4 Day Tambopata Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick Amazon Tour

Journey into Upper Tambopata

Your 4 Day 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 travel away from Puerto Maldonado, the landscape gradually changes from urban surroundings to rural communities, tropical vegetation and increasingly extensive rainforest.

Eventually, we reach the banks of the Tambopata River, where we leave the road behind and board our motorized Amazon boat.

Navigating the Tambopata River

We begin traveling upriver into increasingly wild surroundings.

The Tambopata River is much more than our transportation route. Its forested banks create an important natural corridor for Amazon wildlife.

Our guide carefully watches the surrounding vegetation and riverbanks for tropical birds, monkeys, capybaras and other wildlife that may appear during our journey.

Upon reaching our jungle accommodation, we settle into our rooms and prepare for our first exploration.

Introduction to the Tambopata Rainforest

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

Beneath towering tropical trees, we discover palms, vines, medicinal plants, insects and the extraordinary ecological relationships that make the Tambopata rainforest one of Peru’s most biodiverse environments.

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

Depending on natural activity, we may encounter monkeys, tropical birds, butterflies, frogs, reptiles and insects.

Amazon Canopy Experience

Later in the afternoon, we experience the rainforest from a completely different perspective.

We make our way toward a canopy observation point, where an elevated position provides panoramic views across the Amazon rainforest.

From here, we scan the treetops for toucans, parrots, macaws and other canopy birds.

Watching the light change across the vast forest provides a spectacular introduction to the Upper Tambopata wilderness.

Sunset & Caiman Search

After sunset, another side of the Amazon begins to emerge.

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

Using flashlights, we scan the water’s edge for the reflected eyes of these fascinating Amazon reptiles.

Our guide will explain their behavior and ecological importance while we listen to the extraordinary sounds of the rainforest after dark.

We then return to our jungle accommodation for dinner and rest.

Tomorrow begins before sunrise.

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

Before Sunrise on the Tambopata River

Today we wake while the rainforest is still dark.

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

As daylight slowly appears over the forest, we carefully scan the riverbanks for wildlife.

Depending on natural activity, we may encounter capybaras, monkeys, tropical birds and other Amazon species.

Tapirs and large predators, including jaguars, also inhabit the vast Tambopata ecosystem. Encounters with these elusive animals, however, are uncommon 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 famous El Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick, locally known as Collpa Chuncho.

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

Often, the experience starts with sound.

Parrots may begin calling from nearby trees before approaching the exposed clay along the riverbank.

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

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

Their brilliant colors, powerful calls and social behavior can transform a quiet Amazon morning into an extraordinary wildlife experience.

Why Do Macaws Visit the Clay Lick?

Macaws and parrots visit certain exposed riverbanks to consume mineral-rich clay and soil.

Scientific research suggests that mineral supplementation, particularly sodium, plays an important role in explaining this fascinating behavior.

Our guide will explain what researchers currently understand about Amazon clay licks and why protecting the surrounding rainforest is essential for the birds that depend on these environments.

Breakfast in the Heart of Tambopata

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

We allow nature to determine the rhythm of the morning.

Some mornings may bring intense activity, while on others birds may arrive in smaller groups, remain in the surrounding trees or avoid the clay entirely.

After completing our observation, we begin navigating back toward our accommodation while continuing to watch the riverbanks for wildlife.

Kayaking on the Tambopata River

Later in the afternoon, when river, weather and safety conditions permit, we experience a section of the Tambopata River by kayak.

Moving quietly close to the water provides another perspective of the rainforest and allows us to appreciate the landscape at a slower pace.

Our guide will always determine whether conditions are appropriate for kayaking.

Amazon Night Walk

After darkness falls, we enter the rainforest once again for a guided Amazon night walk.

With flashlights in hand, we slowly explore the trails searching for tree frogs, insects, spiders, nocturnal birds and other creatures that become active after sunset.

Your guide will explain some of the remarkable adaptations these species use to survive in the nighttime rainforest.

We then return to our accommodation for dinner and our second night in Tambopata.

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

Deeper into the Tambopata Rainforest

After breakfast, we prepare for one of the most immersive rainforest experiences of our journey.

Today we leave the immediate river environment behind and hike deeper into the forest toward a mammal clay lick.

The journey itself is an important part of the experience.

As we walk through the rainforest, our guide searches for tracks, feeding signs, calls and other evidence of animals moving through the forest.

This longer excursion gives us time to appreciate the enormous diversity of the Tambopata ecosystem away from the main river.

Mammal Clay Lick

Eventually, we reach an area where mineral-rich soil can naturally attract mammals.

Unlike the spectacular visual activity sometimes encountered at macaw clay licks, mammal clay licks are generally quieter and require considerably more patience.

Animals associated with these forest environments can include tapirs, peccaries, capybaras and other mammals, although their visits are completely unpredictable.

Rather than expecting animals to appear on demand, we wait quietly and observe the surrounding forest for movement, sounds and signs of wildlife.

Our guide will explain why certain mammals visit mineral-rich areas and how researchers use tracks, camera traps and other evidence to understand the animals living within the rainforest.

Monkeys & Forest Wildlife

As we continue exploring, we search the forest canopy for primates and other wildlife.

Different monkey species inhabit the Tambopata region, including spider monkeys, capuchin monkeys, squirrel monkeys and howler monkeys.

Butterflies, tropical birds and countless smaller creatures also make this deeper forest exploration rewarding even when larger mammals remain hidden.

After completing our hike, we return to our jungle accommodation for lunch and some time to rest.

Malinowski River Exploration

Later in the afternoon, we head toward the Malinowski River area for another Amazon experience.

The meeting of forest and river environments creates additional opportunities to appreciate the biodiversity of Tambopata.

Depending on local conditions and the program operating that day, we may have the opportunity to experience traditional recreational fishing.

Species living in these Amazon waters can include piranhas, catfish and other freshwater fish.

The activity is as much about enjoying the peaceful river environment as it is about fishing.

Afterward, we return to our accommodation for dinner and our final night surrounded by the rainforest.

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

Above the Amazon Rainforest

After breakfast, we prepare for our final adventure in Upper Tambopata.

We walk through the forest toward an elevated Amazon canopy bridge, suspended high above the forest floor.

From this unique position, we gain a completely different understanding of the structure and scale of the tropical rainforest.

Searching for Canopy Wildlife

The upper levels of the Amazon forest support an extraordinary diversity of life.

We carefully scan the surrounding treetops for toucans, parrots, macaws and other tropical birds.

Monkeys and other arboreal wildlife may also move through the surrounding canopy, although sightings always depend on natural activity.

Our guide will explain how different species have adapted to spend much of their lives high above the forest floor and why protecting the canopy is essential for maintaining Amazon biodiversity.

After enjoying our final views over the rainforest, we return to our jungle accommodation.

Return to Puerto Maldonado

Following lunch, we say goodbye to the Upper Tambopata rainforest and begin our return journey.

We board our motorized boat and navigate downstream along the Tambopata River, providing one final opportunity to watch the riverbanks for wildlife.

After reaching our river port, we continue overland toward Puerto Maldonado.

Upon arrival, Jungle Trekkers Peru will assist with your transfer to the airport, bus terminal or accommodation according to your onward travel arrangements.

Our 4 Day Tambopata Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick Tour comes to an end after four days exploring the Tambopata River, rainforest trails, wildlife clay licks and the extraordinary Amazon canopy.

• Meals: Breakfast & Lunch