A Journey with Purpose: Bringing Light to the Wayuu Community

This past Monday, March 10th, I embarked on a very special trip to La Guajira. I took the 6:49 a.m. flight from Bogotá, and after 1 hour and 20 minutes soaring through the skies, I landed in Riohacha at 8:30 a.m. Waiting for me outside the airport was Julio, in his 2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee. He would be my travel companion for the day, taking me through Manaure, then Uribia, and finally to my main destination — a Wayuu community.

Julio works with History Travelers, a tourism agency with more than 14 years of experience in Riohacha. Their specialty is guiding travelers —especially international visitors— to explore Cabo de la Vela, Nazaret, Mayapo, and every hidden gem across La Guajira. From the very first moment, their team welcomed me with unmatched warmth. Their office walls were covered with awards and recognitions, many of them from TripAdvisor, supported by glowing customer reviews.

But this wasn’t an ordinary trip. My purpose went far beyond tourism.

After checking in and organizing the logistics, we stopped to pick up Edward Monsalve, the most talented photographer I know in La Guajira. Edward has worked with me and Castellano since 2021, documenting our journeys and capturing, through his lens, the essence of the Wayuu communities and their invaluable artisanal heritage.

Thanks to his help, we managed to load a heavy box into the car — one that contained 25 solar panels. These panels weren’t just technological tools; they represented years of effort, perseverance, and commitment. For me, this delivery symbolizes much more than an act of help. It is a reflection of Castellano’s growth, of the deep bond we’ve woven with the artisans, and a recognition of their tireless work.

The Wayuu artisans have believed in me and in this project since the very beginning. Their ability to transform threads into stories — into vibrant colors and ancestral patterns — is the soul of our bracelets and ethnic accessories. They deserve these tools, for they too have worked with passion and dedication to preserve their art and culture.

Every time I return to the community, I feel an indescribable energy. It’s as if my spirit is recharged, reminding me why I chose this path back in July 2014, when I first visited the Wayuu rancherías. Ten years later, the purpose remains unchanged: to connect people with the lives of the Wayuu artisans, to preserve their ancestral weaving, and to transform it into wearable works of art.

I’ve always been driven by curiosity — by the need to understand the why behind everything. From the very start, I asked myself:

🌾 How is their culture?
🏜️ How do they live?
🧵 Why do they weave?
✨ What stories and traditions are interwoven in every textile they create?

These questions are the heart of Castellano. We are not just a brand. We are a story, a culture, a bridge connecting people to their roots and ancestors.

I hope you enjoy the images from this trip — soon I’ll be sharing videos of the solar panel delivery and an interview with the community leader and authority.

If you’d like to follow this journey more closely, I invite you to follow us on Instagram and subscribe to our private channel, where we share exclusive updates about our collections and the community.

✨Daniela