Guapi, Cauca facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Guapi, Cauca
Municipality and town
Panoramic view of Guapi
Flag Seal
Location of Guapi in the Cauca Department of Colombia.
Country	Colombia
Department	Cauca Department
Population  (Census 2018)
• Total	24,037
Time zone	UTC-5 (Colombia Standard Time)
Climate	Af

Guapi is a town and a type of local government area called a municipality in the Cauca Department, Colombia. It is located on the Guapi River, about 4 miles (6.4 km) from the Pacific Ocean. The municipality of Guapi also includes the island of Gorgona.

Culture in Guapi

Guapi is a place with a rich history and culture. Most people in Guapi are Afro-Colombian and follow the Catholic faith. These two parts of their identity are very important in their local traditions.

The Balsadas Tradition

Traditional music being performed in Guapi

One of the most special traditions in Guapi is building balsadas. These are handmade, two-level boats decorated with natural materials. Families in Guapi have been making balsadas for many generations. They are part of two ceremonies related to Christmas every December.

A person from Guapi described this tradition as "a cultural event that has been kept alive for centuries. It is connected to the history of resistance of the Black community."

How Balsadas Are Built and Used

The balsadas are built to honor the Virgin Mary, who is the town's patron saint. They are floated down the Guapi River on the nights of December 7th (which is the Day of the Little Candles) and Christmas Eve.

• Building the Boats: For three days at the start of December, families work together to build the balsadas. First, they use large canoes. Then, they build wooden rafts with two levels on top of the canoes.
• Decorations: They use local yellow corozo leaves for the roof and for decorations. These leaves are carefully looped into beautiful patterns. Other decorations include balloons and lights. These make the rafts look blue and white, which are the colors of Guapi's flag. The most important decoration is an image of the Virgin Mary.
• The Journey: As the balsadas float, people play Afro-Pacific music and often dance. When the balsadas get close to the town square, fireworks are set off.
• Arrival at the Square: Thousands of coconuts are lit up and floated in the river at the square. From the balsadas, the image of the Virgin Mary is carried to the church. This happens before the Mass of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception the next day.

Importance of Balsadas to the Community

The people of Guapi feel a strong connection to the balsadas. This tradition brings them together as a community. It is also a unique activity that belongs only to Guapi.

In recent years, a large balsada for tourists has been added to the procession. Visitors can pay to ride on it. Also, the balsadas have been given a special status as protected heritage. These changes have caused some discussion among the residents. Some people believe that being named cultural heritage and getting extra money will help protect the tradition. Others worry that more attention will make it too commercial.

The music played during the balsadas was recognized by UNESCO in 2015. It was listed as Intangible Cultural Heritage, and the balsadas were mentioned as a key part of this music tradition.

Religion in Guapi

Most people in Guapi are Catholic. The Apostolic Vicariate of Guapi is a religious center located in the town. In 2016, Cardinal Fernando Filoni visited the Vicariate. He encouraged people in Colombia to embrace peace within their communities and across the country. At that time, the church in Guapi was still growing and looking for more religious leaders. The Cardinal's visit also encouraged local people to become more involved with the church.

Climate and Rivers

Guapi is located on the Pacific Coast of Colombia. Like other places there, it has a hot, very humid, cloudy, and rainy tropical rainforest climate. This type of climate is known as Af in the Köppen climate system.

The town is mainly served by the Guapi River. However, the Nape River and San Francisco River also flow through the area. In November 2015, the Nape and San Francisco rivers flooded Guapi very badly. This affected 1,662 families. People had to be moved to Chuare, a town three hours upstream. Unfortunately, Chuare had also suffered a landslide because of the floods.

Transportation

The town of Guapi has its own airport, called Guapi Airport. This helps people travel to and from the town.

See also

In Spanish: Guapi para niños