Be the Change: The Story of Kasaguadua

Kasaguadua is a 12 hectare rainforest preservation outside of Salento, Colombia. But what does that really mean?

Well, the Founders, Carlos Diazgranados and William Cañón have made it their life’s mission to live a more simple life and strive to make a better environment for their community through the following ways:

Protect the rainforest from deforestation
Protect the local aquifer basin for a clean water supply
Harvest old guadua (bamboo) to promote carbon neutrality
Act as a sanctuary for animals, including 6 endangered species
Build eco-friendly housing from the harvested bamboo & recycled plastic
Offer tours to travelers to inspire environmentalism

The name Kasaguadua is a bit of a play on words. Casa means house in Spanish, Guadua is the name of indigenous bamboo used in their living structures, and as Carlos said, “We don’t really remember why we used ‘K’, but now we like to say it is for karma.”

They have been managing this preservation and sustainable living quarters for over 12 years now. Though their efforts are exceptional, it is not without complications or difficulties…

We asked Carlos if he’d be okay with doing a longform interview to talk more about their mission. We were truly inspired by their efforts, and just wanted to share their story with the world. Below is our interview with Carlos and William of Kasaguadua.

Watch the full interview:

Listen to the full interview on Spotify:

Interview Timestamps & Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction of Kasaguadua & Their Mission
01:29 – Carlos & William: The Sustainability Journey
06:42 – Are People Trying to Be More Eco-Friendly?
08:18 – The Meaning of “Kasaguadua”
11:50 – Restoring the Rainforest in & Traveling
14:25 – Seeking Out Other Cultures & Happiness
17:34 – William Coming from a Farm Life
19:12 – Bamboo Houses & The Pentagon Design
22:40 – The Difficulties of Environmentalism
24:09 – “Changing Perspectives is Not Possible”
28:07 – Zen Meditation, Buddhism, & Religion
33:10 – Why are Jake & Morgan Traveling?
36:39 – Having Children & Finding Purpose
38:07 – The Meaning of Life.
39:34 – Teach by Example & Inspiration
42:40 – How to Reach out to Kasaguadua

“Our commitment is with life, through the preservation of the aquifer basin and its ecosystem by adapting our contemporary lifestyle into another one that is aware of the interdependence between all beings by trying to minimize our negative impact on the natural environment.”

How to Reach Out to Kasaguadua

If you are traveling to Colombia and are interested in scheduling a tour or staying on the Kasaguadua reservation, you can reach out to Carlos or William directly through their social media or by simply searching ‘Kasaguadua’.

Kasaguadua on Google
Kasaguadua on Booking
Kasaguadua on Instagram
Kasaguadua on TripAdvisor

We hope that this conversation can act as an inspiration for you to live more sustainably, be more environmentally conscience, or just be a little guidance to help you find your purpose in this crazy world.

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Thank you.

– M & J

The Traveling Wellburys