SAMANÁ FEST 2025
A RESOUNDING SUCCESS, A SONG OF UNITY AND RESISTANCE FOR THE LAST FREE RIVER IN ANTIOQUIA
Since the construction of the nation’s largest hydroelectric complex in the 1980s, Eastern Antioquia has known no peace. Two decades ago, the Samaná Norte River basin was the scene of inhumane civil violence and massive forced displacement. When the gunfire finally ceased, the hydroelectric industry again considered disrupting the flow of the last free-flowing river into the Magdalena River, in order to generate more power.
However, the local communities in the basin, who have experienced dam construction and violence firsthand for so many years, began to dream of a process of positive transformation that would include neither.
Through its collaborative organizational method and its purpose of celebrating the Samaná Norte River as the last clean and free river in Antioquia, Samaná Fest promotes and makes visible sustainable solutions so that it remains free and pristine for many years to come. Over time, the festival has evolved exponentially, reflecting the growing recognition of the river’s uniqueness. The need and desire to preserve at least one uninterrupted natural river system in Antioquia has taken deep root in the collective consciousness of the region, the country and the world.
In an increasingly polarized global context, the Samaná Fest offers a space and an opportunity for citizens, public institutions, and local communities to come together and celebrate the common and vital resources represented by nature and water.
2025 Edition: A Resounding Success
This 2025 edition exceeded all expectations of both the public and the organizers. One of the main focuses of the event is recreational use of the river. During the first weekend, more than 200 people enjoyed rafting down the tributaries, the Calderas River, and the Verde River. The descents were led by the travel agency Expedition Colombia, in collaboration with most of the region’s rafting companies. Each participant, after flowing through the last clean and free water in the region, finished with their eyes filled with color and magic, and the certainty of having witnessed a natural gem that must be protected, not destroyed to generate energy. Concerts in Cocorná’s main plaza, featuring Afaz Natural and many local artists not only provided a pleasant musical experience but also highlighted the desire of many people, including internationally recognized Colombian artists, to protect this watershed.
At the sporting level, kayaking took center stage with the first Enduro Kayak World Championship ever organized in Latin America and Colombia. Seventy competitors from more than 12 countries, including a strong representation from Colombia, participated in the event, motivated by its dual purpose: to compete and to protect the river.
During the first weekend, qualifiers took place on the Cocorná River, currently threatened by several hydroelectric projects, some of which already had approved licenses. However, these projects fail to consider the river’s great value to local communities and international athletes, and the destruction they would entail in exchange for minimal electricity production are incompatible with the bright future these conservation initiatives could deliver. Based on the race results, 30 men and three women qualified for the great Samaná Marathon.
The Samaná Marathon: An Epic Event
This unique marathon competition began on the Medellín-Bogotá highway bridge in the municipality of San Luis, crossing the most preserved and majestic stretch of the river to reach the municipality of San Carlos. The race culminated in the hamlet of Puerto Garza, just below the iconic Narices waterfalls. A rafting trip can take up to two days, but the best kayakers managed to descend in less than three hours. This spectacular section of river has been threatened by a large dam project lead by one of the largest natural resource extraction conglomerates of the country, the Argos Group. The project was intended to wipe out the river by 2018 but has been delayed by the hard work of the communities and the Festival for over a decade.
In the men’s category, Michele Ramazza of Italy took the win, closely followed by Eric Deguil of France and Pedro Acosta of Chile. In the women’s category, Nouria Newman took first place, followed by Vera Knook of the Netherlands and Juliette Brenot of France. Despite having fewer years of experience, the Colombian athletes were not far from the world’s elite. Mauricio Palacio finished in sixth place, less than four minutes behind the winner.
Despite its formidable ecological value, with endemic species, fish and bird migrations, and significant compensatory ecosystemic services for the Magdalena basin, this river remains under serious threat from various hydroelectric projects. Designed between 2005 and 2010, these projects have become obsolete and fail to represent Colombian society’s potential for innovation and sustainability.
Social dynamics have changed, and the population’s relationship with the river has evolved. The second weekend’s event in Puerto Garza demonstrated the collective desire to preserve it.
Puerto Garza: A Stage of Celebration and Unity
From the early hours of Saturday, the 29th, Puerto Garza became the host of this grand celebration and the finals of the Kayak World Championships. After the marathon, the top 15 men and top three women launched into the imposing Tupión Canyon in search of the championship title.
This stretch, according to competitors, is an exciting challenge and one of the most incredible places in the world to compete and paddle.
In the afternoon, as the athletes arrived, the village filled with visitors, and at dusk, the community and those in attendance joined in a parade to the bridge over the river. The messages on the banners clearly and eloquently expressed the intention to protect the river, while participants accompanied them with songs and dances.
Before enjoying the evening music, the crowd positioned themselves at each end of the bridge and then gathered in the center, visually demonstrating that the river unites us and that society is determined to protect it!
Concerts and Final Celebration
The world championships awards ceremony on stage revealed Michele Ramazza of Italy as the grand winner, followed by Eric Deguil and Mael Nguyen, both of France. In the women’s competition, Nouria Newman was crowned world champion, followed by Vera Knook and Juliette Brenot.
The event culminated with unprecedented concerts in the remote hamlet of Narices. Numerous local artists performed themed around the Samaná River before giving way to the multi-Grammy Award-winning band Puerto Candelaria. Between songs, the artists expressed their support for river protection, receiving standing ovations from the audience. KillaBeatMaker unleashed euphoria with their frenetic tropical rhythms, and Silva delivered an impressive live set, while DJs Trópico Negro and Abel Viro closed with tropical beats and classic cumbia.
Before leaving, the audience made sure to leave the venue clean as a sign of their environmental commitment.
Stronger Together
The event was a complete success and demonstrated that public entities, local communities and national and international audiences can come together to create a collaborative and sustainable event. It also demonstrated the peaceful and positive desire to protect the Samaná Norte River, ensuring it continues to flow freely and cleanly for future generations.
This citizen initiative proposes that regional and national political circles work together to create a protection mechanism that guarantees this watershed remains free from intervention for massive natural resource exploitation projects, thus transforming the chaotic past of Eastern Antioquia into an example of sustainability and social responsibility for Colombia and the world.
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Editor’s note: To learn more about the fight to protect the Samaná River, or to attend Samaná Fest in the future, visit Expedition Colombia and www.samanafest.com.
Guest contributor Jules Domine has traveled to over 15 countries as a hydrologist and professional whitewater kayaker. Jules realized he couldn’t keep going from one pristine river to the next, before it was polluted or dammed. He decided to stay in Colombia and work to protect its rivers. Here remains some of the world’s last wild clean rivers and ecosystems, but more importantly, a community of resilient, resourceful, and warm people brave enough to stand up to fight for them.