2 Day Tambopata Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick Amazon Tour

Journey into Upper Tambopata

Your Tambopata Amazon adventure begins when our Jungle Trekkers Peru team welcomes you in Puerto Maldonado.

Depending on your travel arrangements, we can meet you at the airport, bus terminal or your accommodation.

After meeting your professional Amazon guide and receiving an introduction to the journey ahead, we begin our overland transfer toward the Upper Tambopata region.

As we leave Puerto Maldonado behind, urban landscapes gradually give way to rural communities, tropical vegetation and the vast forests of southeastern Peru.

Eventually, we reach the banks of the Tambopata River, where the next stage of our adventure begins.

We board our motorized Amazon boat and navigate upriver toward our jungle accommodation.

From this moment, the river becomes both our route and one of our best opportunities for wildlife observation.

We carefully watch the riverbanks and surrounding forest for tropical birds, monkeys, capybaras and other Amazon wildlife that may appear during the journey.

Upon reaching our accommodation, we receive a welcome and settle into our rooms before beginning our first rainforest exploration.

Introduction to the Tambopata Rainforest

Accompanied by our professional Amazon guide, we enter the forest for an introductory nature walk.

This excursion allows us to begin understanding the extraordinary biodiversity of the Tambopata rainforest ecosystem.

We walk beneath towering tropical trees while discovering palms, vines, medicinal plants, insects and the complex relationships between the countless organisms that inhabit the Amazon.

Our guide will teach us how to recognize sounds, tracks and other signs that may reveal the presence of animals even when they remain hidden within the dense vegetation.

Depending on wildlife activity, we may encounter monkeys, tropical birds, butterflies, frogs, reptiles, insects and other rainforest species.

Amazon Canopy Experience

Later, we experience the rainforest from an entirely different perspective.

We make our way toward a canopy observation point, rising above the lower vegetation to appreciate the enormous scale of the surrounding Amazon rainforest.

From this elevated position, we scan the treetops for birds and other wildlife.

Depending on conditions and natural activity, we may observe parrots, toucans, macaws or other canopy species moving across the forest.

As the afternoon progresses, the changing light over the rainforest creates a spectacular setting to appreciate just how vast the Tambopata wilderness really is.

Sunset & Caiman Search on the Tambopata River

As darkness begins to settle over the rainforest, we prepare for another Amazon wildlife experience.

We return to the Tambopata River and slowly navigate sections of the riverbank while our guide searches for caimans.

After sunset, the reflected light from a caiman’s eyes can sometimes reveal its position near the water’s edge.

Our guide will explain the ecology and behavior of these fascinating Amazon reptiles while we experience the remarkable sounds of the rainforest after dark.

We then return to our jungle accommodation for dinner and a well-earned night’s rest.

Tomorrow begins very early.

• Meals: Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Jungle Accommodation.

Before Sunrise in the Amazon

Today we wake while the rainforest is still dark.

The early departure has an important purpose: we are traveling toward one of the most remarkable birdwatching locations in the Tambopata National Reserve.

We board our boat and begin navigating along the Tambopata River toward Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick.

The early-morning river journey is an experience in itself.

As the first light begins appearing over the rainforest, we quietly watch the riverbanks for wildlife.

Depending on luck and natural activity, animals such as capybaras, monkeys, tropical birds and other Amazon species may be encountered along the way.

Larger mammals also inhabit the Tambopata ecosystem, but encounters with them are rare and should always be considered an exceptional privilege rather than an expected part of the tour.

El Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick

Eventually, we reach the area of the famous Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick, one of the most important wildlife experiences in the Tambopata rainforest.

We position ourselves at an appropriate observation area and wait quietly as the forest begins to awaken.

Often, the experience begins with sound.

Parrots may start calling from the surrounding trees before approaching the exposed clay along the riverbank.

As activity develops, different species of parrots and macaws may gather in the area.

Among the spectacular birds associated with the Tambopata region are scarlet macaws, red-and-green macaws, blue-and-yellow macaws and several species of Amazon parrots and parakeets.

Their brilliant colors, powerful calls and social behavior can transform an otherwise quiet Amazon morning into an extraordinary natural spectacle.

Why Do Macaws Visit Clay Licks?

One of the most fascinating aspects of visiting Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick is understanding why these birds gather here.

Macaws and parrots visit certain exposed riverbanks to consume clay and soil rich in minerals.

Scientists have studied this behavior extensively, and mineral supplementation — particularly sodium — is considered an important factor in explaining why these birds repeatedly visit Amazon clay licks.

Our guide will explain the ecology behind this behavior and the importance of protecting the surrounding forest that supports these remarkable bird populations.

Breakfast in the Heart of Tambopata

While observing the morning activity around the clay lick, we enjoy breakfast surrounded by the sounds of the rainforest.

Rather than rushing the experience, we allow nature to determine the rhythm of the morning.

Some mornings can bring intense activity, with numerous parrots and macaws flying above the river and gathering around the clay.

On other mornings, birds may remain in the surrounding trees, arrive in smaller numbers or avoid the clay altogether.

That uncertainty is part of experiencing wildlife in its natural environment.

Wildlife Along the Tambopata River

After completing our observation at Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick, we begin our return journey by boat.

Once again, our guide carefully scans the riverbanks and forest edges.

The Tambopata River corridor provides habitat for an extraordinary variety of wildlife, so every journey can produce something unexpected.

We may encounter tropical birds, monkeys, capybaras or other wildlife before returning to our accommodation.

After some time to rest and enjoy lunch, we prepare for our journey back toward Puerto Maldonado.

We travel first by boat and then continue overland toward the city.

Upon arrival, Jungle Trekkers Peru will assist with your transfer according to your onward travel arrangements.

Our 2 Day Tambopata Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick Tour comes to an end after two intense days of rainforest exploration, Amazon river journeys and one of the most fascinating birdwatching experiences in Peru.

• Meals: Breakfast & Lunch.