Multiday Macaw Clay Licks 4 Days
Multiday Macaw Clay Licks Chuncho (Collpa de Guacamayos): Witness hundreds of vibrant macaws and parrots gather at this world-famous clay lick, one of the largest in the Amazon. Travel by motorboat at sunrise to see colorful birds, capybaras, caimans, tapirs, and—with luck—a jaguar on the riverbanks.
Jungle Treks: Explore shaded rainforest trails with your English-speaking guide. Discover fascinating insects, towering ancient trees, and playful monkeys in their natural habitat.
Wildlife Observation from Your Lodge: After your excursions, unwind with a cocktail at the bar while listening to the jungle’s symphony of sounds at Collpa Chuncho Suites.
Tapir Clay Lick Adventure
The next day, visit the Collpa de Sachavaca (Tapir Clay Lick), where the Amazon’s largest land mammal, the Tapir (Tapirus terrestris), often appears to feed on mineral-rich clay. Adult tapirs can weigh up to 330 kg (730 lbs). Along the way, you may also spot monkeys, deer, or peccaries. Examine fresh footprints to track recent wildlife visitors.
Multiday Macaw Clay Licks 4 Days
- Length: 4 Days/3 Nights
- Location: Southern Peru, Madre de Dios Department, Puerto Maldonado
- Type of service: Private or Group
- Start Point: Pick-up from the Hotel/Airport or Bus Terminal in Puerto Maldonado
- Ending Point: Drop off the Hotel/Airport or Bus Terminal in Puerto Maldonado
- Departure: Every Day
- Activities: Adventures in the tambopata, Amazon Photography, Sunrises and Sunsets, Night Walks,, Macaws clay lick chuncho , Parakeets,
- Altitude: 182 – m.a.s.l.
- Best time to visit:March – November
Accomodation : 3 night in Our Lodge rivate Room with Mosquito Nets, Private Showers and Bathrooms .
- Meals: 3 Breakfast /3 Lunch /3 Dinner
- Tour Guides : Professional bilingual local guide (well-equipped with guiding gear)
- Minimum of participants: 2
- Maximum of participants: 7
- Price per person: USD
Multiday Macaw Clay Licks: 4-Day Jungle Adventure in Tambopata
Day 1: Puerto Maldonado to Tambopata Lodge Inn – Research Center
Your jungle journey begins in Puerto Maldonado, where we’ll pick you up from the airport or bus terminal and transfer you to our main office for check-in. Here, you can store non-essential items and prepare for your Amazon Trail expedition.
We’ll travel by private vehicle for approximately 2 hours to the Tambopata River port. From there, board our motorized boat and cruise along the Tambopata River, watching for turtles, birds, capybaras, white caimans, and if we’re lucky, the elusive jaguar basking on the riverbanks.
Upon arrival at Tambopata Lodge Inn, enjoy a traditional Amazonian refreshment, settle into your room, and have lunch.
In the afternoon, take a guided walk through primary rainforest, home to towering millennial trees, and a rich variety of insects, spiders, toads, butterflies, monkeys, and other rainforest wildlife.
After dinner, embark on a night boat ride to observe nocturnal creatures such as caimans, capybaras, night monkeys,
and potentially nocturnal predators. Return to your comfortable lodge room for a peaceful night’s rest.
Day 2: Multiday Macaw Clay Licks Chuncho & Amazon Trail Exploration
Wake up early (5:00 AM) for a spectacular sunrise boat ride up the Tambopata River to visit the Chuncho Macaw
Clay Lick in Tambopata National Reserve. This site offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness hundreds of
colorful macaws and parrots gathering to eat the mineral-rich clay—an awe-inspiring display of sound and color.
Enjoy breakfast while observing this natural spectacle.
On our way back to the lodge, stop at the Tambopata Control Point to learn more about the ecosystem and the significance of the clay lick.
We’ll also visit a local biodiversity museum, where you’ll gain insight into the Tambopata-Candamo Reserve and its unique flora and fauna.
After lunch and some rest, explore the Amazon jungle trails once more with your guide, discovering medicinal plants and spotting birds, monkeys, and maybe larger mammals.
End the day with dinner and a night walk, listening to jungle sounds and spotting creatures like tarantulas, frogs, insects, snakes, and more.
Day 3: Fishing, Kayaking & Jungle Hike in Tambopata
After breakfast, we’ll travel by boat for about 40 minutes downstream for a morning fishing experience. Try your hand at catching pacu, sabalo, catfish, and even piranhas in the calm streams along the river.
Return to the lodge for lunch and some relaxation.
In the afternoon, enjoy kayaking on the Tambopata River or a nearby stream—a peaceful and immersive way to
connect with the jungle. Guests often describe this as one of the most enjoyable and calming experiences of the trip.
After dinner, participate in another night excursion, where our guide will explain the behavior of nocturnal predators and other elusive creatures that hunt at night.
Day 4: Mammal Clay Lick Visit & Return to Puerto Maldonado
Begin the day with breakfast and a visit to the Mammal Clay Lick, where you may spot howler monkeys, deer, peccaries, wild boars, and a variety of birds.
These animals visit the lick to consume mineral-rich clay, which helps them detoxify their diet.
Your guide will explain the ecological significance of this behavior and point out tracks and signs of recent visitors.
After the tour, return to the lodge for packing and farewell. We’ll then travel by boat and private car back to Puerto Maldonado, with drop-off at the airport or bus station.
Optional Activities
Depending on your flight or travel schedule, additional morning activities can be arranged before returning to Puerto Maldonado.
Included in the Tambopata Research Center .
Included in the Amazon Trail Tour Package
Round-trip transportation from Puerto Maldonado
Lodging at Tambopata Lodge Inn
All meals (local cuisine) 3 breakfast ,3 dinner ,3 lunh
Guided excursions (English-speaking guide; other languages available upon request)
Entrance fees to Tambopata National Reserve
Night walks, boat rides, kayaking, and wildlife observation
Fishing and clay lick experiences
Not Included in the Tambopata Research Center .
- any flight or airport departure taxes;
- Jungle travel insurance;
- Vaccination jungle;
- First breakfast and lunch on the last day;
- Beverages;
- Entrance to the Tambopata Reserv $ 50;
We recommend You Take the Tour Tambopata Research Center .
- mosquito repellant (DEET 35 recommended at least!!)
- Original passport to travel to Lake Sandoval,
- small backpack,
- Long-sleeved cotton shirts (preferably green)
- jungle cotton pants,
- Long cotton socks (to be put on the pants),
- Comfortable shoes for walking in the Sandoval Lake Reserve,
- Sandals or light shoes,
- Rain gear (for example, rain poncho) (Only for the start of the tour in the Andes and the cloud forest) Sweater,
- Swimsuits;
- Binoculars (also rented)
camera and charger,
- Plastic bags to be used for clothes and a camera,
- A hat as protection against the sun or rain,
- little towel,
- Toilet paper,
- antibacterial gel,
- Sunglasses
- Flashlight (with spare bulb and batteries),
- A bottle of water (1 liter minimum)
- Pocket money (Soles) to buy some drinks, etc
Explore the virgin rainforest of the Tambopata National Reserve,
A pristine ecosystem teeming with wildlife and biodiversity. During your visit, you’ll have the opportunity to observe a wide variety of species in their natural habitat—many of which are endemic to the region. Our expert guides will share insights into the ecology, history, and unique biodiversity of the Amazon, including notable species we’ve recorded over years of research and conservation work.
Blue-headed Macaw (Primolius couloni): Observations from the Southeastern Peruvian Amazon
The Blue-headed Macaw is a rare and little-studied parrot species endemic to the southwestern Amazon Basin, particularly southeastern Peru. Currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces ongoing threats due to habitat loss, the illegal pet trade, and limited population data.
In a 10-month field study conducted in foothill forest habitats of southeastern Peru, we gathered new insights into the species’ ecology, group dynamics, and clay lick behavior.
Key Findings:
Clay Lick Use: The Blue-headed Macaw was observed using peripheral zones of a local clay lick, often alongside Chestnut-fronted Macaws (Ara severus) and Dusky-headed Parakeets (Aratinga weddellii). It avoided the main section of the lick where large mixed-species flocks of psittacines gathered.
Group Structure: Mean group size in flight was 2.6 ± 2.2, with 60% of sightings being pairs. Solitary individuals were more frequently observed in September and October, suggesting possible breeding-related behavior, such as males foraging while females incubate.
Breeding Implication: Seasonal increases in lone birds may indicate a proportion (estimated around 6%) of the observed population represents males foraging alone during the nesting season, while females remain at nest sites.
Roosting Habitat: Most individuals approached the clay lick from the east in the early morning, and anecdotal accounts from local residents suggest that the species roosts in river-edge farms and pastures, favoring semi-open habitats near watercourses.
Conservation Implications
Given its restricted range and Vulnerable status, understanding the habitat preferences, social behavior, and nesting ecology of the Blue-headed Macaw is critical for developing targeted conservation strategies. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge necessary to protect this unique Amazonian parrot.