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Tambopata Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick – Half-Day Jungle Tour
This is one of our most popular wildlife tours in Tambopata! Highly recommended for guests staying at La Habana Amazon Reserve or Puerto Maldonado.
Experience one of the most exciting wildlife encounters in Peru on our Tambopata Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick tour. This half-day jungle excursion departs early in the morning from Puerto Maldonado or La Habana Amazon Reserve. It takes you deep into the Tambopata National Reserve to witness vibrant macaws, parrots, and parakeets at one of the Amazon’s most active and colorful clay licks.
If you're staying longer in the Amazon, you can extend your experience with our 3-Day Tambopata Jungle Tour. This adventure includes guided hikes, lake canoeing, and night walks. You may also enjoy a full-day visit to Sandoval Lake, one of Tambopata’s top birdwatching destinations.
To learn more about conservation efforts in the region, visit the official Tambopata National Reserve page.
About the Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick
The Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick is one of the most spectacular wildlife observation sites in the Amazon rainforest. Located deep within the Tambopata National Reserve, this exposed clay wall along the riverbank attracts hundreds of macaws, parrots, and parakeets at dawn. The birds are drawn by the clay's rich mineral content and gather in a colorful, noisy congregation that offers unforgettable sightings and photographic opportunities. Chuncho is particularly renowned for the presence of all three large macaw species—scarlet, red-and-green, and blue-and-yellow. These magnificent birds are often seen in large flocks as they descend to feed.
The experience is enhanced by the tranquility of the morning hours, making it a must-visit for birdwatchers, nature lovers, and anyone interested in authentic Amazonian biodiversity. Chuncho is also the only clay lick tour in the Tambopata National Reserve where jaguar sightings have been reported during the dry season (June to October). The journey to the site offers a rare opportunity to spot this elusive predator along the riverbanks in the early morning.
Tour Overview
The Tambopata Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick tour offers a rare chance to observe dozens of vibrant macaws and parrots in their natural habitat. Departing before dawn, this guided journey combines land and river navigation to reach a remote observation area. There, macaws, parakeets, and parrots gather at first light to feed on mineral-rich clay. A favorite among birdwatchers and wildlife photographers, this tour offers a front-row seat to one of the Amazon’s most colorful natural spectacles.
During the river journey, guests may encounter a variety of wildlife such as capybaras, herons, toucans, caimans, or howler monkeys along the riverbanks. Your guide is a certified birding and nature expert. They are equipped with a spotting scope, binoculars, and a printed field guide to help you identify macaws, parrots, and other species observed during the experience.
Itinerary – Half-Day Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick Tour
The tour begins at 3:00 AM with an early departure from La Habana Amazon Reserve or from your hotel in Puerto Maldonado. As the rainforest slowly emerges from darkness, you’ll travel by land for about an hour and a half, followed by a scenic one-hour boat ride along the Tambopata River. The quiet of dawn is occasionally broken by the calls of howler monkeys or the sight of capybaras resting on the riverbanks—early signs of the wildlife that awaits.
Upon arrival at the Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick, you’ll settle into a secluded observation point facing a towering clay wall nestled along the riverbank. As daylight increases, the site comes alive with color and movement. Dozens of scarlet, blue-and-yellow, and red-and-green macaws arrive in flocks, circling overhead before descending to feed on the mineral-rich clay. They are soon joined by parrots and parakeets, creating one of the most visually striking and acoustically powerful scenes in the Amazon. Your guide, equipped with a telescope and printed field guide, helps you identify each species and understand their behaviors.
After this incredible wildlife display, a picnic breakfast is served right in the heart of the forest, offering a tranquil moment to rest and take in your surroundings. Those interested may join an optional short walk along the forest edge, where toucans, squirrel monkeys, or raptors are often spotted. During the dry season, jaguar tracks are sometimes found along the trails—an exciting reminder of the reserve’s richness and remoteness.
The return journey by boat and road offers additional opportunities to spot wildlife under the warm light of mid-morning. By around 12:00 PM, you’ll be back at La Habana Amazon Reserve or dropped off at your hotel, carrying with you the memory of one of the most vivid and unforgettable natural encounters the Amazon has to offer.
What’s Included
- Pickup and drop-off from La Habana Amazon Reserve or Puerto Maldonado hotels
- Certified naturalist guide (English/Spanish)
- Roundtrip transportation (land and river)
- Entrance fees to Tambopata National Reserve
- Picnic breakfast at the clay lick site
- Use of lifejackets and safety equipment
- Use of binoculars and spotting scope
- Printed animal and bird identification guide
What to Bring
- Binoculars for birdwatching (available to rent)
- Light jacket or fleece (early mornings can be cool)
- Insect repellent with DEET
- Reusable water bottle
- Camera with zoom lens
- Sunscreen and hat
- Comfortable hiking shoes or boots
- Rain poncho or waterproof jacket
Optional Add-Ons
- Private guide service
- Macaw photography lens rental
- Afternoon canopy walk or river kayaking (available on request at extra cost)
What’s Not Included
- Flights or transportation to/from Puerto Maldonado
- Travel insurance
- Tips for guide and boat crew (optional)
- Binoculars (available for rent upon request)
- Personal expenses and additional meals not mentioned
Ready to Experience the Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick?
Don’t miss your chance to witness one of the most breathtaking natural shows in the Amazon rainforest. Availability is limited due to early departure logistics and park access regulations. Whether you're staying at La Habana Amazon Reserve or in Puerto Maldonado, we’ll handle all the details. Secure your spot now and prepare for a morning filled with color, wildlife, and unforgettable jungle landscapes.
Booking & Contact
To book this tour or inquire about availability:
- Email: contact@habanatambopata.com
- WhatsApp: +51 935 485 301
- Website: www.habanatambopata.com
Please mention your lodging location when reserving. A 50% deposit is required to confirm your booking. Final balance is payable at check-in (cash or credit card).
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Itineraries
Tambopata Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick
Half-Day Jungle Tour
The experience begins at 3:00 am with a pickup from your hotel in Puerto Maldonado or directly from La Habana Amazon Reserve. As the rest of the town sleeps, you begin a quiet journey into the remote rainforest. The vehicle travels through jungle roads under a starry sky, while the forest gradually stirs with early bird calls and the first hints of dawn. After about an hour and a half on land, the route continues by boat, navigating the upper Tambopata River—a serene and immersive passage through one of the most pristine areas of the Amazon. Along the way, there are chances to spot wildlife in the early light: capybaras gathered near the water’s edge, white egrets perched in silence, or caimans resting motionless on the muddy banks.
Upon arrival at the Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick, travelers settle into a riverside observation area with a direct view of the exposed clay wall. As the sun begins to rise, vibrant flocks of macaws begin to arrive from all directions. Scarlet, red-and-green, and blue-and-yellow macaws circle above in groups before descending to feed on the mineral-rich clay, a vital source of nutrients for their diet. Their calls echo through the forest canopy, joined by green parrots and small parakeets that cluster on the edges. The scene is a stunning combination of movement, color, and sound—one of the most iconic spectacles of the Amazon. Guides are equipped with high-quality binoculars, telescopes, and printed field guides to help you identify each species and better understand their behaviors.
After observing the macaws in their natural ritual, a well-prepared breakfast is served near the river. With the jungle surrounding you and the sounds of birds nearby, it is a quiet and restorative pause. For those interested, a short optional walk is offered through nearby trails to look for squirrel monkeys, toucans, or signs of larger animals. Depending on the season, especially during the dry months from June to October, there’s even a possibility of spotting jaguar tracks along the riverbanks—reminders of how alive and untamed this protected forest truly is.
The return journey offers more opportunities for wildlife sightings. The Tambopata River, now fully lit by the morning sun, reveals new activity: kingfishers darting between branches, river turtles sunning on logs, and families of capybaras relaxing in the shade. As you approach Puerto Maldonado or return to La Habana Amazon Reserve around midday, the memory of the macaws’ dazzling display and the peacefulness of the river lingers. This half-day jungle tour delivers not just a chance to see wildlife, but to feel part of the Amazon itself—deep, untamed, and unforgettable.
- Pickup and drop-off from your hotel in Puerto Maldonado or La Habana Amazon Reserve
- Roundtrip transport (1.5 hours by land + 1 hour by boat each way)
- Entrance fees to Tambopata National Reserve
- Bilingual naturalist guide (English/Spanish), expert in birdwatching and rainforest ecology
- Picnic breakfast served at the clay lick observation area
- Spotting scope and binoculars for shared use during wildlife viewing
- Printed wildlife field guide to help identify birds and mammals
- Safety gear, including lifejackets on the boat
- Optional guided walk along forest trails after the macaw activity
- Flights or transportation to/from Puerto Maldonado (you must arrive in the city the day before or early morning)
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended for all travelers)
- Tips for the guide and boat crew (optional, based on service)
- Personal binoculars (available to rent upon request)
- Additional meals or snacks not specified in the itinerary
- Personal expenses such as souvenirs or beverages outside the picnic breakfast
1. What time does the tour start and end?
The tour begins with a 3:00 AM pickup and concludes around 12:00 PM, returning you to your hotel or lodge by midday.
2. Do I need to stay at La Habana Amazon Reserve to join the tour?
No. The tour is open to all travelers staying in Puerto Maldonado or at La Habana Amazon Reserve. Pickup and drop-off are included from either location.
3. How long is the journey to the clay lick?
The trip involves approximately 1.5 hours by land and 1 hour by boat each way.
4. Will I definitely see macaws?
While sightings depend on weather and natural conditions, Chuncho is one of the most active clay licks in the Amazon. Most tours observe multiple macaw species and large flocks of parrots and parakeets.
5. What kind of wildlife might I see besides macaws?
You may see capybaras, caimans, toucans, squirrel monkeys, herons, and possibly jaguar tracks, especially during the dry season (June–October).
6. Is breakfast included in the tour?
Yes. A picnic breakfast is served at the clay lick site and includes fruit, bread, coffee or tea, and other local items.
7. Is the tour physically demanding?
The tour includes boat and vehicle travel and a short optional walk on flat forest trails. It is accessible to most travelers with moderate mobility.
8. What should I bring?
We recommend insect repellent, a light jacket, water bottle, camera with zoom lens, sunscreen, comfortable shoes, and a rain poncho.
9. Do you provide binoculars?
Yes. Binoculars and a spotting scope are available for shared use. You can also bring your own or request a rental in advance.
10. Is the tour available year-round?
Yes, this tour operates year-round. Wildlife activity is generally highest during the dry season from June to October.
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