Tambopata Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick 3 Days

Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick is an unmissable sight in Tambopata. This is the world’s largest clay lick and an ideal sight for bird lovers. Chuncho Macaw Clay lick is one of our signature tours. We have designed this programme to offer you the most and the best of the Tambopata National Reserve.

Tambopata is rich in biodiversity. There are over 1500 distinct species of butterflies and 650 species of birds. Around eight species of Macaws including Scarlet Macaw inhabit Tambopata. 

Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick or Tambopata Clay Lick is a unique experience. Hundreds of brightly coloured Macaws, parrots and parakeets fly to the cliffs to eat clay. The clay in Chuncho is rich with a distinct salt that helps these birds to flush out toxins from their body. 

Tambopata, the name derives from the emblematic Tambopata River that originates at Lake Titicaca and flows down to the Peruvian Amazon. In Quechua – “Tambo” means building and “Pata” means “high place”. 

Tambopata Rainforest is home to “Ese Eja” , a group of native indigenous community. They have been living there for decades. Ese Eja in Quechua means people. Palma Real, Sonene and Infierno are three Ese Eja communities. 

The main source of income of Ese Eja is from fishing, farming and hunting. Gradually now they have started participating in tourism activities. We at Palotoa Amazon Travel employ Ese Ejas as boatmen and chefs. We give them an opportunity to get familiarised with the world outside the Amazon Rainforest. 

• Package / Tour: Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick 3D/2N
• Price 2023: USD$ 430.00
• Locations Visited: Tambopata River and Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick
• Frequency: 5 Times of week
• Physical Grading: 1-2-3-4-5

DETAILED PROGRAM

Day 1 – Puerto Maldonado – Tambopata National Park

We will be picking you up from the bus terminal or Puerto Maldonado Airport and will transfer you to our office. We will then give you a short briefing on what to expect on your three days Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick Tour. 

If you are carrying any heavy luggage, we recommend you to leave it at our office while you are on the tour. 

We will then drive you in our 4X4 for an hour to the boat pier. Here we will be boarding our motorized boat to our lodge deep in the Tambopata National Park. The hotel staff will extend a warm welcome to you. 

Here we will be accommodating you in an ensuite room. We will then serve a typical Amazonian meal for lunch. After lunch, we will hike on one of the interesting trails through the river banks to see different animals, mammals, snakes and insects.

After the tour, we will return to the lodge where dinner will be served.

Day 2 – Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick – Spotting Caiman & Jungle Exploring:

Our second day begins early in the morning at 0400 AM. We will be embarking on an hour and a half boat ride to see the Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick. This is an unmissable sight in South America. 

The boat ride from the lodge to Chuncho itself is interesting. You will be spotting many mammals and animals on the riverbanks, including Capybaras. They are the world’s largest rodents. 

After the Tambopata Macaw Clay Lick experience, we will return to the lodge for breakfast and spend the morning relaxing in the hammocks amidst the world’s largest rainforest – Amazon. After lunch, we will hike on one of the trails through the botanical garden. 

On this tour, you will be able to see different species of plants, flowers and fruits. Our local expert will share the insights of these plants and its uses among locals. We will then continue the trail to spot more animals and birds. 

After witnessing the sunset, we will be returning to the lodge for dinner. After dinner, we will be embarking on a short night tour to spot some nocturnal animal and insects. 

Day 3 – Tambopata Lodge / Puerto Maldonado City – Airport or Bus Station:

Another early day of the three days Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick tour. We will be leaving at day break to explore more biodiversity of Tambopata. After the tour, we will return to the lodge for breakfast.

We will then check out from the lodge and take the motorboat back to the boat pier where our driver will be waiting to transfer us back to our office. 

Depending on your flight/bus time, we can transfer you to the airport or bus terminal. 

IMAGES TAMBOPATA CHUNCHO

CHUNCHO MACAW CLAY LICK TOUR INCLUDES

• Pick up from the airport or bus station,
• Professional tour guide
• Land transfer (4X4)
• Motor boat
• All meals, breakfast, Lunch, dinner
• Mineral water
• 2 night at Lodge
• Rubber boots
• Frist-aid Kit
• Entrance tickets to the Tambopata National Reserve.

YOU SHOULD BRING

• Mosquito repellent
• Camera
• Flashlight
• Binoculars
• Personal items
• Sunscreen, hiking shoes
• Long and shirts pants
• Hat, extra socks

Frequently asked questions answered

What is the size of the groups?

The size of the group is 9 people per guide; if we have more than (10 to 14), we send a second guide (not an assistant). If there are more than 14 people, we divide into 2 totally independent groups both with their own cars, boats, guides and cooks.

Can the boats have a roof?

Yes, the boats have roofs that will protect them from sun and rain. This does not ensure that you do not get wet during the navigation because it could get wet on the sides.

Do they provide water to drink during the tours? Is it purified water?

We request that hikers bring their own water the first day, since the containers with water will be accessible at dinner time. The rest of the trip, we will provide bottled and purified mineral water that we bring from Cusco.

How is the food?

Our meals are varied and taste of our hikers. In addition they are foods that last the heat and humidity of the rainforest.
Breakfasts consist of omelettes, scrambled eggs, pancakes, etc.

How are camping equipment?

To be comfortable we provide tents with capacity for 4 people for 2 people, we provide comfortable mats. The tents do not need a musketeer, because they carry musketeers at the door.It is necessary to take a sleeping to the Camouflaged House, which you can replace it with a thin blanket or if you want you can rent it with us for $ 2.00 a day.

Do you guarantee to see birds in the Macaw Clay Licks?

The dry season is a good season to see these birds, the reason is that birds in some stations migrate to places of fruit production, or in some cases eat only seeds per season. The seeds are toxic in general to prevent birds from eating them; however, if the macaws eat them, they increase the poison in their stomachs and to neutralize the acids and poisons that are produced in their stomachs they eat nutritious clay.

In the rainy season there are many fruits until the beginning of the dry season, which is May. Then the macaws eat less seeds and fruits that are less toxic and feel less need to eat the clay, this means that there are few macaws present; at midday of the dry season there could be the presence of 100 to 150 macaws present in a morning, unlike only 10 to 50 at the end of the rainy season.

What temperatures are there in the Manu?

The first night at Rainforest Lodge (600 m.a s.l.) at temperature is around 27 ° C. In the low forest of the Manu the temperature at night is normally around 27 ° C, and during the day about 35 ° C, as always cold winds from Patagonia could reach the Manu area, and the temperature could drop around of 10 ° C. These “Friajes” are very common in the southeast of the hemisphere, the wind season (between April until the end of August)

Are there many walks?

There are not many walks in the sense of going far. All walks are done slowly. This is because most of you will find vegetation in the forest and be available to see the animals; giving enough time to see the surroundings and also hear it. The first day of the Tour we have afternoon walks around 2 hours. The second day is more to observe birds and animals along the Alto Madre de Dios River, with fewer walks than the other days.

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