- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Puerto Maldonado is located on the convergence of the Madre de Dios and Tambopata rivers. During the trip, you can appreciate bird species typical of the riverbanks, such as the black skimmer, playerito, crowned heron, jabirus (Brazilian wading bird), falcons, and various species of Martin kingfishers, swallows, and Venus flytraps. In January of 1994, National Geographic published an article about the TRC and the Guacamayos Project in Tambopata. It begins with a description of the daily spectacle observed in la colpa (parrot clay lick): "When the morning sun clears the Amazon tree line in southeastern Peru and strikes a gray-pink clay bank on the upper Tambopata River, one of the world's most dazzling wildlife spectacles is nearing its riotous peak. The steep bank has become a pulsing, 130 foot high palette of red, blue, yellow and green as more than a thousand parrots squabble over choice perches to grab a beakful of clay, a vital but mysterious part of their diet. More than a dozen parrot species will visit the clay lick throughout the day, but this midmorning crush belongs to the giants of the parrot world, the macaws."

DAY 1: PUERTO MALDONADO – AMAZON INN
Reception and transportation from the airport to the river port of Tambopata, in Puerto Maldonado. After a brief tour of the city, we depart in motorboats towards the Amazon Inn. Depending on the time the plane arrives, we will eat lunch in the boat or upon arrival to the lodge. Once we arrive to the Amazon Inn, you will receive a brief explanation of the ecotourism project, the only one of its kind. Next, we will take an excursion towards an observation tower overlooking the canopy of the forest. For this activity, we visit a tower of easily accessible wooden scaffolding and 35 meters (114.8 ft) tall, located 15 minutes on foot from the lodge. From the peak, you can appreciate a spectacular view of the river and its surroundings, and observe toucans, parrots, and macaws from above the trees. Return to the lodge to dine and watch a video about the Tambopata-Candamo Reserved Zone or take a nighttime stroll.

DAY 2: AMAZON INN – TAMBOPATA RESEARCH CENTER
At dawn we will visit the Tres Chimbadas Lake. After breakfast we will get to the Lake by catamaran and two native paddlers where we will sail silently around the lake, appreciating the area's fauna at its peak. Towards midday, return to the port to begin upstream, 4 or 5 hours, entering the pristine heart of the Reserved Zone. Arrival to the Tambopata Research Center early in the arternoon, welcomed by a flock of rescued, semi-wild macaws. Later, a stroll along a trail that passes through a bamboo forest, famous for its abundant rare and endemic birds of southeast Peru, that live only in this habitat. We return to the TRC for dinner. Later, we will take a nighttime stroll to find excellent opportunities to take snapshots of amphibians. We will see walos, horny toads, tree frogs, and an impressive variety of colored insects.

DAY 3: TAMBOPATA RESEARCH CENTER
At daybreak we will cross the river to observe the largest colpa (parrot clay lick) of macaws in the world, where hundreds of parrots and maccaws of up to 15 species congregate daily. Red and Green, Blue and Yellow, Scarlet, Red-bellied and Cherry-front macaws; Green Amazon; Blue-headed, Orange-cheeked, and White-bellied parrots; Gray-headed, Bald-eyed, Blue-winged parakeets, and Gray-beaked little parrots. This spectacle continues until the parrots sense danger, usually in the form of an eagle, and they withdraw simultaneously in an explosion of color and sounds. At midmorning, we return to eat breakfast. Later, we will stroll through the typical humid tropical forest, where there are less animals due to the time of day. This forest is home to gigantic Ceiba (silk-cotton) trees and strangling Ficus, as well as a large variety of mammals that can be sighted. Return for lunch. We take a long walk, rich in diversity, towards our destination, the aguajal, site where a large colony of Blue and Yellow Macaws and some Red-bellied Macaws make their nests and sleep. After an afternoon with the macaws, we return to the lodge for dinner.

DAY 4: TAMBOPATA RESEARCH CENTER
At dawn we visit the colpa of maccaws and later return for breakfast. The remainder of the morning we will walk on the Toucan Trail and visit a forest of firm soil. The community of birds and other wildlife that inhabit the hills of firm soil is very different from the sinking forest. After a short and easy hike, we will return to the lodge. After lunch, we will ride in a boat for 5 minutes to a lagoon, and spend the afternoon on a floating platform to observe up close, the birds that approach this clearing. Such birds include, shanshos, ducks, yanavicos, carpenter birds, chachalaca, parakeets, paucares, and various species of flytraps. Return for dinner and an optional nighttime stroll.

DAY 5: TAMBOPATA RESEARCH CENTER – AMAZONA INN
Visit the colpa of macaws and return for breakfast. At midmorning we will head back to the Amazon Inn and have refreshments on the boat. Arrive to the Amazon Inn in mid-afternoon. We will spend our last night in the lodge's jungle, with a “happy hour”. Dinner.

DAY 6: AMAZONA INN – PUERTO MALDONADO
After an early breakfast, return by boat to the airport in Puerto Maldonado.

TOUR INCLUSIONS

Accommodations in double and triple lodge rooms
Specific land and water
Transfers
Excursions with a bilingual tour guide
All meals specified