Tourism takes majestic canyon in Colombia from armed conflict
The crystal-clear river flowing between giant boulders was a strategic guerrilla route in Colombia.
The bloody internal war kept the Guape Canyon hidden for decades, whose waters are now enjoyed by tourists in multi-colored floats.
Peace unveiled this 35-meter-deep natural wonder in the town of La Uribe, department of Meta (south).
Its passageways, illuminated with a few rays of sunlight that cross immense caves, were rediscovered thanks to the historic agreement signed in 2016 between the State and the guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
Now dozens of tourists embark on an adventure aboard inflatables through passages of sometimes turbulent and sometimes serene waters.
Some close their eyes and let themselves be carried away by the sound of the jungle, the singing of the birds, and the torrent of the creek that runs along the same route used by the armed rebels at the end of the 20th century.
“Before, people used to pass through here armed with rifles (…) To see this, the way it has changed is impressive”, summarizes one of the guides, all young victims of violence, before embarking on a tour attended by an AFP photojournalist.
La Uribe rose to fame in the 80s and 90s as an enclave of the most powerful guerrillas on the continent.
Anchored in the Eastern Plains, between the Andean center of the country and the Amazon, the town was the scene of one of the failed peace negotiations between the State and the FARC.
It was also the epicenter of a bloody rebel onslaught that destroyed police and army stations.
In 2017 the story took a turn.
Rebels, still in camouflaged uniforms and rifles, emerged from the thick jungle that hides the canyon heading for civilization, awaiting their disarmament and transformation into a political party.
“Despite all the vicissitudes and problems that have been occurring for decades (…) today nature itself is in charge of giving a rebirth to the communities”, encourages an official bulletin about a place that until recently was unknown in Colombia.
Although the peace agreement disarmed the bulk of the FARC and pacified certain regions, various armed groups continue to fight for control of the drug trafficking business and illegal mining in an internal conflict that has left over nine million victims in half a century.
With information from AFP
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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