A Journey that transcends language and embraces the heart of sailing in Gunayala

Around 2011, after spending more than half a year backpacking on foot, I found a new passion: traveling by sea. Sailing quickly became more than just a way of getting around—it became a way of life, opening me to freedom, adventure, and a deeper connection with the places I visited.

Estefanía G.

The more time I spent in Gunayala, the more I realized that my path was being shaped more by the spirit of this territory than by only living on a boat. Learning to speak “dulegaya”, the guna language, has increased my understanding and depth of knowledge of this wise culture.  Dulegaya is unlike any other language (it has nothing in common with Spanish or English as people commonly ask), and its words and their meaning are very connected to the natural environment, which shapes the guna cosmovision.

I chose to adopt the name of Ulu (“boat” in guna) for the experiences we offer here, in homage to the dulegaya language,  so that it may be heard and appreciated  by those first encountering this culture, and to spark the curiosity of the more inquisitive types who want to delve into the profound ancestral knowledge transmitted through the guna culture and language. 

The ulu has served as the main mode of transportation for the Guna since they first settled the islands and even before that, when navigating rivers as hunter-gatherers in the mountains. The guna use their ulus daily to go fishing or to gather fresh water and the harvest of plantains, mangoes, pineapple and yuca root, bringing them back to the islands to make the dulemasi (“our food”in guna) – the daily meal.

So, more than just coming to Gunayala to sail with us, you're coming to have an ulu experience—an authentic encounter with the place, its people, and the culture and traditions that have shaped this territory.

We visit with awe and respect, grateful to experience the beauty of landscapes, nature, the ocean, reefs, pristine beaches, and lush jungles. All of this is possible thanks to the guna worldview. They believe they live in a relationship with other beings, understanding that life sustains life: the jungle sustains us and we sustain the jungle.

Gunayala is living proof that it is possible to live simply, be happy, and enjoy abundance, all while living in harmony with our ecosystem. Nature will provide as long as we care for her.

The guna way of life is worth witnessing because we can all learn something from them –  and carry the essence of their life and connection to nature back with us to wherever we come from.