Duration | 4 Days & 3 Nights |
Departures | Daily departures |
Airfares | Not included, available upon request |
Customizable | YES, feel free to ask for extra services |
DAY 1
PUERTO MALDONADO TO HEATH RIVER WILDLIFE CENTER WE MEET AT THE PUERTO MALDONADO AIRPORT AND DRIVE THROUGH TOWN TO THE TAMBOPATA RIVER PORT. AFTER BOARDING MOTORIZED CANOES, WE TRAVEL DOWNRIVER TO THE MIGHTY MADRE DE DIOS, WHICH WE FOLLOW FOR APPROXIMATELY FOUR HOURS TO THE HEATH RIVER. WE THEN TRAVEL UP THIS WILD AND INTIMATE RIVER, WHICH FORMS THE WILDERNESS BORDER BETWEEN PERU AND BOLIVIA, AND ARRIVE AT THE HEATH RIVER WILDLIFE CENTER. NOTE THAT THE LODGE IS LOCATED ON THE BOLIVIAN SIDE OF THE HEATH RIVER SO PASSPORTS ARE REQUIRED TO CLEAR BOLIVIAN PASSPORT CONTROL. (L, D).
DAY 2
HEATH RIVER WILDLIFE CENTER WE RISE EARLY IN THE MORNING TO BOARD A MOTORIZED CANOE FOR THE 10-MINUTE JOURNEY UP THE HEATH RIVER TO THE MACAW AND PARROT CLAY LICK. BRIGHTLY-COLORED PARROTS AND MACAWS FLY IN BY THE HUNDREDS TO FEED ON THE CLAY THAT DETOXIFIES CERTAIN SEEDS AND NUTS THEY EAT. MARVEL AT THE CACOPHONY OF SOUND AND COLOR AS RED-AND-GREEN MACAWS VIE FOR THE BEST CLAY-EATING POSITION. A SPECIALLY-DESIGNED FLOATING BLIND ALLOWS FOR PROXIMITY AND COMPLETE CONCEALMENT — SO YOU CAN EVEN HAVE BREAKFAST AND COFFEE WHILE THE BIRDS ARE PERFORMING THEIR MORNING RITUAL. WHEN WE RETURN TO THE LODGE, THE GUIDE LEADS US ON AN ETHNO-BOTANICAL WALK THROUGH THE FOREST, POINTING OUT FLORA USED IN THE DAILY LIVES OF RAINFOREST PEOPLE. THE GUIDE EXPLAINS HOW CERTAIN PLANTS ARE USED FOR MEDICINAL OR HEALING PURPOSES, WHICH ONES CAN BE MADE INTO THE BEST BOWS AND ARROWS, AND HOW TO SELECT TREES AND LEAVES FOR HOME CONSTRUCTION. AFTER LUNCH AND A SHORT REST, WE HIKE THROUGH THE RAINFOREST TO THE PAMPAS DEL HEATH, THE LARGEST REMAINING UNDISTURBED SAVANNA IN THE AMAZON. THE CONTRAST IS STRIKING AS WE EMERGE FROM THE MATURE RAINFOREST ONTO THE GRASSLAND PLAIN OF THE PAMPAS. (B, L, D)
DAY 3
HEATH RIVER WILDLIFE CENTER WE BREAKFAST IN THE FLOATING BLIND AT THE MACAW AND PARROT CLAY LICK FOR A LAST ROUND OF LOOKS AND PHOTOS. THEN WE RETURN TO THE LODGE TO EXPLORE SOME TRAILS. AFTER LUNCH WE COULD VISIT THE ESE’EJA NATIVE COMMUNITY OF SONENE, WHERE THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT WITH THE COMMUNITY AND PURCHASE LOCAL HANDICRAFTS OR EXPLORE THE TRAILS. AFTER DINNER WE’LL EXPLORE THE FOREST BY FLASHLIGHT, INCLUDING A VISIT TO A SMALL MAMMAL CLAY LICK IF IT IS ACTIVE. (B,L,D)
DAY 4
HEATH RIVER TO CUSCO OR LIMA EARLY MORNING DEPARTURE TO PUERTO MALDONADO. DURING THE RIVER TRIP BACK DOWNSTREAM, FAMILIES OF CAPYBARAS ARE OFTEN SPOTTED ON THE BANKS OF THE RIVER. WEIGHING UP TO 120 POUNDS (55 KILOGRAMS), THIS GIANT, THREE-TOED RELATIVE OF THE GUINEA PIG IS THE LARGEST RODENT IN THE WORLD. IF TIME PERMITS IF TIME PERMITS WE WILL ALSO UPON ARRIVAL, RECEPTION AND TRANSFER TO THE AIRPORT FOR THE FLIGHT BACK TO CUSCO OR LIMA. (B)
END OF OUR SERVICES
Please note that the program may vary slightly so as to maximize your wildlife sightings, depending on the reports of our researchers and experienced naturalist guides based at the lodge.
INCLUDES: All hotel and lodge accommodations based on double occupancy. All scheduled land, lake and river transportation. All transfers. All scheduled excursions with English-speaking guide services. All entrance fees. Meals as specified in the itinerary. B=Breakfast;L=Lunch;D=Dinner.
NOT INCLUDED IN THE FEE
International or domestic airfares, airport departure taxes or visa fees, excess baggage charges, additional nights during the trip due to flight cancellations,alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages or bottled water, snacks, insurance of any kind, laundry, phone calls, radio calls or messages, reconfirmation of international flights and items of personal nature.