Living Jungle: Tambopata Adventure & Chuncho Collpa 4D/3N

🧭 Description

Embark on an immersive experience through the most pristine landscapes of the Peruvian Amazon. This 4-day tour takes you through rushing rivers, deep forests, and skies filled with colorful birds. More than a journey, it’s a true connection with wildlife, where every sound, every tree, and every glance of an animal reminds you of how alive the heart of the jungle is. Ideal for those looking to disconnect from the modern world and reconnect with nature in its purest form.

🗺️ Itinerary

In-depth exploration of the Tambopata National Reserve and Chuncho Clay Lick with spiritual connection, unparalleled biodiversity, and immersive experiences in the Peruvian rainforest.

🐾Day 1 – Welcome to the Jungle: First Contact with the Magic of the Amazon

🕘 Start of the trip:
Upon arrival in Puerto Maldonado, whether by air or land, our team will warmly welcome you. After a brief welcome, we will depart for the Madre de Dios River pier, where we will board a motorboat that will take us downriver for approximately 40 minutes.

🏡 Arrival at the Amazon Lodge:
Upon arrival at the lodge, located in a privileged corner of the jungle, we will enjoy a refreshing juice made with native fruits, followed by an introductory talk about safety regulations, local biodiversity, and the activities program.

🍽️ Traditional Amazonian Lunch:
The lodge’s kitchen offers dishes based on native ingredients such as plantain, paiche, camu camu, and cassava. A delicious meal will be served with a homemade touch that reflects the region’s culinary richness.

🌳 Guided Jungle Walk:
In the afternoon, we will take an interpretive walk in the heart of the rainforest. Our guides, experts in botany and ethnobiology, will share secrets about medicinal plants, ancient trees, bioluminescent fungi, and signs of wild animals. It is common to see groups of capuchin monkeys, flying squirrels, giant insects, and colorful birds.

🌒 Night Boat Safari:
When night falls, we will board the boat again to explore the river. Under the starry sky and armed with flashlights, we’ll venture into the darkness to observe the glowing eyes of caimans, search for capybaras on the banks, and, if we’re lucky, for armadillos, pacas, or bush foxes.

🍽️ Amazonian Dinner + Restful Rest:
Back at the lodge, we’ll dine by the light of solar lamps and rest in comfortable eco-friendly cabins with mosquito nets, surrounded by the night songs of the jungle.

🦜Day 2 – Macaw Encounter and Kayaking on the Madre de Dios River

🌅 Sunrise Departure:
Very early in the morning, before dawn, we’ll depart by boat to Puerto Maldonado, where we’ll board a vehicle that will take us along the Interoceanic Highway for approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to the Puerto Filadelfia checkpoint.

🛶 Entrance to the protected area – Chuncho Clay Lick:
From Puerto Filadelfia, we will sail again by boat along the Tambopata River for about 40 minutes until we reach the Chuncho Clay Lick, one of the most impressive natural spectacles in the Amazon.

🦜 Macaw, Parrot, and Parakeet Watching:
In front of a natural clay wall, dozens of red, green, and blue macaws, along with other parrot species, arrive each morning to consume essential minerals for their digestion. While we enjoy this natural ritual, we will have breakfast in the middle of the forest, surrounded by jungle songs and the creaking of branches.

📸 Wildlife Watching:
During the river and land tour, it is not uncommon to spot white-tailed deer, peccaries, capybaras, and, on special occasions, even jaguars on the riverbanks or in the treetops.

🍽️ Lunch + Rest:
After this wildlife encounter, we’ll return to the lodge for lunch and a well-deserved rest.

🛶 Afternoon Kayak Adventure:
Now refreshed, we’ll get ready for a kayak adventure along the Madre de Dios River. This silent journey allows for a more intimate connection with the environment. We’ll observe aquatic birds, turtles, leaping fish, and butterflies fluttering through the reeds.

🍽️ Dinner and Rest:
The evening concludes with a comforting dinner at the lodge and rest in cabins surrounded by the magical sounds of the jungle.

🐒 Day 3 – Sandoval Lake, Aerial Adventure, and Night Tour

🕓 Wake up with the jungle:
At 4:30 a.m., we’ll have an energetic breakfast before beginning one of the most iconic journeys: the hike to Sandoval Lake, within the Tambopata National Reserve.

🚶 3-km hike + boat ride on the lake:
The trail passes through an ecosystem of swamps and floodplain forests, home to howler monkeys, toucans, hoatzins, giant otters, and black caimans. Upon arrival, we’ll board a canoe to explore the calm surface of the lake, ideal for observing wildlife reflected in the water.

⏸️ Free time and lunch:
Upon returning to the lodge, we’ll have time to rest, enjoy the surroundings, or relax in a hammock before lunch.

🧗‍♀️ Adrenaline-filled afternoon: canopy + zip line
After lunch, we’ll enjoy a unique experience from above: we’ll walk across a suspension bridge above the treetops and zip through the jungle canopy, gaining a unique perspective of the forest from above.

🌇 Amazon sunset:
The return to the lodge in the late afternoon offers views of a reddened sky and flocks of birds returning to their nests. It’s a perfect time to contemplate the calm jungle.

🌌 Dinner + night walk:
Dinner will be based on fresh local produce, with vegetarian options and traditional Amazonian dishes. Afterward, you can enjoy the tranquility of the jungle or participate in an optional talk on Amazonian conservation led by your guide.

🌿 Day 4 – Aguajales, Tapir Trail, and Amazon Fishing

🕗 Start the day with a traditional breakfast:
After a restful sleep, we’ll have breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and begin our hike along the so-called “tapir trail,” a wilderness route inhabited by peccaries, monkeys, rodents, and vibrantly feathered birds.

🌴 Guided Walk along the Sandoval Lake Trails
We’ll depart for the entrance to Sandoval Lake for an interpretive walk along its nature trails. This will be your last opportunity to enjoy the richness of the Amazon primary rainforest.

🎣 Traditional Amazon Fishing (optional):
Before departing, we’ll take part in a traditional fishing experience. We’ll use traditional rods to catch piranhas, pacos, gamitanas, sardines, and catfish, which inhabit the Amazonian rivers.

🚐 Return to Puerto Maldonado (approximately 4:00 p.m.):
After a transformative and immersive experience in the hidden portals of the forest, we return to Puerto Maldonado to conclude this spiritual, mystical, and natural journey through the heart of the Peruvian Amazon.

✅ What does the 4D/3N Tambopata National Reserve and Chuncho Clay Lick tour include?

This comprehensive tour of the Tambopata National Reserve includes all the necessary services for a safe, comfortable, and enriching experience in the heart of the Peruvian jungle:

✔️Full transfers to and from Puerto Maldonado, both by land and river (boat on the Madre de Dios River).

✔️Transportation in safe boats for the tour to the Chuncho Clay Lick, Lake Sandoval, and other areas of the tour.

✔️Accommodation in an eco-lodge for 3 nights, in comfortable, clean rooms surrounded by nature.

✔️All-inclusive meals during the stay: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 3 dinners, with local dishes and options for special diets (by prior arrangement).

✔️Professional local guides with extensive knowledge of Amazonian flora, fauna, and culture.

✔️Entrance to the Tambopata National Reserve, Lake Sandoval, and protected areas of the rainforest.

✔️Included activities:

1. Navigation on the Madre de Dios River.
2. Macaw watching at the Chuncho Clay Lick.
3. Visit to Lake Sandoval and boat ride.

✔️Rubber boots for hiking in wetlands.

✔️First aid kit available at the lodge.

✔️Constant assistance throughout the tour

❌ What is not included in the Tambopata and Chuncho Clay Lick tour?

Although the tour is quite comprehensive, there are certain services and expenses that are not covered and should be considered separately:

❌Airfare or ground transportation to/from Puerto Maldonado (tour starting point).

❌Alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, or personal snacks not specified in the itinerary.

❌Voluntary tips for guides, lodge staff, or boatmen (although not mandatory, are welcome).

❌Personal travel, medical, or cancellation insurance. It is recommended to have one before traveling.

❌Personal items such as insect repellent, sunscreen, flashlight, rain poncho, or extra batteries.

❌Optional or additional activities not described in the program, such as massages, souvenir shopping, or personalized tours.

❌Costs for changes or modifications outside the original itinerary.

🌿 Recommendations for the Tambopata and Chuncho Clay Lick Tour 4D/3N

If you’re planning this unique experience in the Tambopata National Reserve, keep these practical tips in mind to make the most of your Amazonian adventure:

🧳 What to bring for the Tambopata tour?

• Cool, quick-drying clothing, preferably long-sleeved to protect yourself from insects and the sun.
• Long, lightweight pants for jungle trekking.
• Waterproof hiking shoes or boots, as the trails can be wet or muddy.
• Rain poncho or raincoat (especially during the rainy season).
• A hat or cap, sunglasses, and biodegradable sunscreen to protect yourself from the strong Amazonian sun.
• Insect repellent with DEET and natural products if you want an eco-friendly option.
• A headlamp with extra batteries, ideal for night hikes or use at the lodge at night.
• Camera or cell phone with a good battery to capture the incredible wildlife and landscapes (bring a portable charger).
• Reusable bottle or canteen for constant hydration.
• Swimwear and a towel for kayaking and fishing.

🧠 Other useful tips

• Avoid using perfumes or creams with strong scents, as they can attract insects or repel wildlife.
• Always respect the reserve’s conservation regulations and follow the guide’s instructions at all times.
• Be punctual for all lodge outings, especially for macaw watching.
• Bring some cash in Peruvian soles in case you want to buy handicrafts or give tips.
• If you are sensitive to heat and humidity, prepare yourself physically for demanding but rewarding days.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Here we answer the most common questions travelers have about exploring the Peruvian Amazon rainforest:

📅 What is the best time to take the tour?

The best time to visit Tambopata is between April and October, during the dry season, when trails are more accessible and visibility is better for animal spotting. However, the rainforest is beautiful year-round, and each season has its own charm.

🦜 How many macaws can you see at the Chuncho Clay Lick?

The Chuncho Clay Lick is one of the best places in the world to observe macaws in their natural habitat. During peak season (July to November), you can see up to 100 or more macaws at a time, as well as parrots and parakeets.

💉 Do I need vaccinations to travel to the rainforest?

Although not mandatory, the yellow fever vaccination is recommended if you plan to enter the Amazon. It’s also advisable to be up-to-date on your tetanus test and consult with your health center before your trip.

🛏️ Is there electricity at the lodge?

Yes, the lodge has solar or generator power, usually at specific times (for example, from 6:00 to 9:00 pm) to charge cell phones, cameras, and flashlights. 24-hour electricity is not guaranteed.

📶 Is there cell phone or internet service?

Most lodges in Tambopata do not have mobile service or Wi-Fi, which is ideal for disconnecting and fully experiencing the Amazon. It is recommended to inform family members or contacts in advance.

🦟 Are there many insects?

Yes, as in any tropical rainforest area, there are mosquitoes and other insects. With the proper use of protective clothing and insect repellent, the experience is completely bearable.

🍽️ What type of food is served on the tour?

Amazonian dishes and Peruvian Creole cuisine are served, prepared with fresh, local ingredients. Vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free options are also available upon request.

🚣 Do I need to know how to swim to kayak?

Swimming is not required, but basic swimming skills are recommended. All participants are provided with life jackets and are accompanied by experienced guides on the Madre de Dios River.

🎒 Can I bring large luggage?

Ideally, bring a medium-sized backpack or light bag with everything you need for the four days. Excess luggage can make boat transfers difficult. Larger luggage can be left in Puerto Maldonado if arranged in advance.