BIRDING MACAW CLAYLICK AND SANDOVAL OWBOW LAKE
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Trip Outline
Embark on an exciting journey of birding in Peru, where you can witness the awe-inspiring beauty of Tambopata and the Amazon lowlands. In Chuncho, hundreds of parakeets, parrots, and macaws gather every morning in a wild spectacle that’s a must-see for any nature lover. With a unique canopy tower, birding trails, and a pristine lake, Chuncho is a haven for birdwatchers.
Sandoval, a pristine lake located in the Tambopata National Reserve, is another gem waiting to be explored. Spanning 5 km wide, it’s considered the most beautiful lake in the southern Amazon. Meanwhile, Chuncho boasts the largest macaw clay lick in the Amazon, where you can catch a glimpse of these colorful birds in their natural habitat.
In just four days, you can experience the wonders of the neotropical Amazon rainforest and witness exceptional birding. And if you have an extra day to spare, consider extending your stay at one of the lodges to make the most of your trip.
This tour is designed to take you to the biggest macaw clay lick, where you can witness the gathering of the three largest macaw species, along with other parrots and parakeets. You’ll also get to explore a canopy tower and visit Sandoval, one of the most productive lakes in the Amazon Basin. Besides birds, keep an eye out for several species of primates, giant otters, and giant anteaters, which are regularly spotted in the area.
So pack your bags, grab your binoculars, and get ready for an unforgettable adventure of birding in Peru.
Itinerary
Puerto Maldonado to Chuncho Lodge
After our arrival from Cusco or Lima we will drive towards Tambopata River where Scaled Pigeon, White-tailed Kite, Sothern Caracara, Brazilian Teal, Purus and White-throated Jacamar, Point-tailed Palmcreeper are possibilities. We finally take a 15 minutes boat to our lodge and spend the rest of the afternoon at the trails. Owling is a possibility that night.
Macaw Clay lick and canopy Tower
Before sunrise we will start a boat drive for 45-minutes to one of the most spectaculars natural shows in the rainforest, Macaw Claylick, where every mourning hundreds of Psittacids visit it to get clay in order to obtain minerals and neutralize toxines of it´s daily diet. In first place, Mealy and Yellow-crowned Amazon, Blue-headed and Orange-cheecked Parrot, Dusky-headed, Tui and White-eyed Parakeets. While they are active, the larger Macaws are gathering to go to the wall of clay togheter. Red-and-Green, Scarlet and Blue-and-yellow Macaws are daily visitors. After mid-morning we take our boat back to the lodge on a slower, more leisurely search for Jaguars, Capybaras, Howler Monkeys and other wildlife are possibilites. In the Afternoon, after lunch we will take trails for understory mixed flocks and the canopy tower.
Sandoval Lake
After a short birding around the lodge and breakfast we will return to Puerto Maldonado and take a 20-minutes boat on the Madre de Dios River and start a 3 Km walk towards one of the most productive lakes in the Rainforest, Sandoval. The trail may give us the chance of Scaled Pigeon, Blue-headed Macaw, Paradise Jacamar, Channel-billed Toucan and one of the few places to find Black-faced Cotinga. Once at the lake, we must cross it with our first visit to the lake and have our fist views to some specialities such as Hoatzin, Green Ibis, Gray-cowled Woodrail, etc. After lunch at the lodge , we go back to the lake in order to seek for Agami Heron, Boat-billed Heron, Sungrebe, Sunbittern, Greater Ani, Anhinga, Osprey, Gray-lined Hawk, Silvered Antbird, Toucans, Woodpeckers and a large etc. Finally, the lake is well known of harboring a familiy of one of the most emblematic beasts in the Neotropical Rain forest, Giant Otter!
Sandoval and out
After breakfast we are gonna spend time in the garden where we may find Rusty-margined Flychatcher, Sulphury Flychatcher, Epaulet Oriole, Golden-bellied Euphonia among others. We later take the way to the Sandoval trail and boat ride back to Puerto Maldonado for our flight.
