After an early buffet breakfast, we will board our launch for the 9-kilometer (20-minute) ride upriver to the trailhead, looking out all the while for mammals along the riverbank.
We will spend around an hour walking this trail, with plenty of time to observe Amazon flora and fauna along the way. Among the tree species seen on this trail are the Capirona, strangler fig tree, and palo santo, as well as bamboo, and several varieties of palm tree. Moving on through the forest, we will continue to El Gato macaw lick, where in the early morning groups of scarlet and red-and-green macaws often gather to feed on clay deposits.
After plenty of time to observe the birdlife at the clay lick, we will return to the river via another forest trail and take the launch back to the Ecolodge in time for a buffet lunch. On these forest trails, sightings of howler monkeys, capuchin monkeys and squirrel monkeys are common.
After lunch, guests can choose from a number of options, including:
- Exploring the network of forest trails around the Ecolodge.
- Visiting a nearby, simple, “colonist-style” forest farm.
- Bathing in the Gallocunca forest stream that flows alongside the Ecolodge.
- Relaxing and enjoying the comfortable facilities of the Ecolodge, including the bar and lounge, gardens, and hammocks.
In the evening, following a buffet-style dinner, we will meet in the bar for a brief talk given by our naturalist guides on caiman, the fascinating nocturnal predators that inhabit Tambopata’s rivers and lakes.
We will then return to the river in search of nocturnal fauna, looking out for caimans using flashlights to pick out their “eye shine” as they hunt along the riverbanks. Snakes and capybaras are also often seen along the river at night.
Driving distance: 9 km 5.6 miles by boat.
Hiking distance: 3.5 km / 2.17 miles (round trip).
Visiting time: morning hike 4-5 hours, night boat exploring hour 1.5-2 hours
Altitude:
- El Gato macaw lick 215 meters / 705 feet.
- Tambopata Ecolodge 205 meters / 672 feet.