Deep in the Amazon: At the Heart of the Rainforest
- DO
- Jul 25
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 26
My journey began in Bogotá, where I boarded a flight to Leticia, Colombia. From there, I traveled for four hours by lancha (motorboat) along the Amazon River, a winding river that snakes through the rainforest like a living pathway of water. Deep into this vast green world, I finally reached Palmarí, a small community located on the Brazilian side of the Amazon, where the borders of Brazil, Colombia, and Peru come together.
I was 22 years old when I arrived to spend two unforgettable months volunteering in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. From the moment I stepped off the boat, I felt like I had entered another world
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Life there followed a different rhythm. The accommodations blended into the forest, with everything built from wood and connected by beautiful raised wooden walkways. The structures felt as though they had grown naturally from the rainforest itself, reminding me that I was a guest in a living ecosystem.
Palmarí is also known around the world as a paradise for birdwatchers. Scientists, photographers, and nature lovers travel there hoping to spot some of the Amazon's rarest and most spectacular birds. Living in a place surrounded by such incredible wildlife made every day feel like an adventure.
One of my favorite experiences was harvesting açaí with the local community. We hiked into the forest to collect the heavy clusters of dark purple fruit and carried them back through the jungle ourselves. Once we returned, we learned how to prepare fresh açaí the traditional way, soaking and pressing the berries by hand to make juice. It was hard work, but sharing the experience with the community made it incredibly rewarding. The taste of freshly made açaí was unlike anything I had ever had before.
Our meals reflected the rhythms of the Amazon. We ate plenty of fresh fish from the river, often accompanied by tapioca, a staple made from cassava. The food was simple, fresh, and deeply connected to the land and river that sustained the community.
The wildlife in Palmarí was unlike anything I had ever experienced. Every day brought a new encounter with the incredible animals, birds, and organisms that call the Amazon rainforest home.
One of the most impressive creatures I encountered was the Harpy Eagle, one of the largest and most powerful birds of prey in the world. With a wingspan of up to two meters (about 6.5 feet) and enormous talons strong enough to catch monkeys and sloths, it truly is the queen of the rainforest. Seeing such a magnificent bird flying through its natural habitat was a moment I will never forget.
Palmarí was also home to several Macaws, but the most unforgettable was Laura, a blue-and-yellow macaw who had become part of the community. Curious and full of personality, Laura loved interacting with people. She was an excellent copycat, able to mimic sounds and voices with surprising accuracy, and she would often "sing" her own cheerful melodies. Her playful character brought joy to everyone around her, and she quickly became one of the most memorable residents of Palmarí.
Beyond the birds and animals, the Amazon revealed another fascinating world: its incredible diversity of fungi. One of the most surprising examples was the zombie-ant fungus (Ophiocordyceps unilateralis), a parasite that infects ants and changes their behavior before eventually growing from their bodies. It was both fascinating and mysterious, showing how complex the relationships between living things can be in the rainforest.
The Amazon constantly reminded me that from the tallest trees and powerful birds to tiny insects and fungi hidden beneath the forest floor, everything is connected.
Some experiences are impossible to fully capture with words. No matter how much I write or how many stories I share, the feeling of being in the Amazon will always be something that can only truly be understood by experiencing it.
What made Palmarí so special was not only the rainforest itself, but also the people who called it home. The community welcomed us with warmth, kindness, and a deep connection to the place they lived. Being so far from the outside world, they had a way of living that felt authentic and grounded. They understood the rhythms of the forest, respected its resources, and shared their knowledge with us every day.
One day, we covered ourselves in mud as part of a traditional spa treatment. Standing there, covered from head to toe and surrounded by the sounds of the rainforest, I felt completely connected to the environment around me. It was a simple moment, but it represented so much of what life in Palmarí was about: learning from nature, embracing a different way of living, and being present in the moment.
The rainforest is place in the world that cannot be explained; they have to be felt.
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This blog was written by DO.
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