Nabuga

Nabuga is a quaint settlement located along the Colombian Pacific coast in the Chocó Department, accessible solely by boat. We traveled from Medellín to Bahía Solano by plane and then took a boat to reach our lodge. During our stay, we visited Nabuga, home to a community of Embera people. 

Chocó Department, located in the Pacific region of Colombia, is distinguished by being home to the largest Afro-Colombian community in the country, alongside a significant number of Amerindian and mixed African-Amerindian individuals. Situated in the western part of Colombia, it uniquely features coastlines along both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and encompasses the entirety of Colombia's border with Panama. The capital city of Chocó is Quibdó. The geography of Chocó is marked by its diverse landscapes, distinctive ecosystems, and untapped natural resources. Despite these attributes, the region faces one of the lowest living standards among Colombia's departments. The government attributes this situation primarily to the challenging montane rainforest terrain and the hot, highly humid climate, which have hindered substantial infrastructure development. As a result, Chocó remains one of the most remote areas in Colombia, lacking significant transportation infrastructure.

The Emberá, historically referred to as the Chocó or Katío Indians, are an Indigenous group residing in Panama and Colombia. In the Emberá languages, the term ẽberá can signify person, man, or indigenous individual, depending on the context. Approximately 33,000 individuals in Panama and 50,000 in Colombia identify as Emberá. A significant number of these individuals have been displaced, having left their rural communities for larger towns in Colombia due to violence from armed gangs.

Colombia 2018 / Fuji XT2 & X100f