Madre De Dios: Rainforest, Rivers and Wildlife Watching

In Madre de Dios, wildlife watching at clay licks, river trips and rainforest trails are among the region’s varied experiences. At the clay licks in the Tambopata National Reserve, weather permitting, hundreds of birds from different species of parakeets, parrots and macaws gather each morning to eat mineral-rich clay. When planning your trip, you can first consider whether you want to focus on nature watching, activities on the water or cultural discoveries.

Clay Licks, Lakes and Wildlife

The areas around the lakes offer different highlights. A family of river otters lives year-round at Lago Sachavacayoc; large anacondas live there too. At Lago Cocococha, you may be able to watch a family of river otters amid landscapes of palm forests. One of Manu’s most stable river otter families lives at Cocha Salvador. Catamarans are permitted on the lake, allowing you to watch wildlife and explore the water.

Another notable clay lick is Collpa de Guacamayos Colorado: the clay bank is about 50 metres high and 500 metres long. Six different species of macaws, parrots and parakeets gather there to eat clay. At Collpa Chachuela, hundreds of parrots and small macaws take in minerals from the clay. These places illustrate the diversity of wildlife watching in Madre de Dios, though not all observations take place in the same area or involve the same animals.

River Trips and Rainforest Trails

There are several options for active experiences on the water: the route along the Río Tambopata offers rafting on class I, II and III rapids. The route to Quebrada Palma Real in the Sandoval sector of the Tambopata National Reserve offers sport fishing. If you would rather explore lakes and their surroundings, the route to Lago Sandoval includes boat trips; the route to the La Torre lakes includes boat trips and hikes.

Boat or canoe trips are offered at Lago Yacumama, where you can observe biological diversity in its natural habitat. Sustainable recreational piranha fishing is also possible there; any fish caught are then released. On the route along the Río Pamahuaca, trekking follows trails through the typical flora and fauna of the upper and lower rainforest. These are different kinds of travel experiences: boat trips and fishing alongside hikes through forest areas.

The route to the Río Manu is also of interest for nature watching. Visitors can watch riverbank and other birds, turtles and macaws there; with a little luck, they may also see tapirs and jaguars. Pakitza has a network of trails through forests that are especially popular with birdwatchers, as well as a mammal clay lick that is regularly visited by many species.

Culture and Regional Orientation

Alongside nature experiences, Madre de Dios offers insights into culture and tradition. At Bahuaja Sonene National Park, visitors can learn about the living cultures of the Ese'eja and Harakmbut peoples. Manu National Park was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. At Parque de la Castaña, visitors can take part in traditional activities involving chestnuts: collecting, transporting, cracking and peeling them.

For tourist orientation, the region has two destinations awarded the international Safe Travels seal. They comprise six tourist circuits or corridors, with a total of eleven attractions. So when looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home, it is worth narrowing down your travel area and the experiences you want first. Whether you prefer boat trips, wildlife watching, trekking or cultural insights may influence your choice of destination within the region.

For regional orientation, find the subregions Puerto Maldonado, Loyoboc, Manú, Sandoval, Iberia, Filadelfia, Inca, Repartición, Madre de Dios, La Torre and Lucerna.

For the broader travel overview: Peru.