Heath River Wildlife Centre

Heath River Wildlife Centre overview

Heath River Wildlife Centre is a 20-bed lodge located about 6 hours by boat from Puerto Maldonado on the east bank of the secluded Heath River. This river marks the remote Amazon-region border between Peru and Bolivia. The lodge is actually on the Bolivian bank and the spectacular macaw clay lick is on the opposite Peruvian bank. The lodge also borders two radically different ecosystems of rainforest and lowland savannah. Heath River runs through the heart of the Tambopata- Madidi reserve areas of Peru and Bolivia, a vast and largely inaccessible wilderness totalling more than 13,700 sq. kms. It is best known for the large clay lick nearby, but offers general wildlife and nature tours. 

A 10 minute boat ride from the lodge brings you a comfortable floating hide just 30m from the lick, where you witness one of nature’s most spectacular displays – a tumultuous gathering of brightly-coloured macaws and parrots. Visitors have seen up to 260 macaws there at one time, which makes it one of the top 5 of the world's 100 known licks. Red-and-green macaws predominate, joined by smaller chestnut-fronted macaws. They visit the clay lick throughout the year, with numbers peaking from July to September.

There are walking trails allowing you access to the rainforest to view the variued flora and fauna, the latter including 6 monkey species and some 480 spcies of birds. Tapirs are regularly seen in and around the river and nearby lake and at the mammal clay licks which are sometimes visited at night, as well as capybaras by the river and giant river otters at a nearby oxbow lake. The viewing platform built into a huge tree, reached by climbing a steel and cable ladder, gives you an amazing view over the jungle canopy. Another special feature of Heath River Wildlife Centre is the proximity to the only lowland pampas accessible from Peru. This is a different ecosystem and a place where large blue-and-yellow macaws go to roost each evening.

The lodge consists of 10 bungalows built in the style of, and using the same materials as, the local indigenous communitiess, sustainably harvested or brought in from distant areas. Each bungalow has good quality foam mattresses and all beds have cotton sheets and blankets. All rooms are screened with insect netting and beds are furnished with individual mosquito nets. Every bungalow has a private bathroom with a flush toilet and hot shower. Electricity is porivded for a few set hours a day.

Communal areas are housed in the main building. Food is good home fare and uses a variety of fresh vegetables, fruits, grains and meats in the menu, and there's a comfy lounge-cum-bar where you can relax when not out eploring, chatting to other guests and enjoying views of the forest through the large windows. There are chargning points in the main building for cameras and batteries.

A stay at Heath River Wildlife Centre can be combined with a stay at Sandoval Lake Lodge.