Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick & Sandoval Lake

Our Rainforest Tambopata Wild team gives you a warm welcome at the airport or bus terminal in Puerto Maldonado. After a brief overview of the program, we set out for one of the best-preserved areas of the Peruvian Amazon.

We travel roughly an hour and a half along the Interoceanic Highway, crossing Amazonian forest and local communities to reach the port of Filadelfia on the Tambopata River. From there we navigate the Tambopata and Malinowski Rivers for about 40 minutes to reach our lodge, spotting herons, kingfishers, cormorants, hoatzins, river turtles, caimans, monkeys in the treetops, and, depending on the season, capybaras along the way.

On arrival, our lodge manager gives you a warm welcome and settles you into your room, followed by lunch. After an hour to rest, we begin our first activity with an introductory walk — our guide shares a briefing on safety rules, the program’s activities, and wildlife-watching recommendations before we head into trails full of life, where we may spot howler monkeys, squirrel monkeys, toucans, woodpeckers, insects, and frogs.

Over roughly three hours we learn about centuries-old giant trees, medicinal plants, Amazonian palms, lianas, bromeliads, and orchids, with a good chance of spotting howler monkeys, capuchin monkeys, squirrel monkeys, saki monkeys, toucans, trogons, woodpeckers, and tanagers.

Night walk. As night falls, our guide leads a one-hour night walk from the lodge — a unique opportunity to discover the nocturnal wonders of the Amazon rainforest. In the deep darkness, surrounded by the sounds of the forest and aided by powerful lights, we enter a world inhabited by some of the rainforest’s most singular, diverse, and elusive creatures — tree frogs, shy snakes, tarantulas, walking sticks, and, with luck, night monkeys or even tapirs. Dinner and rest.

04:30 a.m. Very early departure. We begin navigating before dawn toward the famous Chuncho clay lick, considered one of the largest macaw clay licks in the world. Chuncho is, without a doubt, one of the most spectacular sites in the Amazon, set on cliffs within the reserved area, visited by three macaw species — red-and-green, blue-and-yellow, and scarlet macaws — along with several parrot and parakeet species.

We wait for the arrival of these magnificent birds, which may appear in pairs or family groups from different parts of the forest, enjoying one of the most beautiful natural spectacles of Amazonian birdlife as hundreds of birds interact and socialize while feeding on the mineral-rich clay of the cliffs. Once at the clay lick, we settle in for breakfast before heading back to the lodge.

Along the way, we have an incredible chance of spotting wildlife such as the majestic jaguar, and — with luck — families of capybaras cooling off along the riverbanks, black caimans, and howler monkeys coming down to drink at the water’s edge. This phenomenon has been recognized internationally and documented by leading nature publications — an unforgettable experience surrounded by the sounds of the forest.

On arrival at the lodge we rest and have lunch before returning toward the city and continuing on to Lake Sandoval — a roughly 30-minute boat ride along the Madre de Dios River followed by a 3-kilometer, one-hour walk to our lodge at Lake Sandoval, considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the Peruvian Amazon. Dinner and overnight stay.

05:00 a.m. To make the most of our time on the lake, we set out by boat early in the morning. This ecosystem is essential for numerous species and offers the best opportunity to spot giant river otters, an endangered species, along with black caimans, hoatzins, and waterbirds, surrounded by lush vegetation.

Breakfast, followed by lunch at the lodge and, in the afternoon, we climb a 35-meter observation tower designed for scientific research. From this platform we enjoy panoramic views of the Amazon, spotting canopy birds, macaws, eagles and, with some luck, monkeys — this visit also offers insight into how research supports conservation efforts in the region.

Night caiman search. To close the day, our guide gives a short talk on the different caiman species found in the region before we board a boat for a night expedition in search of these fascinating creatures — with luck, the reflection of their eyes on the water marks the highlight of this adventure.

Early in the morning we take a short boat ride on the lake before breakfast, a peaceful way to watch the forest wake up. After breakfast, we explore the Tambopata National Reserve on a walk through primary forest, surrounded by majestic trees such as ironwood, cedar, and Brazil nut, discovering the complexity and diversity of this ecosystem — a perfect opportunity for a quiet walk and to take in the magic of the rainforest.

After lunch and some rest, we visit a local farm to learn about the life of the region’s farmers, who grow bananas, pineapples, papayas, and other crops using traditional methods. This visit also supports local communities, contributing to the region’s economic development. Dinner at the lodge.

After one last breakfast at the lodge, we prepare for the journey back, taking with us unforgettable memories of our experience in the heart of the Amazon.