Tambopata Macaw Clay Lick is one of our exclusive tours. We have designed this to offer you a broad insight into life and traditions in the Peruvian Amazon jungle. To make this a hassle-free journey, we will transfer you from Puerto Maldonado airport or bus terminal.
The Tambopata National Reserve is home to various distinct species of plants, animals, and birds. You will see most of them on this six-day tour with our local naturalist guide. There are over 650 varieties of birds and 1500 species of butterflies in the Tambopata National Park.
There are over eight species of red and green, blue and yellow macaws, including scarlet macaws in Tambopata. The gathering of macaws at Chuncho is a must-see spectacle.
Located on the banks of the Tambopata River, 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 distinctive mineral that helps these birds to detoxify their bodies.
Tambopata is also home to the Ese Eja indigenous groups. Ese Eja is a Quechua term for people. They are on the fringes of modernity and maintain their ancient traditions and customs. Infierno, Palma Real, and Sonene are three Ese Eja communities in Tambopata.
The people here rely on agriculture and hunting for their daily bread. Now, a few tourism companies like ours have started to provide them with employment opportunities. Our entire support team in Tambopata is from the Ese Eja community.
Our tour guides are also local to the region. They are born and raised in the area and have extensive knowledge about the life of the flora and fauna here.
Join us in groups, as a couple, or as a solo traveler to experience the best of the Amazon jungle. This is our exclusive six-day tour with an English-speaking local tour guide.
DAY 1: Puerto Maldonado – Paradise Amazon Lodge (Tambopata)
At 08:00 AM, we will transfer you to the boat dock in Puerto Acosta. You will board the motorized boat here for a 30-minute journey. We will sail along the Madre de Dios River to our exclusive Paradise Amazon Ecolodge.
Our team will assist you with the check-in process. After a short rest here, we will embark on our tour of the Tambopata National Reserve.
CANOPY WALK:
We will start with a short 200-meter walk from our lodge to the Canopy Tower. It is 35 meters high and built at the base of a massive Lupuna Tree. This tree represents the Amazon due to its enormous size.
During the day, you can observe various bird species here. Our local expert will provide detailed explanations about the flora and fauna of the area.
ZIP-LINING:
Once you have enjoyed the canopy walk, we will zip-line through the forest. Our local instructor will provide safety tips and share information on how to get the most out of this activity. All set, you will glide along the 190-meter zip-line.
One of our monitors will meet you and assist you in crossing a small 100m bridge. Then you will return to the starting point via zip-line.
After this experience, we will return to the lodge for lunch. Our team will serve you an authentic Amazonian meal. After lunch, you will have time to relax in the hammocks at our lodge.
KAYAKING:
Early in the afternoon, we will embark on a kayaking adventure. We will take the kayaks from our lodge. Our team will assist you in equipping yourself with all the necessary safety equipment.
Once everything is ready, we will start the experience. A safety boat will follow you to ensure all travelers manage well.
Later, you will have the opportunity to cool off from the Amazon heat by taking a dip in the cool waters of the Madre de Dios River.
MONKEY ISLAND:
After enjoying kayaking, we will return to our boat for a 15-minute downstream trip to Monkey Island. As the name suggests, the island is home to different monkey species.
You will see a group of capuchin monkeys, black monkeys (Cebus apella), white monkeys (Cebus albifrons), among others. Most of these species are friendlier in nature. Accompanied by a local expert, you can get close to them. You can even feed them while observing their coexistence in the Tambopata National Reserve.
After this experience, we will return to the lodge at 04:30 p.m. You will be able to witness the sunset over the Amazon here.
CAIMAN SPOTTING:
After sunset, we will embark on a boat ride equipped with spotlights and headlights to spot caimans. The lights reflecting from their eyes will make it easier for you to spot them at night.
You will be able to see white caimans and dwarf caimans here.
At 07:30 PM, we will return to the lodge for dinner and a well-deserved rest.
DAY 2: Sandoval Lake – Night Walk
You will wake up to the birdsong. Our team will serve you a delicious Amazonian breakfast. Our traditional breakfast consists of fresh fruit juice, a cup of freshly brewed Peruvian coffee, eggs, pancakes, fried bananas, and more.
At 09:30 in the morning, we will take the boat and cross the river to reach the control post. Here, the details of each visitor will be recorded by the local authorities. Then we will embark on a one-hour, three-kilometer hike to Sandoval Lake.
During the hike, you will have the opportunity to observe different varieties of flora and fauna. You can also see giant river otters among other mammals and animals here.
Once at the shores of Sandoval Lake, we will serve you a delicious lunch here, amidst the jungle. We will then take a rowboat and sail to the center of the lake to observe more birds and mammals.
The region is home to hoatzins, cormorants, and anhingas. Occasionally, travelers have seen the iconic “playful river otters”. After getting an immersive view of life at Sandoval Lake, we will return to the lodge.
Around 06:30 p.m., we will embark on a hike to see more varieties of nocturnal creatures in the protected area. Our guide will explain them to you in detail.
Around 07:30 p.m., we will return to the lodge for dinner.
DAY 3: Visit to Native Family – Sport Fishing
We will wake you up with an Amazonian breakfast. Around 08:00 in the morning, we will walk to a native community. Here you will get a firsthand view of 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 you wish, you can buy one of them.
After visiting the native family, we will embark on a boat ride to a creek where we will do countryside fishing. The lake is home to different types of fish, such as catfish, maidens, sardines, or piranhas.
We will bring the fish back to the lodge, and our chef will cook them with traditional spices for lunch.
You will have the afternoon free for yourself. You can relax in the hammocks and de-stress in the world’s largest tropical rainforest.
We will serve 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 of the area.
AGROFORESTRY AND MAHOGANY PROJECT:
In 2001, an agroforestry system was initiated on a 2000 m2 plot as an example of sustainable agriculture and reforestation.
You can see mahogany, cedar, tropical flowers, and fruits. They have grown to create a productive forest that allows the recovery of the area and its sustainable use. The project aims 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 their utmost to give them the necessary qualities to return them to their natural habitat, promoting the recovery of local fauna.
OBSERVATION PLATFORMS:
In 2005, the CANOPY WALKWAY was built. It is a 90 m suspended bridge to a platform. It is built on a 300-year-old Lupuna tree at 45 m above the ground.
This is the highest natural observation point in the jungle. Staff and volunteers use it as one of the bird monitoring points.
TARICAYA TURTLE PROJECT: In 2006, the Turtle Repopulation project was initiated
Taricaya to save this endangered species. Local people extract the eggs for consumption and sale. Staff and volunteers collect the eggs between July and September to plant them on the artificial beaches of the Reserve.
They wait for the eggs to hatch between October and November. Then they release the turtles into their natural habitat.
BUTTERFLY PROJECT:
In 2010, the butterfly house 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 Peasant Association and the Native Community of Palma Real. We assist them in environmental education programs and natural resource management.
DAY 5: Collpa de Guacamayos
We will depart at 8:30 in the morning from our AMAZON ECO LODGE PARADISE. We will have a 2-hour journey.
The first hour will be on an interoceanic route and then on an unpaved road until we reach the banks of the Tambopata River. Here, our boat and motorist will be waiting to transport us approximately 30 minutes upstream to our “COLLPAS TAMBOPATA INN” Lodge.
On the way, we will have the opportunity to see many riverside birds, capybaras, white alligators. Arrival at our Lodge. Our crew will serve you a welcome drink and give 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 walk in a primary forest full of ancient trees. Our guide will provide information about the region’s most important economic activities. This includes agriculture, mining, logging, chestnut or Brazil nut collection, and ecotourism.
You will also have the opportunity to observe monkeys and other mammals in their natural habitat.
We will return at sunset to pick up our flashlights. Later in the evening, we will go to observe alligators, capybaras. Maybe you can see a feline near the river at night looking to hunt something.
After our dinner, if you still have energy, we can take a short night walk. You will be able to observe insects, arachnids, tarantulas, and perhaps some snake, armadillo, night monkey, or tapir near the Lodge.
DAY 6: Tambopata Tour – Puerto Maldonado
The last day of the tour starts early in the morning. After a cup of freshly made 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 let’s not forget… we have a 20% chance of seeing a jaguar. Travelers often see anacondas on the shores of the Tambopata National Reserve.
Upon reaching our destination, we will find a spectacle of parrots and macaws. Our guide will explain the reasons why these birds, and many other mammals, need clay in their daily diet.
It is a spectacular show that entertains us from 6:00 am to around 11:00 am. Our delicious breakfast will be in front of the Chuncho Collpa.
Once you have enjoyed the Macaw Collpa, we will visit the control post. It houses a small museum. Here you can get a deeper insight into the life of macaws and parrots.
We will continue to our lodge for lunch.
After lunch, we can visit the Quebrada el Gato waterfall. Here you can take a refreshing bath. You will get to know some products grown in this rich land of Madre de Dios.
At dawn, we will take our canoe to go down 20 minutes by the river. Then we will take our 4X4 for a two-hour ride back to Puerto Maldonado.
