One of my favorite experiences in Calanoa since childhood is watching the stars from the river in the canoe. The sensation of becoming one with the cosmos as we float along a life-giving river is one of the most beautiful moments a human being can experience on Earth. As we navigate, we also imagine how we look from the sky—like the stars that we are. We remember that we, too, are light, in unison with the forest, the river, and the Milky Way. And as our guide says while rowing deeper into the river, “wait a little, look closely, the eye adjusts and you can see even more stars.”
This November, Calanoa shone even more brightly thanks to the visits of our cherished guests, our partner agencies, and our wonderful team. Their light was recognized once again.
Condé Nast, read by more than one billion people, honored us during a star-filled event. When I received this recognition in London, surrounded by many other award-winning hotels from around the world and with my heart overflowing with emotion, I remembered the guide in the canoe: “look closely, the eye adjusts and sees more.” And then I saw the joy that we who work in hospitality know so well: we create spaces that allow us to offer, wholeheartedly, places of greater light for those who visit us.
With my heart full of love—for the stars in the sky and on the Earth who made this award possible, for Colombia that protects its territories, and for the team that sustains this dream—Calanoa received this recognition on behalf of the Amazon, shining brightly.
Gratitude to Condé Nast
Thank you, Condé Nast Traveler, for recognizing this journey.
Your acknowledgment allows us to continue serving the Amazon rainforest—the lungs and heart of our planet—and to share with the world its extraordinary biocultural richness.
Through this award and through the support of our visitors and collaborators, we can help local communities not only sustain themselves but also reconnect with the beauty of who they truly are, reviving ancestral traditions, restoring dignity to their cultures, and proudly guiding travelers through the wonder of their living heritage.
The Amazon holds 40% of the planet’s water in its atmosphere.
Its magic reminds us that every small and conscious act matters—by caring for this vast and sacred forest, we are, in truth, caring for ourselves.
With heartfelt gratitude,
The Calanoa Team
When the World Turns Its Eyes to the Amazon
These days, while the world debates the future of the Amazon on global stages in Brazil, we continue working from the riverbank, alongside the communities and the forest that sustains us.
Every guest who visits us, every artisan we collaborate with, every guide who shares their wisdom contributes to the same mission now being discussed at international summits: caring for this sacred territory for future generations.
Love Stories in the Amazon
This month was also filled with love at Calanoa. We celebrated an engagement, the first anniversary of a wedding held here, and we happily introduced our new honeymoon program—crafted with all our heart—which we invite you to read here.