Explore the Best of Tambopata - Perfect Combination ,
The Complete Tambopata Experience
- Information
- Tour Plan
- Route
- Gallery
- Reviews
- Download Info
What's included
- Activities Listed in the Program
- Collpas Inn Lodge
- Collpas Inn Lodge Nights
- Duffel Bags for Repacking
- English Speaking Guide
- Meals (according the itinerary)
- Park Entrance Tickets
- Purified Water to Refill
- Rubber Boots
- Tambopata National Reserve Ticket
- Transfer from the Airport
- Transport (Air Conditioned Minivan or SUV)
- Alcoholic Drinks
- Binoculars (Available to rent)
- Single Supplement Upgrade
Tambopata Best Jungle Tour: 4-Day Adventure
Answer the call of the wild. Our Tambopata Best Jungle Tour is your gateway to an unforgettable 4-day journey into the heart of the Peruvian Amazon, where every moment is a discovery waiting to happen. This isn’t just a trip; it’s a meticulously crafted experience designed for nature lovers seeking a profound connection with one of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems. The Tambopata Best Jungle Tour ensures you witness the stunning beauty of nature firsthand.
Why settle for a glimpse when you can have a full immersion? We’ve combined three of Tambopata’s most iconic highlights into one seamless itinerary, ensuring you maximize your wildlife encounters and create memories that will last a lifetime. Prepare to be mesmerized by the magic of the Amazon, a unique and vibrant world where every sight, sound, and smell tells a story. The adventure you’ve been dreaming of is finally here.
Join us on the Tambopata Best Jungle Tour for an adventure filled with wildlife encounters and unforgettable moments.
Four Highlights of Your Tambopata Adventure
Our program focuses on what makes Tambopata a world-class wildlife destination:
1. Sandoval Lake Immersion Your adventure begins with an overnight stay at a lodge near the breathtaking Sandoval Lake. This is your chance to witness the jungle at its most vibrant—during the serene hours of sunset and sunrise. An overnight stay here is a game-changer, as it significantly increases your chances of spotting magnificent giant river otters, black caimans, and a variety of monkeys and birds. While day-trippers rush to get back, you’ll be fully immersed in the magical sounds of the rainforest as it comes alive at dusk and dawn.
2. The Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick Prepare to witness one of the world’s most spectacular natural phenomena. Our journey takes you to the Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick, a pilgrimage site for bird lovers. At sunrise, hundreds of vibrant macaws—including the magnificent Red-and-green, Scarlet, and Blue-and-gold Macaws—descend from the jungle canopy to ingest the mineral-rich clay. This incredible display of color and sound is an experience that will be etched in your memory forever.
3. Tambopata River Safari The journey itself is part of the adventure. Navigating the Tambopata River by boat is a wildlife safari in its own right, offering exceptional possibilities for observing unique wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for gentle capybaras grazing along the riverbanks and powerful black caimans lurking in the water. This scenic river ride is an integral part of the experience, providing continuous wildlife spotting opportunities.
4. Rainforest Canopy Tower. As an added bonus, our Tambopata Best Jungle Tour also includes a visit to one of the largest canopy towers at Collpas Inn Lodge. This provides a unique bird’s-eye view of the stunning rainforest canopy, offering a new perspective on the jungle and its inhabitants. From your views in the canopy tower, you’ll understand why this is part of the unbeatable Tambopata Best Jungle Tour.
Spending a night in the vicinity of Sandoval Lake within the Tambopata National Reserve is a truly exceptional experience for nature lovers. It’s far more immersive and rewarding than a simple day trip, and here’s why it stands out as a must-do for anyone visiting the Peruvian Amazon.
The Tambopata Best Jungle Tour offers the ultimate chance to connect with nature.
Sandoval Lake the Experience:
Our guests often rave about their experiences on the Tambopata Best Jungle Tour, emphasizing the magical moments shared with wildlife.
A Deeper Immersion into the Rainforest
A day trip to Sandoval Lake offers a beautiful glimpse, but an overnight stay allows you to experience the rainforest during its most active and magical hours.
- Sunset and Sunrise on the Lake: The calm, mirror-like waters of Sandoval Lake are a sight to behold, but they are particularly stunning at sunset and sunrise. Paddling a canoe as the jungle transitions from day to night, or waking up to the dawn chorus of birds and monkeys, is a profound and serene experience.
- Encounters with Giant River Otters: Sandoval Lake is one of the most reliable places in the Amazon to see the critically endangered giant river otters, often called “river wolves.” With an overnight stay, you can be on the water at dawn, when these magnificent, social creatures are most active, giving you a much higher chance of a close-up encounter as they hunt for fish.
- The Symphony of the Night: The rainforest truly comes alive after dark. A guided night walk reveals a hidden world of nocturnal creatures—from tarantulas, frogs, and snakes to night monkeys and a variety of insects. The sounds of the jungle at night, from the calls of howler monkeys to the buzzing of cicadas, create an unforgettable sensory experience that you can only fully appreciate when you’re there to sleep.
- Black Caiman Spotting: As the sun goes down, the black caimans that lurk in the lake’s waters become more visible. A night canoe trip with a flashlight allows you to see their glowing red eyes reflected in the darkness, a thrilling and a great photo opportunity.
Why It’s a Great Experience and a Must-Visit
People should visit and stay at Sandoval Lake for its unique combination of accessibility and biodiversity.
- Unparalleled Wildlife Density: Sandoval Lake is a biodiversity hotspot. Its unique oxbow lake ecosystem supports an incredible concentration of flora and fauna, making it an ideal place for wildlife observation. It is a refuge for a vast array of species, including six different types of monkeys, a stunning variety of birds like hoatzins and macaws, and the famous giant otters and black caimans.
- A “Best of Both Worlds” Itinerary: The journey to Sandoval Lake, involving a boat ride followed by a walk on a raised boardwalk, is an adventure in itself. This combination of transportation methods allows you to experience different parts of the ecosystem, from the riverbanks to the forest floor, maximizing your opportunities for discovery.
In essence, an overnight stay at Sandoval Lake transforms a simple tour into a deeply immersive journey, offering a rare opportunity to witness the Amazon’s hidden rhythms and its most charismatic creatures in their natural, untouched habitat.
What makes Unique the Chuncho Clay Lick?
Visiting the Chuncho Clay Lick is not merely an excursion; it’s a front-row seat to one of the most spectacular wildlife events in the Amazon. What makes this experience truly special is its unique combination of natural beauty, incredible biodiversity, and a dazzling display of avian behavior that is rarely seen elsewhere.
A Symphony of Color and Sound
Imagine sitting quietly as the first rays of dawn illuminate a massive clay cliff. The quiet air is suddenly filled with a growing chorus of squawks and chirps. Then, a vibrant flash of red, blue, and green fills the sky as hundreds of macaws and parrots descend to the riverbank. The Chuncho Clay Lick is a daily gathering place for these magnificent birds, creating a breathtaking, raucous spectacle of color and sound that will leave you speechless.
Why Do They Flock Here? A Fascinating Natural Phenomenon
This incredible event is not just for show—it’s a vital part of the macaws’ survival. The clay in these riverbanks is rich in essential minerals, such as sodium, which are scarce in the birds’ natural diet of fruits and seeds. By ingesting the clay, they supplement their nutrition and, more importantly, neutralize the toxins they consume. Witnessing this instinctive and communal behavior is a rare and intimate glimpse into the delicate balance of life in the Amazon.
The Ultimate Photo Opportunity
For photographers and nature enthusiasts, the Chuncho Clay Lick is a dream come true. You’ll be positioned in a strategic, discreet location that allows for incredible, up-close views without disturbing the birds. The backdrop of the lush rainforest and the vibrant plumage of the macaws against the backdrop of the clay cliff creates a perfect shot for capturing a moment you’ll never forget.
More Than Just Birds
The journey to the clay lick is an adventure in itself. Navigating the Tambopata River offers exceptional possibilities for spotting other wildlife, from the world’s largest rodent, the capybara, to sunbathing black caimans and even, with a bit of luck, the elusive jaguar prowling the riverbanks.
Visiting the Chuncho Clay Lick is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the Peruvian Amazon at its most dynamic and colorful. It’s an essential experience for anyone who wants to connect with the raw, untamed beauty of the neotropics. Come and see for yourself why this natural spectacle is hailed as one of the greatest on Earth.
Why Our Tour Is the Perfect Amazon Getaway
This Tambopata Jungle Tour is more than just a trip—it’s a journey meticulously crafted by a reliable tour operator, Wild Watch Peru. With our expertise and commitment to responsible tourism, you can explore this magnificent rainforest with confidence, knowing you are in the hands of professionals dedicated to your safety and a truly unforgettable experience.We invite travelers from around the world to join us. Witness the magic of the Amazon, from the calls of giant river otters at dawn to the vibrant spectacle of the Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick. Let us guide you on an adventure that will reconnect you with nature and fill you with a sense of wonder. Your Peruvian Amazon journey awaits.
- Day 1
- Day 2
- Day 3
- Day 4
Puerto Maldonado City - Sandoval Lake
Upon arrival, you will be met at the Puerto Maldonado Airport, bus terminal, or your local accommodation. From there, you will be transferred to our office for a brief stop to repack your luggage.
Next, we will begin a one-hour boat journey along the Madre de Dios River to the Sandoval Lake trail. After completing the necessary registration at the Tambopata National Reserve checkpoint, we will take a 3-kilometer walk along a boardwalk. This is an excellent opportunity to spot various wildlife, including monkeys, sloths, and macaws.
Continuing our journey, we will navigate a canoe through a tranquil channel, looking for reptiles like caimans and anacondas, before paddling across Sandoval Lake to our lodge. Once you have settled in and been introduced to the facilities, you will have time to relax.
In the afternoon, a guided walk along the lodge's trails will allow us to observe the rainforest's nocturnal creatures, such as tarantulas and other unique insects and spiders.
Sandoval Lake Exploration - Sunrise - Transfer to Puerto Maldonado
We'll start the day before dawn, waking up early to experience a breathtaking sunrise over Sandoval Lake. We'll paddle across the water as the jungle awakens, searching for the highly social giant river otters and other unique wildlife like red howler monkeys, squirrel monkeys, and colorful macaws.
After a delicious breakfast at the lodge, we'll begin our journey back. We'll paddle across the lake, walk the 3-kilometer boardwalk, and board our boat for the return trip to Puerto Maldonado.
From there, we'll take a two-hour drive to the Philadelfia river port before embarking on a new boat journey up the Tambopata River to the Collpas Inn Lodge.
Once we arrive at the lodge, we'll take an afternoon walk along the trails. Your guide will point out medicinal plants and help you look for wildlife such as peccaries and different species of monkeys. We'll end the day with a well-deserved dinner at the lodge.
Collpas Inn Lodge - Boat Ride - Chuncho Clay Lick
We'll begin the day with an early morning departure, navigating up the Tambopata River to witness a magnificent sunrise as we travel. Your guide will handle a brief registration at the checkpoint, allowing you to stay focused on the incredible scenery.
Next, we’ll take a short walk to a designated viewing spot along the riverbank to await the main event: the Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick. We'll sit patiently as hundreds of vibrant macaws and parrots descend from the jungle canopy to ingest the mineral-rich clay. This breathtaking and colorful spectacle, which can last for a couple of hours, is a photographer's dream.
Enjoy a picnic breakfast in the heart of this stunning natural arena. After the show, we’ll take a scenic boat ride back down the Tambopata River, where we'll continue our wildlife search for capybaras, caimans, and, with some luck, even the elusive jaguar.
After lunch at the lodge, we will take a guided walk through the forest. Your guide will provide insights into the delicate balance of the neotropical ecosystem and its diverse flora and fauna. The highlight of the afternoon will be climbing one of the highest canopy towers in the Amazon, offering a stunning bird's-eye view of the rainforest.
The evening will conclude with a guided night walk, where you can search for nocturnal creatures before or after dinner.
Collpas Inn Lodge - Puerto Maldonado City
Your last day in the Amazon will begin with an early wake-up call to the symphony of the rainforest, from the calls of tropical birds to the deep roars of red howler monkeys.
After a final breakfast at the lodge, we’ll start our journey back. Enjoy one last motorboat ride along the Tambopata River, watching the sunrise over the water and observing the artisanal gold mining operations along the banks.
We'll then take a minivan from the Philadelfia river port to Puerto Maldonado, where we will drop you off at the airport, bus terminal, or your accommodation in the city.
Travelicious Review
Our greatest testimonials come from those who have lived the adventure. Here’s what some of our recent guests have said about their Tambopata's Best Jungle Tour experience with us:
More about this tour
Before you go, make sure you're fully prepared for your jungle adventure. You can download our detailed packing list in a printable PDF format by clicking the link below.
- Download the Full Itinerary
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User Reviews & Comments
Ashok & Gita
We are back in India taking a bit of rest. You are a very good organiser of programs as per customer desire. We really appreciate what you did for us. Your team was excellent kind lovely people. Sending Luis for tambopata part of the program was a brilliant idea by you as I have so many bird photos even with my low quality camera. Again thank you and your team
27 August, 2025