Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
flores);
Puerto Maldonado
( 082-57-3491; Lambayeque 774)
Roughly 30km from
Puerto Maldonado is another lodge boasting a huge, thatch-roofed restaurant and bar, with
fine river views from the 2nd floor. Guides speak English, French and Italian; the know-
ledgeable manager also speaks Japanese. Forty-seven rustic, completely screened bunga-
lows each have a bathroom and a small sitting room. There are several trails from this
lodge, including a tough 14km hike to a lake, and several shorter walks. Boat tours to loc-
al lakes and along the rivers are also offered, and
ayahuasca
ceremonies can be arranged
by advance request.
Estancia Bello Horizonte $$$
Offline map
( 082-57-2748, 982-720-950;
www.estanciabellohorizonte.com
; JM Grain 105, Puerto
Maldonado; per person 3 days & 2 nights US$240; )
Bello Horizonte is a superb get-
away, away from the river itself. Located 20km from Puerto Maldonado on the east side
of the Río Madre de Dios, the final approach to the
estancia
(ranch) is along a 6km
private road through dense jungle. The accommodations, built all in local wood and
poised on a ridge overlooking the rainforest, comprises bungalows with smallish, comfort-
able rooms with bathrooms; each has a hammock for lounging in. The main building con-
tains a relaxing dining, reading, drinking and chill-out space, and child-friendly grounds
include a soccer pitch, a volleyball court, a swimming pool and signposted jungle walks.
LODGE
Yakari Canopy Adventure $$
Offline map
( 973-978-847;
www.yakaicanopyadventure.com
;
Velarde 144, Puerto Maldonado; 3
days & 2 nights per person US$150)
More an adventure center than a lodge, with the
southern Amazon's first zipline whooshing you 200m up to a hair-raising 27m-high can-
opy walkway. When you've got back your breath, there's kayaking on the nearest stretch
of the Madre de Dios. Yakari is just beyond Lago Sandoval, set amid wildlife-rich marsh-
lands. There's currently only room for nine people in the simple lodge, but these guys
have expansion plans.
LODGE
LAGO SANDOVAL
An attractive jungle lake, Lago Sandoval is surrounded by different types of rainforest and
is about two hours from Puerto Maldonado down the Madre de Dios. Permits to visit the
lake (included on licensed guide tours and lodge stays) are S30 for the day, or S60 for
stays of up to four nights. The best way to see wildlife is to stay overnight and take a boat
ride on the lake, though day trips to the lake are offered. Half the trip is done by boat and
