Our journey deeper into the Amazon began on Day 8 with an early wake-up call at 6:30 a.m. After a quick breakfast at the lodge, we boarded a bus that took us to the river where our next adventure awaited. We made a brief stop at a gas station to grab snacks before hopping into canoes for a six-hour ride down the river. The ride was surprisingly peaceful and gave us time to take in the incredible scenery. Around the halfway point, we stopped for lunch, breaking up the journey nicely. When we finally arrived at the new lodge, we were warmly welcomed by members of the Guyapare tribe. Their greeting was incredibly kind and heartfelt, instantly making us feel connected. After dinner, we went to bed early to rest up for the exciting day to come
Day 9 offered an unforgettable window into the lives of the Guyapare people. After breakfast, we were introduced to members of their community, including their 18-year-old president. Our first activity was a canoe ride to a nearby cove where we learned how they mimic the calls of monkeys and toucans. One of the men showed us how they climb trees with incredible ease, reaching the top like it was second nature. We were all invited to try climbing a vine ourselves. It brought me back to my gymnastics days and was surprisingly challenging but fun. We also had the chance to swing across the vines, and I definitely felt like Tarzan.
From there, we canoed to a sacred tree, a massive hollow giant used by the community to communicate in the forest. They shared stories about its significance, including how its sound helps locate people when they’re lost and how it can serve as a hiding place from jaguars. The stories gave us a glimpse into how the forest is not just a setting but an essential part of their lives and identities.
After some downtime at the lodge, where half the group went fishing and the rest of us played a fun game of assassin, we visited the Guyapare’s home. The welcome continued with an impromptu soccer game. I spent most of that time with a young girl named Yammi who picked flowers and gifted them to me. Her joy was infectious. We stayed for a couple of hours before heading back for dinner.
That evening, the community hosted a traditional dance ceremony for us. Before the dancing began, they gave each of us a name they felt captured our spirit. Mine was Wanika, meaning songwriter, an unexpected but touching gesture. After their performance, we shared some of our own culture with a playful mashup performance of the Cup Song, the Macarena, and Cotton-Eyed Joe. To top off the evening, the group staged a mock wedding ceremony, choosing Maggie as the bride in a funny and lighthearted cultural exchange. We finished the night by buying handmade crafts and saying emotional goodbyes to the people who had welcomed us so fully into their world.
Day 10 was another day of travel, this time heading back upstream, which meant our six-hour canoe ride became eight. About an hour into the trip, one of the canoe motors broke, so we had to squeeze more people into our boat and keep moving. We paused again halfway to eat sandwiches and stretch before finishing the journey. Once we got off the river, we took a bus back to the lodge, where we had dinner and a well-earned night of rest.