Today we had the very special opportunity to visit the Bri Bri people who live in the south of Costa Rica. Located in the Talamanca mountains near the Panamanian border, the Bri Bri people live in the rainforest very much like their ancestors have for thousands of years.

To be able to visit the Bri Bri in the upper Talamanca range, you have to be invited. Pika and Eco Teach has been working with the Bri Bri for a number of years, and that helped us get an invitation.

Click To Enlarge
The Bri Bri live exclusively from the resources provided by the rainforest. What makes their home specially adapted to the rainforest?

Since the Bri Bri are such a remote people, they aren't used to modern conveniences that we sometimes take for granted. There is no electricity in the villages, and they only got running water a few months ago. Before the aqueduct was installed, the Bri Bri would have to climb the steep mountains to reach a spring, fill up a bucket, and then carry the water down the mountain to the village.

The Bri Bri are a very special people, and even though we were a bit bummed out that we couldn't bring our cameras up to the village, we understood why the Bri Bri don't allow cameras in their village. The Bri Bri do not believe that taking their photo will take their soul, as some indigenous tribes around the Amazon feel. However, the Bri Bri do feel that taking their photo is taking something that they have not offered, and therefore would be very disrespectful if we didn't abide by their rules.

The photos above were taken just before we entered the most remote village we visited. They show typical Bri Bri homes.

Remember that there are no roads that lead to the villages, the only way in is to walk. We had to cross three rivers on foot before climbing a muddy trail up the side of a mountain. The footpath was well-traveled, but sometimes hard to keep your balance.