Exploring the Amazon: Macaws and Diverse Wildlife

To visit the Tambopata macaw clay lick, participants should be ready around 5:00 AM, enjoy a warm beverage to recharge, and embark on a one-hour upstream boat ride along the Tambopata River. We will pass through a control station and relish the beauty of the sunrise from the boat, with a good chance of spotting shorebirds, capybaras, and white caimans—perhaps even a jaguar, as we have a 20% chance of encountering one along the riverbank.

Upon reaching our destination, you will witness a vibrant spectacle of green, red, blue, and yellow parrots and macaws soaring around, accompanied by their loud calls. We will explain why these remarkable birds visit the clay lick daily throughout the year. Our visit will span from 6:30 AM to approximately 11:00 AM, during which we will enjoy breakfast in view of the Chuncho macaw clay lick.

Following this activity, as we navigate downstream back to the lodge, you will have another opportunity to observe wildlife, including caimans, wild ducks, and capybaras. Upon arrival at the lodge, you may take advantage of our new swimming pool until lunchtime.

After lunch, you will have leisure time before we embark on a walk to learn about the most significant medicinal plants in the area. We will explore various plants, including quinine (useful for malaria), cat’s claw, dragon’s blood, and ayahuasca (the shaman's master plant), during this enlightening trek. This afternoon, we will ascend to the highest observation canopy at 50 meters, where the view of the Amazon basin is simply spectacular.

We will return to the lodge afterward, and in the evening, before or after dinner, we will partake in a short nocturnal walk. The sounds of the night—the insects, spiders, tarantulas, frogs, and perhaps snakes—will make this nocturnal excursion an unforgettable experience.

We will awaken to the sounds of birds and likely the calls of howler monkeys. After breakfast, we will hike to the mammal clay lick, where we will have an excellent opportunity to observe howler monkeys, deer, wild boars, and other mammals feeding. During this visit, we will discuss various hunting techniques utilized in the region and address any questions you may have. If desired, your guide will share local stories about the Tambopata jungle.

Following lunch, we will return to Puerto Maldonado.