5-Day Tambopata Tour: Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick, Sandoval & Yacumama Lake

Your 5-Day Deep Amazon Expedition

Get ready to leave civilization behind and immerse yourself in the untamed wilderness of the Tambopata National Reserve. Right from day one, you will climb high above the treetops on canopy walkways and search for wild caimans along the riverbanks after dark. In addition, staying across two handcrafted eco-lodges gives you front-row access to entirely different ecosystems, guaranteeing an intimate, authentic jungle experience from start to finish.

DAY 1: Canopy Observation Tower + Caiman Safari

Upon arrival at the airport or bus station, our team will greet you and transfer you to our Green Jungle Tours office for check-in and registration.

From there, we will take a 1-hour drive to the Filadelfia community, where we will board a boat for a 15-minute journey upstream along the Tambopata River to reach our first lodge. Before checking into your rooms, your guide will provide a brief orientation on lodge policies.

After a relaxing break and a delicious lunch, we will embark on a 2+ hour guided hike through the dense rainforest. Led by an expert local guide along private jungle trails, you will discover native medicinal plants and giant trees—some over 600 years old, such as Brazil nut trees and Tonka bean trees (Cumaru). We will also visit our 45-meter (148 ft.) canopy observation tower, providing spectacular views and great opportunities to spot wildlife like monkeys, toucans, parrots, macaws, squirrels, reptiles, insects, frogs, and spiders. Experience the pure energy of Mother Nature in the heart of the Tambopata National Reserve. We return to the lodge near dusk for a short rest.

At night, we board our boat to search for nocturnal wildlife along the banks of the Tambopata River. During this river safari, we will look for caimans (alligators) of various sizes, owls, nightjars, and—with a bit of luck—the world’s largest rodent, the Capybara. On clear nights, you will enjoy a breathtaking view of the Milky Way and starry skies. After this peaceful night excursion, we return to the lodge for dinner.

DAY 2: Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick + Canopy Walkway & Wildlife Refuge

We start early with a warm cup of coffee or tea before setting off for the world-famous Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick. At dawn, we take a 30-minute boat ride up the Tambopata River—keep an eye on the riverbanks, as this is a prime time to spot elusive wildlife like Jaguars or Anacondas. Upon arrival at the clay lick, you will witness a breathtaking three-hour natural spectacle of hundreds of colorful parrots and macaws gathering, accompanied by a delicious field breakfast served on site. Later in the morning, we explore the small tributaries of the Tambopata River by boat to search for capybaras, tapirs, wild pigs, monkeys, caimans, turtles, and wildcats while taking in the stunning Amazonian landscapes.

In the afternoon, we head toward our second lodge. En route, we stop for a guided hike along a forest trail surrounded by massive jungle trees, leading us to our 5 Canopy Hanging Bridges built high in the treetops. Walking through the forest canopy offers a unique perspective to observe wildlife, including macaws, toucans, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, monkeys, lizards, orchids, and epiphytic plants.

OPTIONAL ZIPLINE TOUR: During the canopy bridge excursion, you can participate in a zipline adventure at no extra cost. This activity is optional, as some guests prefer not to take part due to heights.

Following the canopy tour, we arrive at our second lodge to settle in and unwind.

DAY 3: Majestic Lake Sandoval + Native Family Visit & Night Wildlife Walk

Dawn and dusk are the best times for wildlife viewing. Early in the morning, we board our boat toward Lake Sandoval, located inside the Tambopata National Reserve. To reach the lake, we take a 3 km (1.8 mile) wooden boardwalk hike through rich rainforest habitat. At the end of the trail, we board a rowboat to explore Lake Sandoval, home to giant river otters, black caimans, herons, turtles, monkeys, macaws, and prehistoric birds. We return to the lodge before noon for lunch.

After lunch and a brief rest, we visit an indigenous Matsigenka family. You will learn about their living culture, traditional archery, cotton spinning and weaving for their traditional garments (Cushma), natural cordage made from plant bark, and ancestral fire-making techniques. At sunset, we return by boat.

As night falls, the rainforest transforms with an entirely different array of nocturnal creatures. Equipped with flashlights, we head out on a guided night walk along forest trails to look for porcupines, sloths, spiders, insects, reptiles, opossums, night monkeys, and owls. We return to the lodge for dinner and a good night’s rest.

DAY 4: Catch-and-Release Fishing + Kayak River Adventure

After a relaxing morning, we head out by boat for a catch-and-release sport fishing session along the riverbanks. The Amazonian waterways are rich in aquatic species, offering chances to catch piranhas, catfish, cichlids, electric eels, and freshwater stingrays.

In the afternoon, we set out at sunset for a Kayaking River Adventure along the edges of the Madre de Dios River. Paddling close to the riverbank gives us an ideal vantage point to search for endangered river turtles, white caimans, kingfishers, herons, and occasionally anacondas. Life jackets are provided and required for all participants. We return to the lodge near midday.

DAY 5: Botanical Garden Tour & Transfer Out

OPTIONAL MORNING ACTIVITY: Before breakfast, join us for a guided walk through our small tropical farm to learn about local Amazonian crops and sample seasonal fruits. You will see plantations of coffee, various cacao species, citrus fruits, ice-cream beans (ingas), bananas, papayas, and mangoes.

After our final breakfast, we transfer back to the city before noon for your onward flight or bus connection.

Important Travel Information:

• Flexibility: The sequence and timing of activities may be adjusted by your tour guide in coordination with lodge management to optimize your experience based on flight/bus schedules, physical condition of participants, or weather conditions.
• Dual-Lodge Experience: This expedition takes place across two distinct eco-lodges: one located directly inside the Tambopata National Reserve and the second located near the reserve border, giving you a diverse experience of the region.