Gael Caride Alvarez on the first exploratory trip of the Rio Ariari.
The Andes Mountains run north and south along the entire Pacific coastline of South America and just north of the Colombia-Ecuador border the Andes diverge into three distinct cordillera, the Western Cordillera, the Central Cordillera and the Eastern Cordillera, which sprawl across the western half of Colombia and continue north to the Atlantic Ocean. Colombia lies within the tropical latitudes and receives much rain, and the cordillera are covered by virgin cloud forests and jungle teaming with vibrant flora and fauna. The whitewater rivers that drain the snow capped peaks, cloud forests and jungles of Colombia’s three cordillera are some of the most spectacular rivers in the world. However, few have explored the rivers of Colombia, because for years Colombia has endured a bloody civil war which is primarily fought in the jungle and remote mountains. Unfortunately the world’s perception of Colombia has always been of kidnappings, war, violence and drugs. The civil war that once crippled Colombia also prevented the exploitation of the mountains and rivers, and ironically the civil war protected and preserved the ecosystems of Colombia’s mountains and rivers. The civil war continues, but security improves daily and many areas that were once dangerous are now safe to explore. The rivers of Colombia are some of the world’s last virgin and unexplored rivers and by sharing a glimpse of these rivers with the world we hope to help preserve and protect their delicate ecosystems. By creating a recreational record of use and by promoting ecotourism in Colombia perhaps these pristine rivers and mountains that few people have seen will be preserved for generations to come. More importantly we hope to show the world the beauty of Colombia, rather than the kidnappings, war, violence and drugs, by sharing the beauty of the rivers.
-Mark Hentze
