Getting there
By flight to Puerto Maldonado, then river boat to the lodges
Best for
Macaw clay licks, giant otters, monkeys, rainforest birding, oxbow lakes, photography
The land
Pristine lowland Amazon rainforest along the Tambopata river
Good to know
The Tambopata Research Center sits beside the largest known macaw clay lick on earth
What it is
Tambopata is a lowland Amazon reserve famous for the world's largest macaw clay lick — plus giant otters, monkeys and superb rainforest lodges.
Reached by river from Puerto Maldonado, Tambopata National Reserve protects pristine lowland Amazon. It is renowned for the great Colorado clay lick — the largest known, where hundreds of macaws and parrots gather at dawn — alongside giant otters on the oxbow lakes, monkeys, caiman and a thousand-plus birds, from a range of excellent rainforest lodges.
The reason to come
The macaw lick
Tambopata is home to the world's largest macaw clay lick.
The great clay lick
Hundreds of macaws and parrots at the largest known lick.
Giant otters
Otter families on the oxbow lakes.
Rainforest lodges
From research stations to luxury, deep in the forest.
Worth knowing
The world's biggest macaw lick
Tambopata's Colorado clay lick draws hundreds of macaws and parrots at dawn — the largest such gathering known.
When to come — honestly
A year-round rainforest.
May – October
Best
The dry season — peak clay-lick activity and the best access.
Year-round
Good
A year-round rainforest; the dry season is easiest.
November – April
Good
The green season — lush and warm, with afternoon rain.
Clay-lick activity is highest in the dry season and weather-dependent; the deepest lodges are hours upriver.
Context
The Amazon reserve
Tambopata is Peru's accessible Amazon, famed for its macaw clay lick.
It anchors the lowland-Amazon itineraries.
We base Tambopata at river lodges, from the Research Center by the great clay lick to comfortable forest lodges.
Beyond the obvious
More to Tambopata National Reserve.
The macaw lick
Hundreds of macaws at dawn.
Giant otters
On the oxbow lakes.
Rainforest trails
Monkeys and birds.
Why Wild Voyager
We pair the Andes and Amazon without the rush.
Peru's wildlife — Manu, Tambopata, the cloud forest — sits beyond its famous ruins. We build the route so the wildlife leads, with Machu Picchu and the Andes woven in at the right pace.
Handpicked stays
We choose the lodge and guides that fit your goals, not whatever is left.
We time it right
We build your visit around the season and the wildlife that delivers.
Where to stay
Where you’ll stay in Tambopata
Signature Collection
Luxury Collection
Classic Collection
Plan your Tambopata National Reserve trip.
Watch the great macaw clay lick at Tambopata. Tell us your dates and we will build the route around it.
Plan a trip