Only those who want to get there can get to Lake Sandoval. Even if you are used to walking in the rain forest, the road to Sandoval is impressive. If in the Vasai area the mud is simply "dirty," and even if the water is knee-deep, the leg finds support, then here it is slippery, uneven, dense, the boots get stuck. In general, life gets better only when you mud you change into a canoe. And when your boat, passing through the thickets of the mangrove forest, goes out into the vastness of the lake, you begin to understand that all these torments were not in vain.
In just twenty minutes of a canoe ride, you can see as many animals as you might not always see during a few hours of wandering through the forest. On the way to Sandovallake lodge, we met a confident hoatzin, a proud heron, curious monkeys.
This lodge is located
near the Sandoval lake in Peru, next to Lake Sandoval (the only lodge in the
Tambopata National Park that sits on the banks of a meandering protected lake),
which is famous for being one of the wildlife-richest lakes in reserve.
The hostel has 25 double
rooms with a private bathroom, dining room, and common areas with hammocks.
Mosquito nets protect all rooms on the window openings and personal mosquito
nets on each bed.
The Sandovallake lodge is owned by a non-profit conservation group and five
families of indigenous chestnut pickers.
Searching on the
Internet for a must-visit area in the Peruvian Amazon, we finally chose the
Tambopata National Reserve, both in terms of price and location. We also had
the option of Manu National Park, but we left it out almost from the start due
to the costs that were dealt with.
The Lake Sandoval Lodge
is a complex of 18 buildings: 15 of them have bedrooms, lounge/bar, dining
room, kitchen, pool area, and other common areas. The inn's infrastructure is
built entirely of wood from the area, as are the floors in the common areas and
the rooms are made of wood, and the bathrooms are made of earthenware. Thirty
rooms, restaurant, lobby, bar, and hammock bungalow fully protected by net (no
mosquito entry).
The single rooms are very spacious and comfortable. The walls dividing each room are made of the original wood and have a ceiling that gives privacy to each room. There are 15 single, double, double, and family rooms in the form of cabins (huts), the side overlooking the forest or gardens have terraces (where there are hammocks) or two large windows on each side that always keep them well ventilated.
Food
In Sandoval
lake lodge, they offer guests three meals a day. Buffet service in the
hostel can accommodate up to 15 people. Otherwise, they will be served or
served at the table, and meals consist of salads, main dishes, and desserts
that combine regional, Peruvian and international cuisine. We also offer fresh
water, coffee or tea, and soft drinks during meals. Additional orders will be
charged for soft drinks, fruit juices, bottled water, and soft drinks.
It is recommended before
your arrival that you report any dietary restrictions, allergies, or special
diets to schedule supplies before you arrive at the hostel.