This trip was everything I could ask for in a rain forest tour! We (partner and I) booked a 2 night 3 day trip with Giant Otter - 560 soles total per person. We booked at their tour agency office in Puerto Maldonado near Plaza de Armas the day before the tour began.
We saw many different birds, monkeys, caymans, otters and insects. The trips was divided up well, focusing on different wildlife throughout. Our guide, Alex, was awesome. He was friendly, incredibly knowledgeable about the wildlife, and helped us spot wildlife that we never could have found on our own. We didn?t have anyone else in our tour group and it seemed like we saw much more (due to being quieter) than the groups from other tour agencies. The lodge is inside the reserve on lake Sandoval as opposed to other tours that stay just outside the reserve each night. This is really important because it saves a few hours of transit each day and it allowed us to get a head start seeing some of the more popular areas each day, such as the Macaw sites.
Meals: Overall tasty and filling, but travelers should probably bring a few snacks for in between meals. Breakfast included omelets with bread and jam plus coffee and juice. Lunch and dinner were different each time and included a rice meat dish wrapped and cooked in leaves, chicken and rice, and a few other dishes. A soup appetizer was served with each dinner. Bring plenty of water! Buying drinking water at the lake Sandoval lodge can be expensive.
Accommodations: Our accommodations on lake Sandoval were comfortable. We had a decent sized private room with a queen size bed and mosquito net. We also had a private bathroom with a shower.
Takeaways: Stay at a lodge on lake Sandoval! Bring lots of water. Bring a few extra snacks. If you book with Giant Otter, request Alex as a guide.
Por David Warren