Scarlet Macaw Clay Lick Gathering — Aquicuana Reserve

About this spectacle

At the clay licks within Aquicuana Reserve in Bolivia's Beni department, flocks of scarlet macaws descend each morning to consume mineral-rich clay from exposed riverbank bluffs. The spectacle unfolds in waves — nervous birds circling overhead in brilliant red, blue, and yellow before landing in raucous, squabbling clusters along the clay face. The air fills with harsh, echoing calls and the flash of wings against the jungle backdrop. Visitors watch from the opposite bank or a concealed blind as dozens, sometimes hundreds, of macaws cling to the clay, their plumage vivid against the ochre earth. The surrounding lowland Amazon forest amplifies the sensory experience with layered canopy sounds, humidity, and the occasional movement of other wildlife. Early risers are rewarded with the most dramatic activity before midday heat disperses the birds.

When to go

May — Oct, peak Jun — Aug

Getting there

Nearest airport: RIB. Nearest city: Riberalta.

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