Caqueta is more than what you imagine, much more! Edwin Bernal Holguin

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Tourism, nature and culture, should be subjects in the schools and universities. So evaluations and homework would be go to recognize local destination (during the school) and then at the University international destinations. How many people do we know that have traveled around the world -socially recognized- and not even know the world that is close to them. Many Colombian people who have never visited the "Zipaquira Salt Cathedral", "Chocó" and its beach, the "Ensenada de Utría", "Guajira". Ecuadorian people who could not say anything about the "Galapagos Cuyabeno", "Otavalo", "Cuenca" or "Cajas" or Peruvians who only know cities like Chiclayo, Cusco, Tambopata on a map. And so on, the rest of Latin Americans (without mentioning the rest of the world)

As Dean of a University in Colombia, I would declare as mandatory the visiting to the national natural parks, and would demand thesis about the application of the knowledge -acquired during the professional careers-, applied to benefit the regions of the country

I am aware (vaguely) that this is a dream, like the one about world peace. but now that I come from Florencia, Caquetá and there I taught a series of workshops to tourism operators in the region, and feel my heart the emotion for a region that I only knew because its sad fame promoted by mass media and opinions. Coming back to my university days, It would be necessary much more than half of career with its 6 or 7 subjects, per semester, and a lot of exams to go over those wonderful places. People who know me, they know that I love greenness and the mountain, and if the Amazon foothill is not attractive enough for the traveler of rural tourism, I really do not know what it is.

I could present the exam going over the fourteen rivers that are part of the river attractions (Caquetá is an amazing water factory) and for sure I would fail the subjects, because I would repeat the rafting, kayaking, canyoning, canyoning, landscaping, horseback riding and bird sighting experiences. I would walk through the natural reserve "El Manantial" and I would enjoy the gorge "El Silencio". Definitively I would go for the adventure of catching a Pirarocu (the biggest Amazon fish) with my own hands, I would practice canopy or eat "Cucha" (a fish), all at the same place. Then I would go to "La Calera" (It is 15 minutes far from Florencia) and there offer bananas to the dozens of monkeys that passes and catch the delicious food from your hand.

In the "Orteguaza" river under the stars, drink a nip at the "Marco Polo" ferry and ask to myself what would be the next question and that I do not have to fail it. Continue and going far away in the mountains, the forest and the jungle, remembering some lines from "Mi alma se la dejo al Diablo" by Germán Castro Caicedo, terrifying and surprising myself.

I would forget (I usually do this) about media and its violent string, press and the damage that policy and its works have made to this land. I would walk without any fear and travel light, enjoying the greeness of the natural parks like the "Chiribiquete" and its landscape that reminds me the landscapes from "The Lord of the rings" , I would go to "Cueva de los Guácharos", "La Cordillera de los Picachos", the national park  "Alto Fragua Indi-Wasi" or the "Serranía de los Churumbelos Auka-Wasi".

If at this moment the university receives me,  I would show them a region so beautiful and valuable...it is priceless, with people full of charisma and service, eager to be recognized in the Colombian tourist map, tired of violence, negative press...they are aware about their reality but they bet on the change, they are boring of local people who come and tell them how to do things but they do not last at leas one week living on their land: "those cachacos (people from Bogotá) and foreigners who are good at theory but who do not know us or what we have" I have to confess that I felt as one of them.

Caquetá needs stories, content, photos, videos, computer graphics, maps and tours, needs that Colombians visit and recognize it, and also that they respect and value it. And not just travelers but also all the corporations: transportation, gastronomical, agencies, hotels, tourist guides. Caquetá needs that useful noise,  which will decrease the negative factors of violence and this noise aims for tourism and the economy of the region

Caqueta is more than we can imagine! Much more, and there are not enough words to mention what this Department has to offer to tourists who bet on its future and finally get over such negative image, which overwhelms them...

I finished the first cycle of workshops, I am going to get on the plane and I have the same uneasy when I leave another places, like the Colombian Pacific and in fact, we owe to these forgotten places and are on the sidelines of our words and memory....we leave these lands to the fear and violence, to a  "Messiah" that sets them free. Caquetá is one hour away by plane and several hours travelling by land. Taking either of the both options, you can enjoy a wonderful trip.

I have a sit and and I think: "Does Caquetá mean to Colombia what Colombia means to the rest of the world? Because people who do not know buy whatever mass media says, and those who have already visited this place, for sure want to come back.