Tambopata: Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick 2d/1n
- 10k reviews 2d/1n
Join this 2-day, 1-night tour of the Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick. Collpa refers to a place where birds and mammals come to eat clay rich in sodium to aid in their digestion.
Throughout this experience, you will explore the renowned Chuncho Clay Licks located in the Tambopata National Reserve in the Madre de Dios region, southeast of the country.
This reserve covers an area of 274,690 hectares (1,061 mi2) and is home to approximately 1,000 species of butterflies, 100 mammal species, 600 bird species, and hundreds of species of trees and plants. During your visit to this earthly paradise, you will see monkeys, parrots, macaws, caimans, toucans, and much more.
Itinerary
- Pick-up from the airport, bus terminal or your hotel in Puerto Maldonado.
- Transfer by vehicle to our office (approximately 15 minutes).
- The pick-up time will be coordinated one day in advance.
- 10:00 Tour begins at our office in Puerto Maldonado.
- 10:10 Journey from Puerto Maldonado to the lodge.
- The first part of the journey is by vehicle (approximately 2 hours).
- The second part is by boat along the Tambopata River (approximately 30 minutes).
- During the boat ride upstream, you may spot riverbank birds, capybaras, white caimans, and more.
- 13:00 Arrival at the lodge, orientation and lunch.
- 15:00 Jungle walk among ancient trees.
- Learn about the rainforest and its flora and fauna.
- You may encounter chestnut trees, monkeys, and other mammals.
- 18:00 Night walk to spot caimans, capybaras, and possibly a wild cat.
- 19:00 Dinner at the lodge.
- 21:00 Optional night walk for wildlife spotting.
- Look for insects, spiders, tarantulas, snakes, armadillos, nocturnal monkeys, or even a tapir near the lodge.
- 22:00 Overnight stay at the lodge.
- 4:30 Wake-up with a delicious cup of coffee.
- 5:00 Travel from the lodge to Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick.
- Boat ride upstream along the Tambopata National Reserve (approximately 1 hour).
- Enjoy the spectacular scenery!
- You have a 20% chance of spotting a jaguar or an anaconda.
- 6:00 Arrival at Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick.
- Watch the breathtaking macaw spectacle with expert guidance from your tour guide.
- 11:00 Enjoy a delicious breakfast overlooking Chuncho Clay Lick.
- 12:00 Short visit to the site museum to learn more about these birds.
- 13:00 Return to the lodge + lunch.
- 14:00 Visit Mississippi Waterfall.
- Take a refreshing dip in the waterfall.
- Learn about some of the local crops grown in this region.
- 15:00 approx. Return to Puerto Maldonado.
- First, a 20-minute boat ride downstream.
- Then, a 2-hour journey by vehicle.
- The exact return time will depend on your flight or bus schedule.
- You guide will coordinate this directly with your guide, the day before.
- 18:00 approx. Arrival in Puerto Maldonado.
- Drop-off at your hotel, bus terminal or airport, it’s your choice.
- End of our services.
Price
Group tours:
- $220 per person.
- * $ = american dollars.
- Group = shared service with other tourists.
- * If your group is large, contact us for discounts.
Details
Included:
Day 1: Reception + boat ride and activities
| Included | Group Tours |
| Flight or bus tickets to get to Puerto Maldonado | ❌ |
| Pick-up from the airport, bus terminal, or hotel in Puerto Maldonado | ✅ |
| Breakfast | ❌ |
| Lunch and dinner with vegetarian options | ✅ |
| Professional guide authorised by the Government | ✅ |
| Tourist vehicle and boat for transfers/tours | ✅ |
| First aid kit | ✅ |
| Expenses not mentioned | ❌ |
| Overnight stay in a tourist lodge | ✅ |
Day 2: Chuncho Macaw clay lick + return to Puerto Maldonado
| Included | Group Tours |
| Breakfast and lunch with vegetarian options | ✅ |
| Dinner | ❌ |
| Professional guide authorised by the Government | ✅ |
| Tourist vehicle and boat for transfers/tours | ✅ |
| First aid kit | ✅ |
| Expenses not mentioned | ❌ |
| Return transfer to the airport, bus terminal, or hotel in Puerto Maldonado | ✅ |
| Return transport to your country (flights, buses) | ❌ |
| Hotel | ❌ |
Characteristics of our guides:
- They are graduates of the National Amazonian University of Madre de Dios and other educational institutions.
- All have completed first aid courses.
- They are 100% responsible, professional, experts in ecotourism, and Amazonian biodiversity.
- They speak fluent Spanish and English.
Tourist Lodge:
This Amazonian tour includes a stunning lodge with private bathrooms, hot showers, and mosquito nets. The most important thing is that our lodge is designed to blend with the natural environment of the Amazon, ensuring minimal visual impact on the surroundings.
Meal
We provide local food with vegetarian options available at no extra cost. Please inform us in advance of any dietary restrictions on the booking form and remind your guide upon arrival at the lodge.
More details:
Type of tour:
- 100% group tours (shared service with other tourists).
- Group size: 5 to 20 tourists per group. We usually handle small groups.
Schedules of the tours: Please, see itinerary.
Language of the guided tour: Spanish and English simultaneously.
Accessibility: Not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
What do I bring?
- Basic:
- Valid original passport.
- Extra cash in US dollars or Peruvian soles preferably.
- Personal medication.
- Sunscreen factor 70 or more.
- Water bottle.
- Insect repellent.
- Personal care products.
- Clothing:
- Hiking boots and ankle-high shoes.
- Sandals for walking around the lodge.
- Light-coloured cotton long trousers.
- Bermuda shorts.
- Light-coloured cotton long-sleeve shirts.
- Waterproof jacket.
- Rain poncho.
- Hat to protect your face and neck.
- UV-protection sunglasses.
- Equipment:
- Small backpack (10 – 15 liters).
- Recommended:
- Camera equipment (bring your long lens).
- Power bank.
- Binoculars.
- Swimwear.
- Towel.
- Headlamp with extra batteries.
- Snacks: energy bars, sweets, chocolates, nuts, etc.
WhatsApp:
Notes
Before you go to the Tambopata National Reserve
The best time to take the tour
Visit it during the dry season, which lasts from April to November. May and October offer the best weather conditions.
Is this for me?
Recommended for all travellers seeking adventure in the Peruvian jungle. No acclimatisation is needed as it is located at 183 m a.s.l. (600 ft).
Minimum age
There is no minimum age limit, but we recommend children aged 5 and above.
Visiting the Tambopata National Reserve independently
It is not possible to visit the Tambopata National Reserve independently. The authorities of the Tambopata National Reserve require that entry be accompanied by a professional guide for the protection of the reserve and the safety of visitors. Hiring a travel agency such as Inkan Milky Way offers the advantage of having experienced guides who know the Tambopata Reserve area well.
Mobile phone coverage
There is sporadic mobile phone coverage; however, there is no internet signal.
The climate
The climate in the Tambopata Reserve is very warm.
Difference between the Tambopata National Reserve and the Manu National Park
In a National Reserve, resources can be used, but with regulations that limit economic activities in that area. However, in a National Park, the direct use of resources is not allowed. In both cases, the goal is to protect biodiversity.
The Tambopata National Reserve covers an area of 274,690 hectares (2,746.9 km² or 1,060.5 mi²) of pure nature, similar in size to the iconic Yosemite National Park in the USA.
Thanks to its immense variety of well-preserved habitats, Tambopata is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world, with over 1,000 species of butterflies, 100 species of mammals, 600 species of birds, and hundreds of species of trees and plants. During your visit, you are likely to see monkeys, parrots, macaws, caimans, toucans, and much more.
The Manu National Park is located in the Cusco and Madre de Dios departments, covering an area of 1,716,300 hectares (17,163 km² or 6,626 mi²), with a great variety of altitude levels and biodiversity of flora and fauna. Nearly 160 species of mammals, over 1,000 species of birds (mostly resident), more than 140 species of amphibians, 50 species of snakes, 40 species of lizards, 6 species of turtles, 3 species of caimans, 210 species of fish, etc., have been recorded.
Store your luggage at our office
During your trip, you can store your main luggage at our office in the city of Puerto Maldonado. You can leave it safely and free of charge.
You can also leave your luggage at your hotel, as most hotels offer this service. Please do not leave any valuable item in your luggage; store them in the hotel safe and get a detailed receipt.
Lost property
Please pay close attention to your belongings. You are solely responsible for all your belongings during the tour.
¿Cómo llego a Puerto Maldonado?
Desde Lima:
- Lo mejor que puedes hacer es tomar un vuelo directo.
- Lima-Puerto Maldonado en vuelo: 1h 45 min.
- Te recomendamos llegar a Puerto Maldonado por la mañana, antes de las 9 horas o en su defecto llega a Puerto Maldonado el día anterior al tour.
- LATAM Airlines es lo lo mejor, los vuelos siempre salen a la hora programada, casi nunca hay cancelaciones.
Desde Cusco o Puno:
- Lo mejor que puedes hacer es tomar un bus el día anterior al tour.
- Tiempo estimado de viaje en bus: 9 a 10 horas.
- Te recomendamos llegar a Puerto Maldonado por la mañana, antes de las 9 horas o en su defecto llega a Puerto Maldonado el día anterior al tour.
- También hay vuelos pero es bien difícil encontrar vuelos directos, la mayoría de los vuelos hacen una escala en Lima.
Propinas (gratificación)
Dejar propina durante la excursión a Tambopata es normal; los guías y personal del albergue esperan una propina; a pesar de que el pago es muy bueno, algo extra siempre es bienvenido ya que ellos realizan un arduo trabajo. Por lo general toda la colecta de las propinas es repartido entre todo el equipo.
Recogidas y horarios
- Todos los horarios de recogida y traslados son aproximados y se coordinarán un día antes del tour.
- Tu guía coordinará todos los detalles de la hora de inicio de la caminata un día antes del evento.
- Los horarios de llegada a los atractivos a visitar son aproximados.
- Todos los horarios de inicio y finalización de la caminata son aproximados.
Tipo de vehículo y asientos
- Todos los vehículos son:
- 100% turísticos, súper cómodos.
- Autorizados por el Ministerio de Transportes del Perú.
- Tu reservas un asiento en el bus; no necesariamente un número específico de asiento.
- Los compañeros de viaje o parejas se sientan juntos al 99%, muy rara vez puede ocurrir lo contrario y es parte de la dinámica de esta excursión.
Botes turísticos
- Autorizados por el Ministerio de Transportes del Perú.
- Los botes son 100% adecuados para realizar observaciones de flora y fauna.
- Tamaño: 10 a 20 pax.
Terms
We are an upfront team: As a traveler, you have the right to information before making a purchase. We don’t hide any information from you. The more informed you are, the better you’ll enjoy your trip.
Operativity – closed dates of Salkantay
The Salkantay trek is closed in the month of February every year due to the rainy season and trail maintenance. We do not offer the Salkantay trek throughout the month of February. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
This tour is subject to change without prior notice due to weather conditions, strikes, or any other events that may affect the normal operation of the tour.
Additional costs
There may be additional costs incurred without prior notice due to political instability, strikes, landslides, etc.
Delays
There might be delays in the trek without prior notice due to political instability, strikes, weather, etc.
Itinerary modification
There could be changes in the itinerary (places to visit along the route) without prior notice due to landslides, security reasons, strikes, political instability, illnesses, unforeseen circumstances.
Travel date rescheduling
Can I reschedule my visit date to Machu Picchu?
No, once we purchase your ticket for Machu Picchu, there will be no going back or modifying your entry date.
Can I reschedule my visit date to Machu Picchu if there are strikes?
Of course; however, a strike needs to occur to modify the entry date to Machu Picchu. For example, if there’s a strike announced for next week and it might affect your itinerary, you’ll still have to attempt to enter MP. If, unfortunately, you couldn’t enter, then we’ll reschedule your MP entry for the following day.
You won’t be able to request rescheduling without having attempted to enter MP previously.
Can I reschedule my travel date to Salkantay?
- No, si ya compramos tu ticket de ingreso a Machu Picchu, no habrá marcha atrás.
- Somos positivos, por más que haya huelgas anunciadas, haremos lo posible para hacer la caminata como estaba programado originalmente debido a que en gran parte las huelgas anunciadas no llegan a ocurrir y si ocurren no afectan al tour.
- Si la huelga está confirmada al 100% y estamos súper seguros de que afectará al tour, reprogramaremos tu caminata a Salkantay y por consiguiente la fecha de ingreso a Machu Picchu.
- lll
- No, once we’ve purchased your Machu Picchu entrance ticket, there’s no turning back.
- We’re optimistic, even if there are strikes announced, we’ll do our best to conduct the trek as originally scheduled because often announced strikes don’t actually happen, and even if they do, they don’t affect the tour.
- If the strike is confirmed 100% and we are absolutely sure it will impact the tour, we’ll reschedule your Salkantay trek and consequently the Machu Picchu entry date.
In conclusion: It will all depends on whether we can modify the entry date to Machu Picchu, and for us to be able to do so, there must be verifiable force majeure, and the whole process must be done at least 1 month in advance.
Cancellations
Cancel with a minimum of 7 days in advance for a partial refund; otherwise, there will be no refund.
Refunds
- Please inform us at least 7 days in advance for a partial refund.
- The Ministry of Culture (MP tickets) doesn’t make refunds, so the cost paid for entrance tickets to Machu Picchu will not be refunded for any reason.
- We don’t issue refunds in the event of delayed flights, landslides, bad weather or strikes that affect the tour.
- We will charge 15% of the total price paid for administrative costs.
- You will receive the refund within 7 business days.
Refund process:
- We preferably refund you through PayPal; otherwise, we will use Western Union.
- When we send you the refund, we don’t include the commission that PayPal or Western Union normally charges. The money transfer companies will apply the respective commission on your refund.
- The money transfer commission charged by PayPal or Western Union is approx. 5%.
- If you paid with a credit card, we refund you less than 5% of the total payment you made. The 5% represents the commission charged by the banks.
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