The beautiful memories of our 4-day eco-adventure are still vivid. We’re amazed at how much our planet has to offer; beautiful sun, water flowing from the mountains, huge bushy treetops framing the horizon, gorgeous beaches, and the azure blue of the ocean.
It is always enjoyable to work with the sustainability initiatives of Claudia Bahamon, Colombian model, presenter, and earth activist. She hopes that in due course, there will be 8 million people living peacefully with nature. The Maaji team partnered with Claudia in a team-building trip with eco-activities that reignited our commitment to take care of our planet. We hope we can make a small step towards reversing the damage humankind has done to it.
Come with us on a trip down memory lane to the fun we had and the lessons we learned. These activities were funded by Maaji, implemented by a team of Maajic Makers, and joined by other earth warriors.
FIRST DAY
We Saw Whales and Dolphins
We arrived at Nuqui by plane. Our adventure began by seeing beautiful, iconic whales on our way to the hotel via boat. These giants of the ocean impressed us with their ability to leap in and out of the sea, the water coming out of their spiracles, their large size, their whalesong, and the stories that surround them. Admiring them in their natural habitat is an inspiring moment through which we can marvel at their beauty and raise awareness for their conservation. We also enjoyed seeing the dolphins.
We went Surfing
After receiving a warm welcome at hotel LA KUKA, we then went to a beach called TERMALES where we visited a surf academy! We met with the leader of the surf school and did some surfing with the children. We donated rashguards to the kids, and we were glad to hear the story of how this academy has contributed to the region’s development.
The community members were amazed to see the “famous” people and were happy that we had found time to come and share Maajic with them!
SECOND DAY
We released Baby Turtles
The alarm went off at the early time of 6AM so the Maaji team could have a yoga class together! Our teacher was amazing. The class took place in in the open air, surrounded by nature.
After having breakfast, we took a short boat ride in order to meet a man in charge of sea turtles. We joined him and other people in releasing some baby turtles to the sea. We were humbled to understand the importance of that process and how much it means to the local community.
These turtles are a source of income for the communities through ecotourism programs that take care of their reproduction. Before then, it was common for the people to kill and eat turtles. We are grateful the tide has turned on that practice, and that ecotourism is helping the local environment.
We visited the Mangroves
Motivated by the beauty of the region, we then went to visit the mangroves in a place called COQUI. These mangroves are an important part of the coastal ecosystem and supply several benefits to both people and the environment. They help to protect against coastal erosion and storm damage, supply habitat for many species of fish and other animals, and serve as a nursery for young fish. Mangroves are truly wonderful for our earth, and we were so happy to learn more about their benefits.
We were involved in some Community activities
We went to visit a local vanilla plantation and visited the local museum which has historical knowledge of the region. We enjoyed their traditional foods and then were treated to a program of dance and stories.
We also attended a ceremony led by the locals where we learned about the traditional mixtures made of various medicinal plants from the region. Then it was time to enjoy a time of meditation.
We enjoyed Music at Sunset
The moment we arrived back at the hotel, we saw a group of local women in their amazing traditional dance costumes ready to welcome us at sunset! We felt so special! They were eager to share their traditions with us through songs and dance. They wore printed dresses and very colorful headpieces.
We danced and enjoyed the music. After that, we had dinner of all local cuisine, and a time of sharing between members of our team to share stories of their experiences so far.
THIRD DAY
Another Early Morning Yoga Session
Even though the day was super rainy, we still held our daily morning yoga session. In this region, it’s very common to have rain all day long. We noted that on the rainy days, the sand looked unusually dark, and the ocean was very deep blue.
We held a Beach cleanup
We’ve been doing beach cleanups since 2016 so there was no way we could miss out on this great experience this year. The rains did not discourage us. We spent that morning collecting trash from the beach. We gave out gloves, swimsuits, rash guards, raincoats, and t-shirts, and for the men, we gave them trunks too.
We also had a presentation with another local surf academy called JOVI. They welcomed us with a nice song, and we told them about our Maajical activities. People felt involved and we all joined efforts in cleaning the big beach.
We did some Colorful Painting
After that, we went to a nearby place to take part in a program called “NUQUI FLORECE”: Nuquí FLOURISHES. It is led by Melisa, a woman who owns a small hotel and is very involved with the community. She uses art and color to brighten the mood of the villagers and encourages them to become artmakers too. We engaged with the local people and provided them with paints and together, we gave color to that village.
We enjoyed a small-boat Ride to the Jungle
We then had lunch at a local joint before taking a boat ride in a small boat called a CHINGO, which is made from a tree trunk. Two people used a stick to help row the boat across the river. 30 minutes later, we were right in the middle of a jungle.
We had a cold bath under the waterfall
We then walked through the lush jungle and arrived at a waterfall where we had a cold bath as we enjoyed nature. We got to the hotel at night and we had an amazing evening. We all sat around a mandala as we shared our commitment to the earth and enjoyed the music.
FOURTH DAY
Having fulfilled our mission, we returned home on the fourth day.
After these experiences, our team is still united and inspired, and we continue to discuss initiatives to raise awareness for positive impact in our country and around the planet. We hope you feel inspired to do the same!
