Guanica – A hot sun shone over the nature reserve Punta Ballenalocated on the coast of Dry forest, in this municipality. Under the shade of the vegetation, more than a dozen women, dressed in sports clothing, gathered on a recent Friday afternoon to walk on the grounds.
Among them was Alondra Carrillo, who recently began photographing birds as a hobby. For the Ponce woman, walking in a group, along with other women, gives her a feeling of security that she would not have felt if she had walked alone along the forest paths.
“It is a way to feel safe, that there will also be other people, who can support each other”, expressed Carrillo. “The trails are usually solitary places because there is only vegetation and fauna. For this reason, one feels that fear – it is always in the subconscious – that something was going to happen to you,” she added.
Carillo and the rest of the group participated, on February 23, in a women's walk, organized by the environmental organization For Naturewhich manages the reserve in collaboration with the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA).
Para la Naturaleza has held a monthly walk since 2021 in order to publicize the paths in natural areas and provide a safe space so that women can walk accompanied.
“One of the ideas is that women have this space of connection, that they come to clear their minds, that they feel safe, that they see the paths, that they can eventually use them on their own”he stated Gilmarie Riveraenvironmental interpreter for Para la Naturaleza and who led the walk in Punta Ballena.
“It is an event that is mostly aimed at women, but we have had cases where women are accompanied by their children or their partner. “Entry or participation is not limited to anyone in the event,” added Rivera, who highlighted that the idea of formalizing the initiative arose from a group of women walkers who frequented the trails in the nature reserve. Guaniquilla Pointin Red Cape.
Last month's walk was the first that the entity carried out in Punta Ballena. The nature reserve of 167 acres was acquired by the Puerto Rico Conservation Trustin conjunction with the DRNA Natural Heritage Program, in 1991, according to the Para la Naturaleza website.
The reserve contains ecosystems, such as mangroves, a beach and a coastal scrubland, that serve as habitat for species such as the concho toadhe guabairothe ladybug and the sea cowaccording to the non-profit entity.
In the mainly flat space, various plants abounded, from palms to cacti and thorny bushes, and the sounds of birds could be heard. On one occasion, shortly after starting to walk, the women stopped and looked through binoculars to see a bird singing.
The group, which included the children of some of the participants, did not have to walk far before the wooded area gave way to the beach, with azure blue water. The voices of the women, who were talking among themselves, mixed with the sound of the sea.
Brumi Rodriguez He walked with a hiking stick in hand and stopped at times to admire the water. A few months ago, He began participating in walking groups in search of “quality of life through contact with nature.”.
“The dynamic that occurs when there are ladies is a special energy,” said Rodríguez, a resident of Cabo Rojo. “We always have something to share, something to talk about, something to learn from each other. The Puerto Rican woman is spectacular, she is a leader in many ways. She always learns and there is always something to share,” she added.
For Jacqueline RiveraIn addition to being an exercise activity, hiking provides an important space for fellowship, “to know our own stories, to know where we are from.” “It's not just a walk. We take walks every day. “Fraternization through exercise is already another 20 pesos”said Rivera, a neighbor of Slabs.
Accompanied by her 12-year-old son, the woman, who was wearing a hat and had her hair combed in two braids, pointed out that the group walk also serves to “break a series of fears,” like walking alone in natural spaces.
“There are many fears that Puerto Rican society instills in women, including something like this,” she stated.
The women stopped three times to take group photos: one on the beach, another in front of the mangroves and the last with the forest vegetation in the background. On the way back, they stopped to have a snack and refresh before completing the walk, approximately two miles to two and a half miles.
When they reached their cars, the women said goodbye and applauded, putting an end to the activity. The sun was already setting and it was time to leave.