NATURE TOUR AT TAMBOPATA NATIONAL RESERVE – 06 DAYS APRIL 2024

PARTICIPANTS:  Taina & Lars Koop – Bjorn & Emily

NATURE GUIDE: Jesus Cieza

NATURE SPOTS:

• Collpas Tambopata Lodge – Macaws clay lick – 52m. Tower
• Paradise Lodge – Canopy Walkways – Sandoval Lake
• 02 rivers were navigated to enjoy all the mentioned places. Madre de Dios and Tambopata River.

DAY BY DAY TRIP

DAY 01.- PUERTO MALDONADO – COLLPAS TAMBOPTA LODGE

We started from Puerto Maldonado’s Airport to then go for 2 hours drive to Tambopata river and before the boat We had some stops on the way to see Burrowing Owl and Crested Caracara. Two nice birds perched right by the road with some chesnut fronted Macaws flying around, then We arrived to Tambopata river where We had a nice short ride to Our lodge where we had a lovely lunch.  In the afternoon We went for a nature walk and our first encounter was with a pretty Poisonus frog carrying tadpoles then few more minutes later We had a snake eating a frog right by the path. After getting some nice shots from this uncommon sighting, We then walked to a 52m tower, where We could get some White Throated Toucans, Bat Falcons, Mealy Parrots and Curl Crested Aracari.

Before dinner We tried the night boat by Tambopata river to look for some Caimans and this time We could only see few and they were a little shy, anyways the boat ride was amazing since the sky was with some stars and could enjoy the milky way and southern cross.

DAY 02.- TAMBOPTA LODGE – MACAWS CLAY LICK – NATURE WALK – NIGHT WALK

Early start to navigate the beautiful Tambopata river for about 40 minutes and visit Tambopata National Reserve. This time the visited the biggest macaw’s clay lick where we could get the 03 biggest macaw species such as Scarlet, red and Green plus Blue and Yellow Macaw. Then some more birds like Yellow Fronted Parrot, Mealy Parrot, Chesnut Fronted Macaw, White Eyed Parakeet, Dusky Headed Parakeet, Blue Headed Parrot and extra birds like Blue Throated Piping Guan, Collared Plover, Pied Plover and many more. We also had breakfast right by the Macaw’s clay lick and right in front We had a little Spectacled Caiman watching us.

After this We took the boat again and We went out looking for more Macaws and animals by the river, We were lucky along the river and We could get some Yellow Headed Side Necked Turtles, a nice mature Spectacled Caiman resting by the river bank plus a juvenile Capibara eating grass by the creek. After this We had a nice lunch to then have a little break and begin with another walk around the lodge property and learn about nature in general, late at night and before dinner We went out again and this time was with torches to look for night time animal sor anything We could get along this night walk, was a nice short walk where we could get some regular spiders plus Tarantulas, Bullet Ants, Jumping and Walking stick, Tree frogs, Katydis and many interesting little things.

DAY 03.- CANOPY TOWER – BOAT RIDE – NIGHT BOAT

Early walk to the 52m tower where We could get one more time White Throated Toucans,a beautiful Plum Throated Cotinga, Casqued Cacique, Crimson Crested Woodpecker and many more birds like parrots, parakeets and some macaws. This morning activity was early in the morning in order to avoid the hot temperature that is usually part of our daily activities, then a nice breakfast to finish our morning.

Late in the afternoon We had a nice boat ride by Tambopata river where We could see a young couple of Capibaras, a nice group of Squirrel Monkeys, nice look of Red Brocket deer, Caimans and some birds along the river. To finish the day We had another night boat ride to search for more night time animals like Caimans.

DAY 04.- PARADISE LODGE – CANOPY WALKWAYS

We left Tambopata lodge after nice breakfast to then go for almost 02 hours to Puerto Maldonado and take a motor boat one more time and arrive to Paradise lodge, this lodge has a closer view to the bigger Madre de dios river and different type of forest. Late in the afternoon We went out to the canopy bridges to see the sunset and catch some birds from up there, at the same time We did a night walk to see some tarantulas and other night time creatures.

DAY 05.- CANOPY WALKWAYS – LAKE SANDOVAL

Another early start to spot the birds that inhabit the canopy forest, great wild sound from Red Howler monkeys while walking into the forest, then a nice walk up on the canopy trees. Here We could get some colorful birds like Paradise tanagers, Trogons, Fruitcrows. Some other birds like Curl crested and Ivory billed aracarí, these 02 birds are members of Toucans, some woodpeckers like Red necked & Cream colored Woodpecker and at the end We got a nice view of White Bellied parrot and Gilded Barbet.

Big lunch to then start with our second adventure, this time We visited Lake Sandoval where we had to walk for 01 hour to get to this beautiful place surrounded by nice palm trees and other flora variety. Here We could see a nice group of monkeys really close plus the largest fresh water fish, colorful birds and the unique punk chicken, Hoatzin. All this together with a nice sunset with brilliant colors and a nice caiman at the end of the canoe ride plus many tarantulas on the way out.

DAY 06.- PARROT CLAY LICK

Last early start to go for 01 hour boat ride and get a nice sunrise plus our morning target, the small parrot clay lick with some parakeets, médium sized macaws and regular parrots. Morning was a little foggy but We managed to see some bird activity with many little dusky headed parakeets, blue headed parrot, chesnut fronted macaw and the uncommon blue heade macaw. Then on the way back We had the chance to see 02 Brown throated three toed sloths hanging on trees along the shore, giving us great views. Finally our last meal together at the lodge to then take the boat back to Puerto Maldonado and go to the airport.

Animals spotted during this Nature tour:

• Capibaras
• Yellow Headed side neck Turtle
• Large Headed Brown Capucin
• Bolivian Black Capped Squirrel Monkey
• Red Howler Monkey
• Night Owl Monkey
• Spectacled Caiman
• Black Caiman
• Brown Agouti
• South American Pond Snake
• Red Amazon Squirrel
• Paca
• Red Brocket Deer
• Amazonian Whip snake
• Ameerega poison dart frog