Tambopata Macaw Clay Lick is one of our signature tours. We have designed this to offer you an extensive insight into the life and traditions in the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest. To make this a hassle free trip, we will be transferring you from Puerto Maldonado airport or bus terminal.
Tambopata National Reserve is home to several distinct species of plants, animals and birds. You will be spotting most of them on this six day tour with our local naturalist tour guide. There are over 650 varieties of birds and 1500 species of butterflies in Tambopata National park.
There are over eight species of red and green, blue and yellow Macaws including Scarlet Macaws in Tambopata. The Macaws gathering in Chuncho is an unmissable sight.
Nestled on the Tambopata river bank, Chuncho is the world’s largest Macaw Clay Lick. Different Macaws and Parrots gather to eat the clay from the cliff. The clay has a distinct mineral that helps these birds to flush toxins from their bodies.
Tambopata is also home to the Ese Eja indigenous groups. Ese Eja is a term in Quechua for people. They are untouched by modernity and maintain their age-old traditions and customs. Infierno, Palma Real and Sonene are three communities of Ese Eja in Tambopata.
People here rely on farming and hunting to win their daily bread. Now few tour companies like ours have started giving them employment opportunities. All our support crew in Tambopata are from the Ese Eja community.
Our tour guides are also locals from the region. They are born and raised in the region and have extensive knowledge about the life of flora and fauna here.
Join us in groups, as couples or as a solo traveler to experience the best of the Amazon Rainforest. This is our exclusive six day tour with an English speaking local tour guide.
Itinerary:
DAY 1: Puerto Maldonado – Paradise Amazon Lodge (Tambopata)
At 0800 AM, we will be transferring you to the boat pier in Puerto Acosta. You will be boarding the motorized boat here for a 30 minutes journey. We will be sailing down the course of Madre de Dios river to our exclusive Paradise Amazon Ecolodge.
Our crew will help you with the check-in process. After a short break here, we will embark on our Tambopata National Reserve tour.
CANOPY WALK:
We will start with a short 200 meters hike from our lodge to the Canopy Tower. It is 35 meters high. It is built on the foot of an immense Lupuna Tree. This tree represents the Amazon due to its massive size.
During the day, you will be able to spot several bird species here. Our local expert will be explaining in detail about the flora and fauna of the place.
ZIP LINING:
Once you have had your fill of the canopy walk, we will be zip lining. Our local instructor will be giving you safety tips and will share information on experiencing the best of this activity. All set, you will be sliding down the 190 meters long zip line.
One of our instructors will receive you and help you cross a small 100m bridge. You will then return to the starting point ziplining.
After experiencing this, we will be returning to the lodge for lunch. Our crew will be serving you an authentic Amazon meal. After lunch, you will have some time to relax in the hammocks in our lodge.
KAYAK:
Early in the afternoon, we will be setting out on a Kayaking adventure. We will be taking the kayaks from our lodge. Our crew will help you get kitted with all safety gears.
All set, we will begin the experience. A safety boat will be trailing behind to ensure that all travelers are coping well.
You will then have the opportunity to beat the Amazonian heat by taking a dip in the fresh waters of Madre de Dios river.
MONKEY ISLAND:
Once you have enjoyed Kayaking, we will be back in our boat for a 15 minutes ride downstream to Monkey Island. As the name suggests, the island is home to different species of monkeys.
You will spot a group of Capuchin monkeys, Black Monkey (Cebus apella), White Monkey (Cebus albifrons) among others. Most of these breeds are friendlier in nature. Accompanied by a local expert you will be able to get closer to them. You can even feed them as well while witnessing their coexistence in Tambopata National Reserve.
After this experience, we will return to the lodge by 0430 PM. You will be able to witness the sunset in the Amazon here.
CAIMANO:
After sunset, we will embark on a boat ride well equipped with reflectors and headlamps to spot alligators. The radiating lights from their eyes will make it easier for you to spot them at night.
You will get to spot White Alligators and Dwarf Caimans here.
By 0730 PM, we will return to the lodge for dinner and a well deserved rest.
DAY 2: Lake Sandoval – Night Walk
You will be waking up to the sound of chirping birds. Our crew will be serving you a delicious Amazon breakfast. Our traditional breakfast consists of fresh fruit juice, a cup of freshly brewed Peruvian coffee, eggs, pancakes, fried plantains and more.
At 0930 in the morning, we will take the boat and cross the river to get to the control post. Here the details of each visitor will be registered by local authorities. We will then embark on an hour’s hike covering three kilometers to Sandoval lake.
During the hike, you will have the opportunity of spotting different varieties of flora and fauna. You may also spot giant river otters among other mammals and animals here.
Once on the shores of Lake Sandoval, we will be serving you a delicious lunch here, amidst the jungle. We will then take a rowing boat and sail to the center of the lake to spot more birds and mammals.
The region is home to hoatzins, cormorants, and anhingas. Occasionally travelers have spotted the iconic “Playful River Wolves”. After getting an immersive sight of life in Lake Sandoval, we will be returning to the lodge.
At around 0630 PM, we will embark on a hike to see more varieties of nocturnal creatures in the protected area. Our guide will be explaining them to you in detail.
At around 0730 PM, we will return to the lodge for dinner.
DAY 3: Native Family Visit – Sport Fishing
We will be waking you up to an Amazonian breakfast. At around 0800 in the morning, we will be hiking to a native community. Here you will get a first hand insight into their way of life.
We will be visiting an indigenous family of ancient warriors and hunters. You will witness their ancestral traditions and customs.
They are known for their paintings. If desired, you can buy one from them.
After visiting the native family, we will be embarking on a boat ride to a ravine where we will be doing rustic fishing. The lake houses different types of fishes, namely catfish, maiden, sardines or piranha fish.
We will be carrying the fish back to the lodge and our chef will cook them with traditional spices for lunch.
You will have the evening free to yourself. You can relax in the hammocks and destress yourself in the largest rainforest on earth.
We will be serving dinner later in the evening.
DAY 4: Taricaya
FLORA AND FAUNA STUDIES:
Every year the biodiversity within the Reserve is studied to better understand and preserve the flora and fauna in the area.
AGROFORESTRY AND CAOBAS PROJECT:
In 2001 an agroforestry system began on a 2000 m2 plot as an example of sustainable agriculture and reforestation.
You can see the mahogany, cedar, flowers and tropical fruits. They have grown to create a productive forest that allows the recovery of the area and its sustainable use. The project seeks to provide a sustainable alternative for land use to local communities.
TARICAYA RESCUE CENTER:
Since 2004, wild animals have been received from the local authority. These animals were confiscated from people who took them out of the forest.
These animals arrive injured, sick or malnourished and enter a rehabilitation program. Volunteers here do everything to give them the necessary qualities to release them back to their natural habitat, promoting the recovery of local fauna.
OBSERVATION PLATFORMS:
In 2005 the CANOPY WALKWAY was built. It is a 90 m suspension bridge up to a platform. It is built on the top of a 300-year-old Lupuna at 45m above ground.
This is the highest natural observation point in the jungle. The staff and volunteers use it as one of the monitoring points for birds.
TARICAYA TURTLE PROJECT: In 2006 the Turtle Repopulation project began
Taricaya to save this endangered species. Local people extract the eggs for consumption and sale. The staff and volunteers collect the eggs between July and September to plant them on the artificial beaches in the Reserve.
They wait for the eggs to hatch between October and November. They then release the turtles to their natural habitat.
BUTTERFLY PROJECT:
In 2010, the butterfly farm was created to learn about the biology of these animals. Locals manage them sustainably as an alternative to using wildlife for commercial purposes.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT:
Since 2001 we have been working with various local communities. This includes the Juan Pablo Farmers Association and the Native Community of Palma Real. We help them in environmental education and natural resource management programs.
DAY 4 : Macaw Clay Lick
We will start at 8:30 in the morning from our AMAZON ECO LODGE PARADISE Lodge. We will have a 2-hour tour.
The first hour along an interoceanic highway and then along a road with little traffic to reach the banks of the Tambopata river. Here our boat and motorist will be waiting for to transfer us approximately 30 minutes, upstream until to our Lodge “COLLPAS TAMBOPATA INN”.
On the way, we will have chances to see many riverside birds, capybaras, white caimans. Arriving at our Lodge. Our crew will serve a welcome drink and give you a brief description of all our services during your stay with us.
We will provide you with your respective room and then you can walk for a better recognition of the place.
After lunch, we will hike in a primary forest full of thousand-year-old trees. Our guide will give you information about the most important economic activities in the region. This includes agriculture, mining, logging, the chestnut collection activity or Brazil nut and ecotourism.
You will also have the opportunity to spot monkeys and other mammals in their natural habitat.
We will return at sunset to take our flashlights. Later in the evening,we will go to spot alligators, capybaras. Perhaps you can spot some feline that is near the river at night wanting to hunt something.
After our dinner, if you still have energy, we can take a short night walk. You will be able to spot insects, arachnids, tarantulas and maybe some snake, armadillo, night monkey or tapir near the Lodge.
DAY 6: Tambopata Tour – Puerto Maldonado
The last day of the tour begins early in the morning. After a cup of freshly brewed Peruvian coffee, we will continue upstream at 5:00 am for about an hour. You will witness the sunrise during the boat ride.
The landscape is spectacular and why not say it… we have 20% of chances to see a jaguar. Travelers have often spotted anaconda on the shores of Tambopata National Reserve.
Arriving at our destination, we will find a whole show of parrots and macaws. Our guide will explain the reasons why these birds, and many other mammals, need the clay in their daily diet.
It is a spectacular show that entertains us from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. approx. Our delicious breakfast will be in front of the Collpa Chuncho.
Once you have enjoyed the Macaw Clay Lick, we will visit the checkpoint. It houses a small museum. Here you can get a deeper insight into the life of Macaws and Parrots.
We will continue to our hostel for lunch.
After lunch, we can visit the waterfall of the Quebrada el Gato. Here you can take a refreshing bath. You will learn about some products that are grown in this rich land of Madre de Dios.
At dawn, we will take our canoe to go 20 minutes down the river. We will then take our 4X4 for two hours back to Puerto Maldonado.
