THE SPLENDID MACAW CLAY LICK
Refuge of life and color
Part of this huge reserve area has been designated a national park in
1996. The reserve's 1.5 million hectares straddle highland cloud forest
and lowland rainforest. This park boasts more than 165 species and 41
families of trees and lianas per hectare, 1,110 species of butterflies,
135 species of ants and 10 species of primates.
Programs:
6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS
- DAY 1 PUERTO MALDONADO - POSADA AMAZONAS
Reception and transfer to dock for a 2-hour motorized canoe ride to
the Posada Amazonas Lodge in the Ese'Eja native community of Tambopata.
Along the way, you will see bird species typical of the river or forest
edge, such as black Skimmer, the Bat Falcon, the Pied Lapwing and Flycatchers.
- DAY 2 POSADA AMAZONAS
After breakfast, visit the beautiful Tres Chimbadas Lake for an easy
canoe ride around it. You may be able to observe giant river otters,
turtles, hoatzin and wading birds. You will then hike trails in primary
floodplain forest. In the afternoon, walk to the nearest and most active
of Harpy Eagle nests.
- DAY 3 POSADA AMAZONAS - TRC
Travel up the Tambopata River for 3 to 4 hours into the pristine heart
of the reserve. Along the way you may see macaws, herons, kingfishers,
and cormorants and you will note a difference in the wildlife. Arrival
at Tambopata Research Center (TRC) in the late morning. Afternoon hike
through the 1.5 km. bamboo trail, famous for the abundance of rare birds
that live exclusively in this habitat.
- DAY 4 TRC
At dawn, enjoy the World's largest macaw clay lick where hundreds of
parrots and macaws of up to 15 species congregate daily. After a mid-morning
breakfast, you will hike the 2.8 km. (1.5 mile) ocelot trail and concentrate
on the forest itself and discuss general rain forest ecology with the
guide. After late lunch, take a short 5-minute boat ride to a small
creek in the forest and, if lucky, you may surprise a tapir.
- DAY 5 TRC - POSADA AMAZONAS
Visit the clay lick and then return for breakfast. Continue with a short
5-minute boat ride to a small drying oxbow lake to spend the morning
on a platform observing some of its birdlife. Afternoon return to the
Posada Amazonas for overnight.
- DAY 6 POSADA AMAZONAS - PUERTO MALDONADO
You will depart on a 2-hour boat ride back to Puerto Maldonado and the
airport.
* Daily departures
