The Achagua are an Arawakan people of the Orinoco region, with communities historically spread across the Meta and Vichada rivers in what is now the Colombian Llanos — the vast savanna that forms the transition zone between the Andes and the Amazon basin. They were historically important traders and intermediaries in the exchange networks that connected the Orinoco river system to the broader Arawakan world.
The Achagua experienced severe disruption through colonial contact, missionary activity, and the ongoing pressures of resource extraction and armed conflict that have affected the Orinoco region for centuries. Today, Achagua communities maintain their identity and cultural practices while navigating the realities of contemporary Colombian society — a process of continuity and adaptation that characterises the experience of many Orinoco peoples.
Their presence at Dulce Amazónica reflects the breadth of the Amazon and Orinoco cultural world — extending beyond the river forest itself to include the peoples of the transition zones and savannas whose history and knowledge are part of the same larger story.
This community is one of many Indigenous peoples whose presence, knowledge, and artisan work are at the heart of what Dulce Amazónica does. Their ambassador brings that presence here directly — to Guatapé, Colombia.