Picture gallery: The astonishing wildlife of Peru's Amazon rainforest

In 2023 we launched our Amazon rainforest adventure trips!

These exciting itineraries offer the chance to explore Tambopata Nature Reserve in Peru's southern Amazon jungle. Tambopata is a true biodiversity hotspot and an important place for research and conservation.

So let's look at some of the animals both big and small that you can hope to spot when visiting Tambopata ...

According to environmentalists, at least 13 endangered species can be found in Tambopata, as well as certain vulnerable species. These include ...

Black spider monkeys – they have super long limbs, hence the name

Giant river otters – the longest member of the weasel family

Harpy eagles – they have the fourth longest wingspan of any eagle

Ocelots – ancient Peruvians used to worship these beautiful felines

Pink river dolphins – also called botos, bufeos or Amazon river dolphins

Jaguars – the name derives from an indigenous word meaning 'he who kills with one leap'

Yellow-headed river turtles – around one male is born to every 30 females!

Over a dozen primate species have been recorded in Tambopata National Reserve, as well as some other exciting arboreal animals. Take a look at these beauties ...

Titi monkeys – these primates form strong bonds and mate for life; here you have a mother and infant

Capuchins – a troop moves through the canopy in a neat, single line; this is a white-fronted capuchin

Red howlers – they're the loudest species of monkey

Squirrel monkeys – they don't have prehensile tails

Tamarins – they're unusual-looking, squirrel-sized monkeys; this one is a saddled-backed tamarin

Sloths – this is a two-toed one, but Tambopata also has three-toed sloths

Giant anteaters – they're one of only a few mammals to have no teeth

Some of the mammals you can find in the forests, grasslands and marshes of Tambopata are ...

Maned wolves – neither fox nor wolf, they're the only species in the genus Chrysocyon

White-lipped peccaries – they're a kind of small forest hog; this one is a juvenile

Marsh deer – they're the continent's largest deer species

Amazonian tapirs – they're incredibly good swimmers and use their snouts like snorkels

Capybaras – the world's largest rodents, they can usually be found on riverbanks

We highly recommend going on a night walk in Tambopata to try to spot some of the reserve's more elusive species, such as ...

Pumas – they're highly elusive; this one was snapped by a night cam

Opossums – they're marsupials endemic to the Americas; this one is a woolly opossum

Red brocket deer – little is known about these creatures; they're both nocturnal and diurnal

Tambopata is a mecca for lepidopterists (those who love butterflies).

As reported by The New York Times:

Two particularly beautiful specimens of butterfly you can find in Tambopata are ...

Heliconias eratos – also known as postman butterflies

Blue morpho butterflies – several varieties live in Tambopata; this one is a blue morpho menelaus

There are also countless other small animal species to look for in Tambopata, from little rodents to colourful insects. But here's one particular one that you definitely want to know ...

Central American agoutis – they look like an oversized guinea pig crossed with a squirrel

For many, birds are the stars of the show at Tambopata. So you might say that we saved the best till last!

Visitors to Tambopata are essentially guaranteed to see countless macaws

And while birds in general are a big pull, it's the clay licks that bring in visitors from all around the world. In fact, Tambopata's clay licks are one of Peru's top wildlife attractions!

Clay licks, you ask? These are simply clay cliffs that the birds love to visit and lick, it's presumed for their sodium content.

You sit in a largely hidden spot while observing the birds at a clay lick

The reserve has two large clay licks: the Colorado and Chuncho. Around 20 species of birds – a mix of different parakeets, macaws and other parrots – visit the clay licks every day, creating a raucous spectacle like none other!

Various kinds of parrots congregate together to lick the clay

Macaws are the ones adding so much colour to the scene

And now here's a preview of some of the other showstopper birds you can hope to find in Tambopata Nature Reserve ...

Curassows – this one is a razor-billed curassow

White-necked jacobins – they're also called collared sunbirds

Hoatzins – the chicks have claws on two of their wing digits!

Roseate spoonbills – like flamingoes, they turn pink from what they eat

Striated herons – they're also called mangrove herons or little green herons

Toucans – this one is a white-throated toucan

Manakins – this is a round-tailed one; manakins can live up to 25 years!

So there you have it – we've given you just a glimpse of the abundant and incredibly diverse wildlife awaiting you in Peru's bewitching Tambopata Nature Reserve. Let us know if you'd like to visit with Follow Alice and we can make it happen!