Heath River & Sandoval Lake Lodge

Lunch & Dinner

Our staff will welcome you at the airport in Puerto Maldonado and drive you through the city to the boat dock on the Tambopata River. Here we board a motorized canoe and head towards the nearby confluence of the mighty Madre de Dios River to the mouth of the Heath River which is the natural border of Peru and Bolivia. In the haven of this important Amazonian tributary we have a vision of the diversity of the riverside environment; cliffs of red earth with outreaching forest are interspersed with thick banks of Cercopia trees and couch grass., we take the boat through the narrow waters for a couple of hours, enjoying the intimacy of the mysterious forest on both sides. Occasional sightings of native children splashing along the banks are interspersed with long, silent stretches where we can locate herons, hawks, cormorants, geese, orinoco, and perhaps a family of Capybaras, which is the world’s largest rodent can weigh up to 55Kg.

After this interesting trip we arrive at our simple, but comfortable accommodation of the Heath River Wildlife Center; just in time for dinner.

Overnight at Heath River Wildlife Center

Breakfast, lunch & Dinner

Today we start very early to visit the most spectacular attraction of this area: the parrot and macaw clay lick along the river. Here these colorful birds gather to eat the clay in the cliffs on the river banks to neutralize certain toxins in their daily diet and you can be part of this noisy and unforgettable show watching many varieties of these beautiful birds. Our floating platform provides us with comfort and is completely hidden, so here we will enjoy a full breakfast during the show. We walk back along a section of the extensive jungle trails where we find huge Chestnut, Kapok and fig trees; along with the dark strangler fig whose strategy of life is as sinister as its name implies. Our guide will point out and explain the medicinal use and trade of dozens of plants and trees, while keeping eyes and ears open for birds, monkeys or wild pigs species that are common in this area. After lunch we hike along the trail leading to the point where the forest abruptly gives way to the vast plains of the Pampas of Heath. This unique land is the largest intact tropical savanna in the Amazon and the habitat of endemic birds and mammals, such as the Fork-Tailed Hummingbird and the Manned Wolf. Just beyond the edge of the forest you can climb to an elevated platform that allows for a great view of this vast expanse of grasslands and shrubs, dotted with palm trees that produces the food for nesting pairs of Red Bellied Macaws and the rarer Blue and Yellow Macaws. We return to the lodge at night using headlamps and flashlights, and perhaps making stops to listen to the ever-changing sounds of frogs, insects, and other animals; there is a huge and unpredictable collection of nocturnal creatures in the night.

After dinner some guests may choose to visit the lick of mammals, with the hope of seeing the Lowland Tapir, the largest mammal in the jungle.

Overnight at Heath River Wildlife Center

Breakfast, lunch & Dinner

On this day we can choose from a wide range of activities available in this diverse and unique tropical environment. Many people choose to make a second visit to the macaw clay lick or spend more time on the trails. Later we can take a canoe tour around the Cocha Platanillal, an oxbow lake which is located in a short distance down river from the lodge. We return by boat after dusk, when there are more likely to see caimans. This region is home to the Black Caiman which is endangered, and almost always distinguishable along the river’s edge with its glowing orange eyes.

Overnight at Heath River Wildlife Center

Breakfast, lunch & Dinner

We leave at dawn for the return journey downstream. The mornings are the peak of wildlife activity, so keep a sharp eye on the banks of the river where we may see families of Capybaras and maybe be rewarded with a rare glimpse of a Jaguar or Tapir swimming through the stream. We arrive at Sandoval Port where we will walk to Sandoval Lake, which is protected by Tambopata Reserve. Along the trail there are birds and butterflies; and after 3km (2 mi) the trail leads to a narrow canal lined boats. This flooded forest leads to the open waters of Sandoval Lake. You can feel an incredible peace and calm looking around the beautiful lake. We may see here species as the Paiche (an Amazonian fish that can weigh up to 100Kg /220 lbs.), or the Giant Otter of the Amazon (Pteronura brasiliensis).

After dinner we can finish the day with a short night walk, spotting some nocturnal creatures along one of the trails near the lodge.

Overnight at Sandoval Lake lodge

Breakfast

After breakfast at dawn we cross the lake, perhaps finding a family of macaws leaving their roost or a troop of monkeys waking in the morning light. We will walk back to the river where our motorized canoe quickly leads upstream to the boat dock in Puerto Maldonado, and then on to the airport.

Please note all itineraries may vary slightly to maximize wildlife viewing. This will depending on the reports of our researchers and experienced naturalist guides.

Please note that the Heath Lodge is located on the Bolivian side of the Heath River so passports will be required to pass the Bolivian control of documents.