Fodor's Expert Review Sandoval Lake Lodge

Despite its relative proximity to Puerto Maldonado, this lodge sits deep in the rainforest, overlooking lovely Lago Sandoval, inside the Tambopata National Reserve, so there is plenty of wildlife. Small but comfortable rooms have private baths, hot-water showers, fans, and electricity during certain hours. A stay includes excursions on the lake and into the surrounding forest to see monkeys, macaws, herons, caimans, and rare giant otters. To get here, you take a 30-minute boat ride down the Madre de Dios River from Puerto Maldonado, hike 3 km (2 miles) down a muddy forest trail, then get into a canoe for a 30-minute paddle across the lake.