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If you visit the Peruvian rainforest of the Tambopata River area, you MUST get up early and visit the "clay lick" near the Tambopata Research Center. This is an exposed mineral clay cliff at which literally thousands of exotic birds gather to socialize each morning. It is thought that, in addition to the socialization, the birds gains some sort of mineral supplement by licking the rich, wet clay on the cliff.
To observe this breathtaking phenomenon, small groups are taken, via motorized canoe, to a small island marsh area, approximately 200 feet across the river from the clay lick. Everyone must be in place BEFORE sunrise, soas not to disturb the gathering pattern. The whole show will go on for about 90 minutes, after which the birds seem to go their own way into the lush rainforest.
Written Mar 26, 2003
Address: Near the Tambopata Research Center, Peru
Website: www.perunature.com (ask for Luis Zapatur)
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Another 2 hours upstream from the lodge is one of the largest macaw clay lick in the world. You'll see a spectacular scene of macaws and parrots feeding on the cliff. I don't have a pwerful enough zoom lens to take a good photo of it, but you can see a good one in almost any good tour book. We have to start our book trip at 4:00am in the morning, it was quite a surreal boat ride.
Written Sep 4, 2005
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There exists approximately 1,300 species of birds in the Amazon. Among them we find the rare harpy eagle as well as countless migratory birds, and a great diversity of parrots and macaws. The latter give us the opportunity to see, at the Colpa Colorado, a Macaw Clay Lick, one of the most beautiful natural spectacles of Peru, where thousands of birds meet at daybreak.
Written Oct 15, 2005
Address: Colpa Colorado
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Twice daily treks and canoe trips to see the wildlife. these are included in the price of the Sandoval lake lodge. The most spectacular animals were the giant otters and the macaws but unfortunately these were the worst pictures. A great way to spend the last few days of a holiday.
Updated Jun 21, 2006
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The guide will point out different wildlife along the shore on the way to the lodge. We saw families of paybaras (the largest in the rodent family) next to the river. The early morning journey to the clay lick is also exciting. I don't think you'll fall asleep.
Written Sep 4, 2005
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Every day that you stay at the TRC, you'll have the opportunity to go out (sometimes more than once) and watch the macaws, parrots, and parakeets feed on the nearby clay lick.
Some researchers think that the clay aids in digesting, while others think it helps remove toxins from their local foodsources. Regardless, it's an amazing experience to watch hundreds of brightly coloured macaws, parakeets and parrots.
The picture posted doesn't do this justice
Written Nov 19, 2004
Address: Tampobata River
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At night hopefully your tour guide will take you out on the motorized canoe to look for caimans. The canoe will slowly cruise down the river while someone aims a powerful spotlight towards the banks. If there is one out there you will see it's eyes glowing. It can be hit and miss as they will be frightened off when the boat approaches. We were lucky as after a few misses our guide jumped on one and snagged him (don't worry, it was a small one).
Written Oct 15, 2005
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All you need is some meat. Yes, chunks of beef. Put them on your rod and watch your line get yanked over and over. Sometimes they swipe a whole chunk of meat from under your nose. Sneaky buggers. We caught a few along with some catfish. The guides were better fishers than us..some surprise..
Updated Oct 15, 2005
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Your guide will surely take you on a day and night walk through the jungle. Stay close to your group. We almost got lost in the dark by not paying attention. Scary.
Keep your eyes and ears peeled and you should see some interesting stuff. From uh, ahem, interesting trees to furry little animals. Watch out for the tarantulas.
Written Oct 15, 2005
While visiting the Peruvian rainforest, my group had the opportunity to visit one of the local medicine men. We took a boat downriver to the plot of land on which the medicine man had cultivated several gardens containing dozens of local medicinal plants. His assistant took us on a tour of the garden and described the purpose of each plant, used to treat everything from wounds, stomachaches, headaches, infertility, and any other number of ailments and diseases. Several plants were also being researched by western scientists as possible cures for cancer. A few plants contained dyes which the locals use as pigments, and he took the liberty of painting our faces with one bright red dye which oozed from the leaves of one plant. The most fascinating plant was ayahuasca, used to induce hallucinatory stream-of-thought consciousness in patients who visit the medicine man after undergoing a rigorous training and fasting session for several weeks before the week-long session in order to foresee their own fate.
Written Dec 17, 2007
At first we wanted to pick a jungle lodge about an hour by boat from Puerto Maldonado. We booked too late and all the nearby lodges were full. We ended up joining the Wasai expedition. We travelled...
Tambopata, a pristine Peruvian rainforest
In southeastern Peru lies the Tambopata/Madre del Dios river system(s). This is an outstanding and pristine area of uninhabited rainforest wildnerness, home to millions of macaws and parrots, as well...
During my Trip to Peru in March 2003, I spent nearly a week in Tambopata National Reserve (part of the Amazon Rainforest). I spent three days at a lodge called Posadas Amazonas, and three days at a...
We stayed near the Candamo Reserve, where a variety of sounds and sight can be enjoyed. One can find an incomparable variety of insects - in butterflies alone you can find 1,200 species - and within...
My family and I flew out of Cuzco to Puerto Maldonando where we got a water taxi up the Tambopata River to the Wasi Tambopata Lodge. We stayed here at the lodge for three nights and had a great...
Build your own Tambopata page
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