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If time and weather favour us, a typical day at the Collpa will start around
6:00 a.m. when the first pairs of parrots fly in to land in the treetops above
the lick. They are followed by hundreds who screech and squawk until the first
ones (generally the blue-headed parrots) descend on to the clay.
Around 8:00 a.m. the first of the larger macaws arrive in family groups and
perch in the treetops. The most common are the red and greens, the scarlet and
the blue and yellow macaws. The exact arrival time of each species may vary
slightly, but the order seems surprisingly fixed. At 10:30 a.m., around 40 to
150 macaws will have gathered and begin their descent to the clay. The birds
apparently relaxed remain alert for eagles. If one is spotted, between 50 and
100 macaws often of different species, will circle and mob it, generally
succeeding in chasing it from the area. The return to Tambo Blanquillo is around
11:30 a.m.
Lunch. A briefing will be held immediately after lunch.
OXBOW LAKE CAMUNGO
A 10 minutes ride
downstream in a motorised canoe takes us to Cocha Camungo; an oxbow lake formed
after the meandering Madre de Dios River changed its course several years ago.
The trail starts on the border of the riverbank and after a 20 minutes walk we
arrive to the lake. During the walk spider monkeys and very
rare and small
emperor monkeys can be seen.
Once in the lake a
small catamaran will be waiting. Scarlet and red and green macaws fly at
eye-level altitude on their way to the nearby Blanquillo Macaw Lick. On some
occasions, the magnificent harpy eagle can be spotted seeking for monkeys, as
well as other predators like the black-collared hawk, the ornate-hawk and
osprey, while big families of giant river otters, fish and preen themselves on
top of dead logs. We will visit the lakes opposite shore to find the famous
horned screamer Camungo, the bizarre pre-historic leaf-eating hoatzin and
numerous herons and kingfisher.
KAPOK CANOPY PLATFORM
In the way to the lake we will encounter a 40 Mt. observation tower, by far the
tallest and most spectacular canopy platform in Manu which is next to a
magnificent Ceiba tree locally known as Lupuna. The tower leads you to a wooden
platform carefully built on the top of the tree (avoiding any damage to it)
where you can enjoy a superb view of the Camungo Oxbow lake and also of the
canopy line that stretches towards the south, east and west.
During the climb it is possible to see squirrel, white-fronted and brown
capuchins, spider and howler monkeys. Some birds include the paradise opal and
swallow tanagers as well as the white-throated jacamars. Reaching the platform
rewards you with a magnificent view of the Camungo Oxbow Lake. We will stay
until sunset time.
PM Dinner
Day 4:
OXBOW LAKE COCHA BLANCO
A motorized canoe is boarded for a 10-minute upstream ride to Cocha Blanco, then
we make a pleasant 15 minute walk through a pristine seasonally flooded
rainforest trail until we reach the shore of the lake where a small catamaran is
waiting. Hoatzins, wild turkeys, the Band-tailed Antbird, the Silvered Antbird,
the Black-capped Donacobius and Agami herons are some bird species commonly
spotted on the lake, also there is a family of giant river otters which appear
regularly (see sighting graph information). Around 5:00 p.m. the motorized canoe
must be boarded for the return trip to Tambo Blanquillo.
SOME BIRDS WHO DWELL IN THIS LAKE
Hoatzins, wild turkeys, the Band-tailed Antbird, the Silvered Antbird, the
Black-capped Donacobius and Agami herons are commonly spotted during the river
trip; also there is a family of giant river otters which appear not too far from
the catamaran. Around 12:00 pm the motorized canoe must be boarded for the
return trip.
PM Lunch
TINAMOU TRAIL
This trail will takes us to the Blanquillo Oxbow Lake, home of black alligators,
hoatzins, kingfishers, white winged turkey and paujiles. On the trail we will
contemplate the different ecological niches created by the movement in
geological time of the meandearing Madre de Dios River, the reason why this
rainforest is the most biodiverse in the world.
We will row around the lake for about 2 hours, then we will enter through one of
its tributaries were Capuchin and Howler monkey, tapir and dears are usually
encounter. Truly a wonderful rainforest experience.
Dinner
DAY 5:
After a 3-hour downstream ride over the Madre de Dios River in a motorized
canoe, we will reach Boca Colorado. There a small van will pick us up for a
1-hour road trip until we reach Puerto Carlos, located on the banks of the
Inambari River. Crossing to the opposite shore of the Inambari River a small car
will be waiting to take us to a comfortable hotel in Puerto Maldonado. This part
of the trip will takes us approximately 2 hours. A lunch box will be provided
on the road but dinner is on your own on Puerto Maldonado.
DAY 6:
Early transfer to Puerto Maldonado Airport. Breakfast buffet and airport
shuttle is included in the program.
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