The Heath River Wildlife Center presents a unique opportunity for visitors to see a spectacular clay lick visited by vibrant macaws and parrots just a short boat ride from the lodge–and from civilization. No other clay lick in Peru offers such bang for the buck. Opened in 2004 and part of the Tropical Nature Conservation System, the lodge is a partnership between Tropical Nature and a Bolivian conservation organization.
The Center's 10 private bungalows are located on the east (or Bolivian) bank of the secluded Heath River, which forms a border between Peru and Bolivia. Peru’s Bahuaje-Sonene National Park lies to the east, and to the south is Bolivia’s Madidi National Park. Trips to the Heath River Wildlife Center are normally combined with a stay at Sandoval Lake Lodge for some of the best value in wildlife viewing and an authentic rainforest adventure.
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 five 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..
After dinner we'll explore the forest by flashlight, including a visit to a small mammal clay lick if it is active. 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 to Airport
We breakfast in the floating blind at the macaw and parrot clay lick for a last round of looks and photos. We return to the lodge to pack, and then it's back on the Madre de Dios River, box lunch in hand, for the trip to back to the airport. 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.
