Sandoval Lake - Macaw Clay Lick - 4 days

Day 01: Puerto Maldonado – Chuncho Lodge

The tour starts in the city of Puerto Maldonado. We’ll pick you up at your hotel in our private minivan, and then travel through the towering ancient trees until we reach Tambopata River. From here we’ll embark in boat on one of the most important rivers in Peru.  Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) perhaps the biggest rodent in the world, white caiman, rainbow colored macaw, and the timid jaguar inhabit this pristine jungle, and as they have Little fear of man, we have a good chance of seeing some of them.  Magnificent views on the river abound as we cruise through the crystalline waters. In the afternoon we’ll arrive at the Lodge where we’ll of course have time to explore the virgin forest.  A guided night walk is offered to encounter spiders at work, snakes and with luck we will see the night monkeys.

Day 02: Macaw Clay Lick (exploring)

4:30 AM boat departure for the Macaw clay lick. Which these gorgeous birds certainly do.  We’ll get to appreciate their spectacular color display as hundreds of them, as well as parakeets, and parrots, crowd the clay Wall to get their fill of the mineral rich earth. We’ll spend 4 hours here, taking in this amazing spectacle as well as the amazing vegetation around.  Lunch back at the lodge will be followed by refreshments and a walk into the pristine forest, with ample opportunity to see more of the unique wildlife of the area, highlights being peccaries, exotic birds, howler monkeys, capuchin monkeys, and many more. 

Day 03: Chuncho Lodge – Lake Sandoval – Maloka Lodge

Following breakfast we’ll head back in the early morning mist by motorized canoe from the main port, to go back to the entrance of the Tambopata National Reserve and then walk for two hours to the majestic Lake Sandoval. For hundreds of years this impressive vegetation has been untouched and harbors exceptional flora and fauna.  The high tree stands mean fantastic viewing opportunities: parrots flitting among the palm trees, howler monkeys feeding on the seeds near the water’s edge, or even giant river otters resting between trunks. Caiman and hoatzin (a large noisy prehistoric bird), and many other local river residents might make an appearance. Tonight we’ll spend the night near the Lake Sandoval in our comfortable and cozy hostel with amenities. The night also offers rare opportunities to see creatures in the midst of their nocturnal activities – we’ll of course take a night walk to observe them!

Day 04: Lake Sandoval – Puerto Maldonado – Cusco or Lima

In the morning after breakfast, we’ll change things up and go for a nature walk in Tambopata then return to Puerto Maldonado which takes about an hour.  Drop off at airport for those who need to get to their flights. We conclude our Manu visit here and hope you take away with you wonderful memories of your time here.