GUEST BLOG: Rooted in the Rainforest: Nature, Culture and Connection
- Guest contributor
- May 15
- 4 min read
At TreeSisters, we’re committed to growing a global movement that centres care for the Earth and respect for Indigenous wisdom. We know that meaningful change happens when we reconnect with Nature and when we learn from those who’ve lived in relationship with it for generations.
As part of that commitment, we’re proud to work with business partners who share these values and choose to amplify stories that matter.
In this piece, our business partner Marie Rowe, an Independent Travel Advisor shining a spotlight on responsible travel and sustainable accommodation, shares reflections from her recent visit to the Mbya Guaraní Yryapú community in Argentina — a powerful reminder of what it looks like to live in connection with the forest and each other.
Visiting the Mbya Guaraní Yryapú Community in Argentina, by Marie Rowe.
Nestled quietly on the fringes of one of the world's most spectacular natural wonders, Iguazu Falls, lies a resilient community that has withstood the tide of modernisation while remaining deeply connected to nature. The Mbya Guaraní Yryapú community is a living testament to cultural preservation, environmental respect, and ancestral knowledge.
During my recent trip to Argentina, I had the unique privilege of visiting this community through a tour supported by the Intrepid Foundation. Spanning 165 hectares of protected land, the Mbya Guaraní Yryapú is home to approximately 160 families. Here, amidst the rich red earth and lush jungle, they have built traditional mud hut homes with thatched roofs - a visual reminder of their enduring customs.
Our guided walk with a community member took us along footpaths named with hand-carved wooden signage, each marking the way through an environment teeming with life. Banana trees, sugar cane, cassava, papayas, and other crops flourish in well maintained plantations. The land pulses with harmony: dogs and cats coexist like lifelong companions, children run and play freely, and every aspect of daily life appears seamlessly integrated with the natural surroundings.
We saw the community school and modest medical unit, essential lifelines for the families who live here. Along the way, we were shown handmade pest traps and native tools used for daily activities. These were not just functional objects, but echoes of a culture that has persisted despite centuries of outside pressure. We saw beautiful handmade jewellery, ornaments, baskets, and musical instruments - each piece a symbol of identity, heritage, and self-sufficiency.
What makes the Mbya Guaraní Yryapú community especially significant is its persistent dedication to nature. As some of the few remaining original inhabitants of this region, the Guarani people live not just alongside the rainforest, but in communion with it. Their survival is intertwined with its protection, making their continued existence crucial - not only for cultural diversity, but for the stewardship of this precious ecosystem.
Guarani people live not just alongside the rainforest, but in communion with it. Their survival is intertwined with its protection...
For the Guarani people, the forest is not merely a backdrop to their lives - it is a sacred entity, alive with spirit and purpose. Every tree, river, and creature holds meaning and is treated with reverence. Their deep spiritual beliefs centre around the idea that humans are an integral part of the natural world, not separate from it. This worldview informs everything they do, from the way they farm and hunt, to the stories they pass down through generations. In a time when deforestation and environmental degradation threaten the planet, the Guarani's harmonious way of life serves as a crucial reminder of the value of living in balance with nature.
For the Guarani people, the forest is not merely a backdrop to their lives - it is a sacred entity, alive with spirit and purpose. Every tree, river, and creature holds meaning and is treated with reverence.
In a world where traditions are rapidly disappearing, the Mbya Guaraní people offer an incredible living example of how indigenous knowledge and values can inform sustainable living.
Visiting this community was important to me as part of my personal dedication to travelling more sustainably, in a holistic way that extends beyond reducing my carbon footprint to ensure that I embrace and support cultural heritage on my travels and encourage others to do the same. It was not only enlightening - it was humbling. It reminded me that some of the most profound wisdom about our planet and our place within it still resides in the voices of those who have been here the longest.
You can see more of Marie's photos of this incredibly special trip at the end of this blog.
With heartfelt thanks to Marie for sharing her experience — and for not only supporting but truly living our mission to restore our relationship with the natural world.
Partnerships like this help TreeSisters fund ethical reforestation and advocate for a future shaped by reciprocity, care, and connection.
You can learn more about Marie and get expert advice on sustainable travel on her website and Facebook page.
Click the links for more information about becoming a Business Partner, Nature Connection or the importance of Indigenous-Led restoration.
