A Homestay with Eladio Pop & Family

So, this part of the trip was kind of a surprise for me. I wasn’t told where we were going or what we would be doing, but I was incredibly pleased after the long bus ride. San Pedro Columbia has no paved roads, but it does have the benefit of raw natural beauty surrounding it.

Stepping off the bus in the middle of the jungle is a pretty neat experience. With the Columbia River in the foreground and the jungle surrounding me, I felt like I was being transported to another time, and, for the most part, I was. The homestay did not include any electricity, and the bathrooms were basically pit latrines. We had the option of sleeping in a surprisingly nice bed (compared to the other amenities) or attempting the hammock. I gave the hammock a weak try, but ended up in the bed (which was actually quite comfortable).

Eladio Pop is a self-taught entrepreneur. He’s mostly illiterate, but a master of agroforestry. He spends his days traversing his patch of jungle making sure each plant is taken care of. Primarily a cacao farmer, he has many other types of plants to tend to in the forest, and if you manage to get the grand tour, he’ll tell you about each one of them like someone describes an old friend.

Staying with Eladio’s family was even more of a treat. We learned how to make chocolate, which we then turned into a chocolate drink. The next morning, we learned how to make corn tortillas. The food, without question, was the best part.

If you get the chance to visit this fascinating village in the forest, say hi to Eladio for me, will you?