Narrative

In 2009 I went to the department of Amazonas with my classmates, we met at the a Alfonso Bonilla Aragon Airport, then we flew to Bogota where we were going to get the plane that was going to take us to our final destiny, Leticia.

There we took a motorboat that took us to a place call Amacayacu, where we stay the next to nights. This special hotel is in the middle of the rain forest and near the river. There we received some instructions to make our trip safer, taking into account the risk of the jungle. Also, we walked through the forest with a native, which taught us about the medicinal plants, animals and how they live. Also, we learned to use the paddles to propel the boat they use daily, while navigating in one of the tributaries of the Amazon River, because doing it there was very risky.

After those two nights, we took the motorboat again and went to Puerto Nariño where we spent the next night. In this place we took a long walk through the forest, having the opportunity of seeing some snakes, and other animals, we also received another talk which this time was about the animals living in the river, like the pink dolphin, water snakes, piranhas, etc. and the importance of the diversity of this river for the native people. At night we navigated looking for alligators but unfortunately we couldn’t see them.

Then we visited an indigenous community, and we saw some presentations about their origins, their culture and we had the opportunity to buy some arrows, and crafts. After this short visit we went back to Leticia and took a bus because the last night we were going to sleep in a “Maloka” (a typical indigenous place).  We ate the typical food, we danced, and at night we talked with the Shaman. He told us some stories from his ancestors. This community shared their culture with us.  Also I got to try "Rape".  "Rape" is minced tobacco, and you have to put it in your nose with a special instrument and then you have to inhale. When I did that I feel that hundreds of ants were walking in my brain. The Shaman explains that this was the way in which they get to clean their body.

Sadly, it was the last night and at the next day we went to the airport because we where going back to Cali.