Tambopata Research Center
(5 days / 4 nights)
Day 1: Puerto Maldonado – Jungle
Upon arrival in Puerto Maldonado, transfer to the office to leave any luggage that you will not require during your stay in the Jungle, at a safe deposit. From there we transfer to the embarkation port for the 2:30 hour boat ride to Refugio Amazonas. Boxed lunch. Once we arrive at the lodge, we have time to settle and relax.
In the evening, boat excursion on the Tambopata River to search for caimans.
Meals: Boxed lunch and dinner
Day 2: Canopy – Chuncho Claylick – Tambopata Research Center
A thirty minute walk from Refugio Amazonas leads to the 25 meter scaffolding canopy tower. A banister staircase provides safe access to the platforms above. From here views of mixed species canopy flocks as well as toucans, macaws and raptors are likely.
Later, a four and half hour boat trip from Refugio Amazonas takes us to Tambopata Research Center. One and half hours into our boat journey, as we cross the confluence with the Malinowski River, we will leave the final traces of human habitation behind. Within the 700,000 hectare uninhabited nucleus of the reserve, sightings of capybara, caiman, geese, macaws and other large species will become more frequent.
Three hours from Refugio Amazonas, deep in the Tambopata National Reserve we stop at the Chuncho claylick. After a brief walk we have the chance to see dozens of large macaws feeding on the special sodium rich clays of the riverbank. The Chuncho claylick probably attracts more large macaws than any other claylick in the world and the sight of dozens of macaws taking flight is truly unforgettable. The details of this stopover will depend on the weather and the amount of the macaw activity, as the birds don’t visit the claylick when it is raining.
Upon arrival at the lodge we have time to settle and relax. Then we take a three to five kilometer hike. We can enjoy magnificent views of the Tambopata River. The trail goes through a forest regenerating on an old bamboo forest, is good for Howler Monkey and Dusky Titi Monkey.
After dinner scientists will provide an in depth look at the biology of macaws, their feeding habits, the theories for clay lick use, their breeding and feeding ecology, population fluctuations and the threats to their conservation.
Meals: Breakfast, boxed lunch and dinner
Day 3: Macaw Claylick – Floodplain Trail – Pond Platform
On most clear mornings of the year dozens of large macaws and hundreds of parrots congregate on this large river bank in a raucous and colorful spectacle. Discretely located fifty meters from the cliff, we will observe Green-winged, Scarlet and Blue-and-gold Macaws and several species of smaller parrots descend to ingest clay. Outings are at dawn when the lick is most active.
After breakfast we take a five kilometer trail which covers the prototypical rain forest with immense trees criss-crossed by creeks and ponds. Amongst the figs, ceibas and shihuahuacos we will look for Squirrel, Brown Capuchin, and Spider Monkeys as well as peccaries.
In the afternoon we go towards a tiny pond with a platform in the middle, ten minutes upriver from the lodge. It is a great place to spot waterfowl such as Muscovy duck, sun bittern and hoatzin along with the woodpeckers, oropendolas, flycatchers and parakeets that call this pond their home.
After dinner, we have the option of hiking out at night, when most of the mammals are active but rarely seen. Much easier to find are frogs.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4: Terra Firme Trail – Palm Swamp Trail
An entirely different habitat characterized by smaller, thinner trees atop hills and slopes is covered by this five kilometer trail. Saddleback tamarins are frequently found here. As we walk near the limits of the swamp we will also keep our eyes open for rare tapir tracks. Boxed lunch.
Growing on the remains of an oxbow lake and providing both arboreal as well as terrestrial mammals with fruits throughout the year, the aguaje palms are one of the most important food sources in the rainforest. Demand for these fruits and great conditions for planting rice, makes the palm swamp also one of the most threatened habitats.
Meals: Breakfast, boxed lunch and dinner
Day 5: TRC – Puerto Maldonado – Departure
We retrace our river and road journey back to Puerto Maldonado, the office (to pick our left baggage) and the airport. Depending on airline schedules, this may require dawn departures.
Meals: Breakfast
