Jaguar amazon tours
My story
Born and raised in the indigenous Amazonas
HI !
My name is Josuel Crosa. I am the owner and founder of Jaguar Amazon Tours and this is my story.
I was born in the Wapishana tribe...
The Wapishana tribe is an indigenous community based on a territory that stretches across North Brazil and Guyana (former British). This is where me and my 9 brothers and sisters were born and raised.
I learned from an early age to speak Portuguese and English, alongside my native Wapishana indigenous tongue.
My local indigenous culture requires me to know how to survive and live in nature. I had to build fast a deep knowledge of my environment and the skills to live in it.
Working in the goldmines
When I was 14, my life changed greatly.
It was discovered that the Wapishana indigenous territory was rich in gold, and many private gold-mine investors started to invest the place. Mostly located in Roraima, a northern state of Brazil, they were providing opportunities to the locals to find gold and thereby earn money. I worked for them for years.
Attractive but dangerous, this activity can provoque exhaustion, accidents and diseases like malaria. I knew that I would need to start looking out for a more healthy and sustainable job.
One of my elder brothers had found a work opportunity in the Brazilian Amazon forest and had moved to Manaus. He was guiding people from abroad on boat trips across the Amazon Lake.
I liked the idea and soon found myself traveling to Manaus too...
Finding my calling
This was 12 years ago.
After many trips as a tour guide in the forest and on the water, I decided to create my own company : Jaguar Amazon Tours, in 2020.
Meanwhile, my other family members have also ventured to Manaus to share the tour-guiding experience. As multilingual English-, Portuguese- and Wapishana speakers,
we - Familia Crosa - can communicate with international visitors, as well as with the native tribes.
My work as a tour guide always has been an extremely enriching and rewarding experience. Meeting persons coming for the whole world, sharing my passion for the nature, learning to know even deeper the Amazon every time, makes me happy.
Come and try the experience with us !