Discovery Channel Adventures

DAY 1: PUERTO MALDONADO/REFUGIO AMAZONAS (L, D)

Upon arrival from Lima or Cuzco we will be greeted and transferred to the Tambopata river port in Puerto Maldonado. Puerto Maldonado is situated at the confluence of the mighty Madre de Dios and Tambopata Rivers and is a bustling, booming tropical frontier town. After a brief stop at our local offices, we will depart on a 30-minute drive to the Infierno Community Port, followed by a two and a half hour boat journey by motorized canoe to Refugio Amazonas. We will have a boxed lunch aboard the boats. During our voyage, we may see bird species typical of the river or forest edge such as black skimmer, pied lapwing, capped heron, jabiru stork, roadside hawk and several species of kingfishers, swallows and flycatchers. When we arrive at our lodge we will have a short orientation meeting. After dinner, we take a night walk to the riverʹs edge, to search for caimans.

DAY 2: REFUGIO AMAZONAS - TAMBOPATA RESEARCH CENTRE (B,L,D)

We are up at dawn for a visit to the canopy viewing tower, where we climb the staircase to the viewing platforms above. The tower, built upon high ground, increases our view of the primary forest extending out towards the Tambopata National Reserve. From here views of toucans, macaws and raptors are common. Return to the Lodge for an early breakfast and then we explore a Brazil nut trail and camp, only a few minutes hike away. This beautiful old-growth patch of Brazil Nut forest has been harvested for decades.

As we approach noon, animal activity decreases, so we continue back to the lodge to travel up the Tambopata River for five hours into the pristine heart of the reserve. Nature comes alive with macaws, herons, kingfishers, caiman, storks and ducks. We will enjoy a boxed lunch on the boat while wildlife viewing. We arrive in the afternoon at Tambopata Research Center for an orientation session then hike the overlook Trail, that passes above the clay cliff and has beautiful views of the river winding its way down from the Andes. On this walk, there may be sightings of howler and dusky titi monkeys, as we might even get a chance to observe canopy birds like tanagers, jacamars, elaenias, guans and oropendolas. We will return to the lodge for dinner, after which we will have a lecture by visiting scientists who provide an in-depth look at macaws.

DAY 3: TAMBOPATA RESEARCH CENTRE (B,L,D)

At dawn, we will cross the river and visit the world's largest macaw clay lick, where hundreds of parrots and macaws of up to 15 species congregate daily. Later this morning, we will hike the Floodplain Trail, which exemplifies the quintessential rainforest experience. This forest, which is estimated to be 200 to 300 years old, includes huge Ceiba trees and Strangler Figs and is home to several mammals that are occasionally encountered such as saddleback tamarins, squirrel, brown capuchin monkeys and collared peccary. We return to the lodge for lunch and take a short boat ride to a small, drying oxbow lake where we spend the afternoon on a platform in the middle of the pond observing some of its bird life, which may include hoatzin, duck, ibis, woodpeckers, chachalaca, parakeets, oropendolas and numerous flycatcher species. After a lazy afternoon at the pond we will hike back to the lodge for dinner and a night walk.

DAY 4: TAMBOPATA RESEARCH CENTRE - REFUGIO AMAZONAS (B,L,D)

After breakfast, a three and a half hour boat ride brings us back to the Refugio Amazonas Lodge. This afternoon, we visit Condenado Oxbow Lake where we can paddle in canoes looking for wildlife such as; hoatzin and caiman. We also hope to see the reclusive otters which can sometimes be seen here. We spend our last night in the rainforest relaxing and enjoying happy hour as we ponder the exciting happenings of the past few days.

DAY 5: DEPART PUERTO MALDONADO (B)

After an early breakfast, we will return to Puerto Maldonado by boat.

Accommodation: Refugio Amazonas Lodge (2nts), Tambopata Research Center (2nts) Transport: Boat, motorised canoe, walking Group Size: No minimum Group Leader: Local guides, lodge staff Meals: 4 Breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners Budget: Allow USD 20-25 for meals not included Tour Code: SPR5D

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