Guapi, Cauca

Guapi is a predominantly Afro-Colombian and Catholic area, with a rich local history. Combining both aspects, and most prominent in local tradition, Guapireños have been building balsadas – handcrafted two-tiered boats decorated with native materials – every December, as part of two ceremonies related to Christmas, for many generations. A Guapireño described the tradition as "a cultural manifestation that has been preserved for centuries and that is linked with the black community's history of resistance". == Religion ==

Guapi is largely Catholic. The Apostolic Vicariate of Guapi is located in Guapi. Cardinal Fernando Filoni has visited at the Vicariate, where in 2016 he called on Colombians to embrace peace among the community and the wider country. At the time, the church (as organised religion) in the town was identified as in development, seeking clergy, with the visit also forming an appeal to local people to become more materially involved with the church. ==Climate==

Like all of the Pacific Coast of Colombia, Guapi has a hot, oppressively humid, cloudy and very wet tropical rainforest climate (Köppen Af). Though it is primarily served by the Guapi River, the Nape River and San Francisco River also run through the area. In November 2015, the Nape and San Francisco rivers significantly flooded Guapi, affecting 1,662 families. People were evacuated to Chuare, three hours upstream, despite this town having suffered a landslide due to the floods. == Transportation ==

The city is served by Guapi Airport. == Notable people ==

• Hernán Alvarado Solano, bishop • Mary Grueso, writer • Lucrecia Panchano, poet • Jorge Perlaza, footballer • Semblanzas del Río Guapi, currulao band ==References==