldonado

Firstly you’ll need to arrive into the city of Puerto Maldonado. Flying is the easiest and most popular option, and there are daily flights from Lima here which usually cost between $70-90 (without baggage). You can expect a one-way flight to take roughly 2 hours to arrive. The other city you can fly from in Peru is Cusco, which also costs under $100 however only takes an hour to get here (given Cusco is located quite close to the Madre de Dios region). The best airlines to fly these routes with are LATAM and Sky who have reasonable prices.

You can also arrive into Puerto Maldonado by bus from Cusco. In the main terminal you’ll find several companies that make the route such as Maldonado Tours, Grupo Iberia and Palomino (although the latter has its own separate terminal in Cusco). Given the variety of companies who serve the route, this means there will be various departures throughout any given day, and will take between 10-12 hours to arrive into Puerto Maldonado. A one-way bus ticket usually costs between $15-30 (although you can also spend more for a higher luxury service with food and more comfortable seats).

There is one more way to get here, although it’s quite unorthodox – which is by bus from Brazil. If you find yourself in the wild western regions of Brazil, then you can take the 12 hour bus here from the city of Rio Branco. The cost of a one-way ticket usually costs around $70.

Getting From Puerto Maldonado To Sandoval Lake

The great thing about Sandoval Lake is that it’s located very close to Puerto Maldonado.

Most tourists head here by boat, which takes around 45 minutes to reach the shores on the other side of the Madre de Dios River. Once here, you’ll then need to hike for a further 40 minutes to reach Lake Sandoval. In total it will take you around 1.5-2 hours to get to Sandoval Lake from Puerto Maldonado.

The majority of tours will organize transport this way, which is worth going with since everything is sorted for you (as well as using reliable boats and equipment). For more information you can read more about our own tour to Lake Sandoval.

Alternatively, you can also reach Lake Sandoval on foot. This will take much longer (around 6 hours), where you will hike for several hours through the Peruvian Amazon Jungle. Whilst less popular, travelers who take this path will be rewarded with spectacular jungle vistas, as well as chances of spotting wild Monkeys and Parrots. Most of these walks are pre-organised tours, given you’ll need to be accompanied with a guide to get here.

How To Stay Safe In Sandoval Lake

Keeping yourself safe is relatively simple here, and especially so if going with a reputable tour company. Your lead guide will instruct you on what you can and can’t do, and you must abide by these rules.

Inside the lake there are many dangerous animals such as Black Caiman, and even the Giant River Otters are known to be aggressive at times. This is why it’s imperative to always follow what your guide says. As well as this, you’ll also be transported in a high-quality canoe which is operated by an experienced driver.

Aside from the above, there are good precautions you can take before heading on a tour to Lake Sandoval. Firstly you’ll want to use high DEET mosquito spray, given they can congregate in the more stagnant parts of the lake (there will also be more during the late afternoon and evening). It is important to know that mosquitoes in this region can carry diseases such as Malaria and Yellow Fever, so you’ll want to get vaccinations and bring certain medications with you (such as doxycycline just to be safe). It’s also worth getting other vaccinations too before your trip to Peru, such as those for Typhoid and Hepatitis A.

Wearing high factor sunscreen is important to avoid getting burnt, given you can spend quite a bit of time out in the sun on tours. You’ll also want to reapply too given it can easily sweat-off during the hotter times of the day. It’s also a good idea to bring some sturdy hiking boots as you’ll be walking through the jungle.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Sandoval Lake?

Sandoval Lake can be visited year-round, so rest assured you can visit here regardless of the month. However certain times of the year will offer different experiences.

The dry season is by far the best, which runs from May until October. These months are characterized by more sunny blue skies and less rainfall. We can expect roughly 1.5-5 inches to fall throughout each month, which makes it easier to get here by both boat or on land (the latter given the jungle paths won’t be so muddy). It will also be easiest to spot different animal species too during the dry season, given the rains won’t disperse them as much. 

It’s important to know that during these months there is a chance of temperatures dropping quickly. This is due to cooler winds arriving here (which are carried up from Northern Argentina) that can last for up to a few days. This is why it’s a good idea to bring a jumper with you just in case this occurs during your trip here.

The wet season begins in November and lasts until April, and is generally less preferred for a visit to Lake Sandoval – however it still offers its own certain charm and advantages. One of these is that it will be much less touristy, which makes a trip here feel more authentic. As well as this, the extra rains can make the jungle much more vibrant, where we can also see more trees (such as the Chestnut Tree) bearing their fruits.

The major downside of a visit during the wet season is of course the extra rain. We can expect anywhere from 6-11.5 inches of rain, which can make hiking here more difficult as well as cause animals to move around more sporadically. Aside from this we can still spot the aquatic species with ease, and actually it can be easier to spot bird species given there is a higher abundance of bearing fruit around the region.

Be sure to read more about the best time to visit the Tambopata Region of Peru.

Choosing A Jungle Lodge In Lake Sandoval 

If you are looking to stay longer in Lake Sandoval (such as for 2 days or more), then it will be worth staying at a local jungle lodge here. 

Not only is it convenient for access, however you’ll also avoid spending hours making your way back to Puerto Maldonado, only to have to do the same the following day. It will also feel magical too – since the jungle really does come alive after the sun sets here.

The overall best jungle lodge to stay in Lake Sandoval is the Sandoval Lake Lodge. Built right next to the lake with 25 rooms of offer, you’ll have the most memorable experience at this lodge. They also provide electricity, and you’ll have brilliant panoramic views of the lake. The current price per night is around the $120 mark, which is among the more expensive lodging options in Tambopata.

If you’re looking to save, then there are further options worth exploring. You can find various lodges also close to Lake Sandoval for a cheaper rate, so it’s just a case of browsing around once you get to Puerto Maldonado. You can also find them online, which is ideal if you want to pre-book and guarantee your dream stay here. The other option you have is heading here with a longer tour, which we’ll now explore in the next section.

How To Book A Lake Sandoval Tour

Staying at Lake Sandoval offers so many advantages. However you can do one-better which is to head on a longer trip throughout the Tambopata Jungle. Known for its abundance of clay licks, on a longer tour you can also spot other jungle species here such as Macaws and Tapir. Heading on a tour will also be better both for your time and budget, given you won’t need to keep going back to Puerto Maldonado after the day is over.

We ourselves offer both a 3 Day Tour as well as the popular 4 Day Jungle Tour. Both include stays at the Collpa Chuncho Suites, where we will visit both Sandoval Lake as well as the Macaw Clay Lick of Collpa Chuncho. You’ll have all meals included in both tours, as well as special activities such as night tours, boat rides with our specialist guides as well as visits to lesser-known areas such as the Tapir Clay Lick.

By far the best perk of heading on tours like the above is the fact that you’ll be able to explore deeper into the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest. Not only will you be able to escape the crowds that gather in areas closer to Puerto Maldonado, you’ll also have a better chance of spotting Jaguars and other elusive species which tend to keep their distance from human settlements. 

You can either pre-book your tours online by using the links above, or you can also book them once you arrive in Puerto Maldonado. However the benefit of pre-booking means you can guarantee your spot, which can be more difficult during certain times of the year (especially within the dry season).

Our Top Lake Sandoval Tips

Here we will now share some of our very best tips so you can have the best experience possible when visiting Lake Sandoval.

Take Time To Prepare Properly 

We’ve already dedicated an entire section to preparation earlier in this article, but trust us when we say that it can either make or break your experience. Of course bringing high SPF sunscreen and high DEET mosquito spray is important, however it’s also the small things too. This includes charging your phone to full battery, bringing a power bank and also having a decent poncho on hand in case it starts to rain.

Be Patient During Your Jungle Tour

It’s important to remember that Lake Sandoval remains a wild site, and as such the wildlife can be unpredictable. This means it might take longer than usual to see species such as Monkeys, or to find where the Giant River Otters are hanging out. However, when you head with an experienced tour company in this region (such as ourselves), our guides will do our very best to help you spot all kinds of exotic animal species.

Be Open To Visiting In All Seasons

As mentioned earlier in this guide, the dry season remains the preferred time to visit due to the abundance of blue skies and more regular animal sightings. However if you can’t visit during the months of May until October, then you should still visit Lake Sandoval anyway. This is because the wet season has its own particular advantages, where spotting aquatic species and certain exotic birds is actually easier. As well as there being less crowds during this time, you’ll also find that the jungle feels more alive too.

The Ultimate Guide For Visiting Sandoval Lake In Peru

And that’s all for this ultimate guide on visiting Lake Sandoval in Peru.

This incredible natural lake is a must-visit when in the region of Madre de Dios. Not only can we spot the rare Giant River Otters with ease, we can also see many other exotic animal species which are just a short boat ride away from Puerto Maldonado.

It’s important to prepare properly before heading here, since this will make your experience more memorable and smooth. In this guide we’ve outlined some of our best tips for doing so, which includes choosing a reliable tour as well as picking the right season depending on what you want from a trip here.

We recommend revisiting this article whenever you need for extra guidance, and also to look at our own Lake Sandoval Tour (which includes a stay in our jungle lodge as well as a visit to the incredible Macaw Clay Lick of Collpa Chuncho).