[:en]Travel Life Tambopata Macaw Clay Lick Chuncho 4days

Our Tambopata tour this year was characterized by very unusual high temperatures, dry weather, and a lack of precipitation, which slowed animal activity down big time, not to mention that it made us feel very hot and sticky for the most part of the trip. Beginning our trip, during our boat ride to Posada Amazonas Lodge, we had great views of a Black Hawk-Eagle that flew in front of us and perched, exposed, in one of the trees allowing us great views. What a nice way to start the trip!

The following days at the lodge were of full exploration and immersion in the forest and for that we explored the trail system including the canopy tower and an oxbow lake. Among some of the highlights here, I should start by mentioning our first morning at the canopy tower where we had the chance to be at eye level with some canopy dwellers such as White-necked and Striolated Puffbirds, White-fronted Nunbirds, Great Jacamar, Gilded Barbet, five species of toucans and aracaris, amazing views of several species of parrots, macaws and parakeets flying by, in addition of some wonderful gaudy tanagers such as Paradise, Green-and-Gold and Blue Dacnis, Bare-necked Fruticrows displaying, not to mention that pair of Black-tailed Tityras defending their nest against a raid from a group of Ivory-billed Aracaris! Later in the forest, we weren’t disappointed for what we found there. Perhaps one of the best moments was when we got a Balck-faced Antbird so close that binoculars were not of help at all! We bumped into some mix flocks, which forced us to sharp quickly our eyes to the movement of the birds. Also one of the best moments was when a pair of Pale-winged Trumpeters we heard came charging into view after we played the tape. Not to mention a close harmless encounter with a Bushmaster. At the oxbow lake we had some distant views of a family of Giant River Otters but also enjoyed views of some birds associated with this type of habitat. The first bird that comes to my mind is the Hoatzin. What an odd looking yet beautiful bird to look at it. Here also we had at least 4 Sungrebes in the open, which is not a common occurrence, other birds we had here were Wattled Jacanas, Rufescent and Cocoi Herons, a Great Potoo on our way to the lake at it roosting spot was also great. Several species of macaws, parrots and parakeets flying by including a pair of Blue-headed Macaws!

After leaving Posada Amazonas we headed upriver and east to the mountains where the Tambopata Research Center is located. Very close to the foothills of the Carabaya Cordillera, which can be seen on a clear day including some of the snow-capped mountains! The boat ride was very good and pleasant and we during the length of it we enjoyed great views of species associated to this type of habitat such as Orinoco Geese, plus others such as Large and Yellow-billed Terns, several species of egrets and herons among others. We even had excellent views of a Brazilian Tapir as it was crossing the river. It was the first of several encounters during our tour.

The rest of our days at the Tambopata Research Center we divided our time between a series of hikes at the different habitats cover by the trail system, visits to the clay lick and even boat rides in the afternoon. As a result of that we end up with great looks of different species of birds. For instance, at the clay lick, we scored 12 species of macaws, parrots and allies on our first visit. Later on the tour we had an amazing gaudiesque show “performed” only for Scarlet, Red-and green as well as Blue-and-Yellow Macaws.

In the forest we came across other birds like Chestnut-capped and Semicollared Puffbirds, Rufous-breasted Piculet, Amazonian Parrotlets foraging in a small hidden claylick, several species of antbirds and allies, among many more.
However there are some special highlights to mention here. For instance we had a Razor-billed Curassow that came at the open in the lodge clearing; and how about that and a large group of Pale-winged Trumpeters, which walked around us and left in a very orderly way walking in a perfect line through the trail. Also, on our way back to Refugio Amazonas for the last part of our trip, we were able to catch up with a species that had been elusive for the most part of the trip. It has been teasing us and testing our patience as no other bird (or creature!) did during the trip but at the end it was worthy every drop of sweat we had because we got amazing views of a pair. I am talking about one of the most beautiful species of woodpeckers, the Rufous- headed Woodpecker.

At our last venue, where we spent only an afternoon and few hours in the morning we scored a Long-tailed Potoo at its roosting spot, a great male Pavonine Quetzal and the bird voted as the favorite of the tour, a Harpy Eagle. After a tip from one of my friends and local guides, we went to look for this bird before sunrise on our last morning and we were not disappointed. Wow, what a way to finish a tour!

Also, we did have a great experience with mammals on this trip. Brazilian Tapirs four times, the rare and elusive Short-eared Dog, a large herd of
White-lipped Peccaries around the lodge several times, 7 species of monkeys, and other beasts I might be forgetting.

This was a great tour to an area where I am very fond of and I am very happy with you guys for joining me. I had a wonderful time and I am so grateful to your patience and kindness during those hot days on which the birds were slow. All the best, and I hope to see you again in Peru or other part of the world!

Length: 4 Days/3 Nights
Type of service: Private or Group
Location: Southern Peru, Madre de Dios Department, Puerto Maldonado, Tambopata National Reserve,
Activities: piranhas fishing, Macaw Clay Lick ,Chuncho Macaw ,3 Night Walk
Altitude: 600 – 400 m.a.s.l.
Best time to visit: March – October
Departure: Every day
Minimum of participants: 2
Maximum of participants: 10
Price per person: USD

DETAILED ITINERARY  TRAVEL LIFE TAMBOPATA MACAW CLAY LICK CHUNCHO 4 DAYS 3 NIGHT

Day 1 : Puerto Maldonado – Travel Life Tambopata Macaw Clay Lick Chuncho.
Day 2 : Travel Life Tambopata Macaw Clay Lick Chuncho .
Day 3 : Travel Life Tambopata Macaw Clay Lick Chuncho– Monkeys – Fishing – Piranhas .
Day 4 : Travel Life Tambopata Condenado Community – 3 Chimbadas – Return to Puerto Maldonado .

Amazon Wildlife Macaw Clay Lick 4 days
chuncho Macaw Clay Lick amazon wildlife tambopata reserve and sandoval lake lodge and manu park and jungle trips

TOURS DAY 1:
Puerto Maldonado – Travel Life Tambopata Macaw Clay Lick Chuncho.
We will start at 8:30 am from our Hostel or we can pass to pick you up from your hotel, we will have 2 hour by cay in a 4X4, the first part will be by the high way and the second part will be in a dirt route until we get to the Tambopata River near the limit to the reserve. Our boat will be waiting for us to take us 25 minutes up the Tambopata river to get to our Lodge, we will have good chances to spot capybaras and many shore birds along the river bank, getting to the lodge we will get a welcome drink and the manager will explain us all we need to know about our lodge and its around. After lunch we will go for an introductory walk in first in a secondary grow forest and then in a primary forest full of huge trees and lianas and vines, at the same time we will talk about the most important economic activities in this region. Chances to spot some Brown capuchin monkeys and squirrel monkeys will be always possible. When is getting dark we will come back to our lodge to get our torch and go to our boat and we will do one of the most exiting activities… it will be the Cayman spotting, we will go to look for White and black Caymans along the river bank with a big spot light, we might see more capybaras and we always have good chances to spot and ocelot or a jaguar by the river too. Travel Life chuncho Macaw Clay Lick.

TOURS DAY 2:
Travel Life Tambopata Macaw Clay Lick Chuncho .

We will wake up around 5:00am, we will get a hot drink to get some energy and we will take our boat up the Tambopata for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Crossing the check point. We will have all the sunrise just for us in the boat, and we will have really good chances to spot shore birds, capybaras, White caimans, and why not to mention … A jaguar or an anaconda, I like to say it, we have a 20 %of probabilities to see one of these guys by the river bank.
Getting to our destination, we will get a show at the clay lick, parrots and macaws Green, red, blue and yellow birds all around us, flying and making loud noises, it will be spectacular this behavior of this birds. We will explain you the reason why every day the whole year around this birds go to the Cliff to eat clay. We will spend from 6:30 am to 11:00 am approx. Our breakfast will be in front of the clay lick activity At the end of this activity, in our way down river to the lodge we will make a short stop in the check point to learn more about the small museum that there is here, after this we will continue toward our lodge to get an unforgettable swimming in the stream or may be in the Tambopata River. We will get our lunch and then we will go for a walk to know more about the most important things about the medicinal plants, the quinine “good for the malaria”, the cats claw, the dragons blood, and the AYAHUASCA “the master plant for the shamans” are only a few plants that we will find during this interesting walk just in the back of our lodge, in the real jungle. We will go back to our lodge and then at night before dinner or after dinner we will have a short night walk, the sounds at night, the insects, spider, tarantulas, frogs and maybe snakes will make this night hike something difficult to forget.

TOURS DAY 3:
Travel Life Tambopata Macaw Clay Lick Chuncho– Monkeys – Fishing – Piranhas.
We will wake up with the sounds of the birds and probably howler monkeys, will get our breakfast and then we will go 30 minutes down the river to go for a fishing morning at the Gato stream, there are always hungry piranhas waiting for some meat that would be our bate, the walk to get to the fishing spots, the big trees, some of the monkeys always around will be part of this activity. the stream is a really good place to swim too after we catch some piranhas, it is an unforgettable experience. We will short walk to explain you a Little bit about the local farm. In the afternoon, we will walk to the mammal clay lick, we will probably have better chances to find howler monkeys, deer’s, wild pigs, and some other mammal feeding in this place, at the same time we will explain you the different techniques about the hunting ways that exist in this area. At night, right after dinner, we can go to the river bank and make some fire to talk about your time in the jungle, maybe respond some of the questions that you might have, and if you want we your guide can tell you about local stories about the Tambopata Jungle.

TOURS DAY 4:
Travel Life Tambopata Condenado Community – 3 Chimbadas – Return to Puerto Maldonado
We will wake up in the same way like the day before, we will get our breakfast with time, and then we will take our boat and take the whole way to Puerto Maldonado by boat, we can make stops at Condenado community, the 3 chimbadas oxbow lake or the infierno native community where we can talk about the native people around. We will get a box lunch in the boat, we will arrive to Puerto Maldonado in the afternoon.

Included in Amazon Travel Life Tambopata Macaw Clay Lick Chuncho 4 days:
Transfer by land and by river
Private vehicle land transportation;
Meals: 3x breakfast, 3x lunch, 3x dinner and drinking water (Please note: vegetarian option upon request for no extra cost!);
Accommodation: 3 nights in lodges;
A professional naturalist Tour Guide;
First aid kit, including a poison extractor, mosquito bite treatment and an antidote for a snake bite;
Radio communications;
Rubber boots.
Water

Not included in the Travel Life Tambopata Macaw Clay Lick Chuncho 4 days:
Any flight nor airport departure taxes;
Travel insurance;
Vaccination;
Breakfast on the first day and Lunch on the last day;
Drinks;
Tips to local staff.
Entrance fee to the Tambopata National Reserve.

What to take with you to Travel Life Tambopata Macaw Clay Lick Chuncho 4 days :
Mosquito repellent (DEET 35 recommended as a MINIMUM!!),
Original passport,
Small backpack,
Long sleeved cotton shirts (preferably green coloured),
Long cotton trousers,
Cotton long socks (to be put into your trousers),
Comfortable walking shoes,
Sandals or light shoes,
Rain gear (e.g. rain poncho),
Sweater (for the beginning of the tour in Andes and the cloud forest only),
Swimsuits;
Binoculars (we also rent it),
Camera and its charger,
Plastic bags to be used for clothes and a camera,
A hat as a protection against the Sun or rain,
Toiletries,
Small towel,
Toilet paper,
Sun cream,
Sunglasses,
Flashlight (with spare bulb and batteries),
A bottled water (1 litre as a minimum),