Introduction:

In this special report, we explore two of the main tourist attractions in the municipality of Presidente Figueiredo, in the state of Amazonas — Maroaga Cave and Judeia Grotto. Surrounded by waterfalls and lush tropical rainforest, these natural wonders are steeped in stories and myths shared by those who help protect and preserve these sacred sites, which can only be accessed with authorized tour guides.

Duration: 08'11"

Interviews:
- Raimundo Memória,
- Egydio Schwade,

Credits:
- Fernanda Soares, intern
- Alexandre Almeida, editor and finisher
- Juliana Fonte, executive producer

Produced by
AMAZON AGENCY
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**Script**
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- OPENING

"President Figueiredo has many attractions, but the postcard of our municipality is called the Maroaga Refuge Cave and Judeia Grotto."

- AUDIO TRACK

"What’s behind the history of the cave is that this place was once inhabited by the Indigenous people of the Waimiri Atroari tribe."

- AUDIO TRACK

Raimundo Memória, regional tourism guide
"In the 1960s and 70s, during the construction of the BR-174 and AM-240 highways, the Indigenous Waimiri Atroari people lived here. The name of the tribal chief was Maroaga.
So, Maroaga and his tribe used to fight the army at night and hide in the forest during the day. As time went on and roads advanced, Maroaga realized he was losing the war and decided to look for a place to hide with his tribe. During his wanderings in the forest, he eventually found the cave."

- AUDIO TRACK

"The cave, folks, extends 400 meters deep to the right. Its arch is 12 by 15 meters, and it's about 25 meters high. Maroaga found the perfect hiding place for his tribe, and they started using it as a refuge.
As time passed, the military eventually found both the Indigenous people and the cave. The Indigenous people went inside the cave, and the soldiers waited outside. Since the cave has only one entrance and no exit, they went all the way in and had to come back.
When they did, they were met by the military. The soldiers ordered all Indigenous people to be removed from the area.
Maroaga, being the tribal leader, said, ‘I’ll only leave here if you give me a land twice the size for my people to live in.’ An agreement was made, and the tribe was relocated to the BR-174, at kilometer 200, where the reserve now stretches up to kilometer 400.
The BR-174 connects Manaus to the state of Roraima, and the AM-240 connects Manaus to the Balbina hydroelectric plant, which today is the district of Balbina."

- AUDIO TRACK

Egydio Schwade, Philosopher
"The Maroaga Cave — that’s a myth that emerged in the early days of the municipality's formation, and there are already several interpretations. These myths started appearing around 1970, when FUNAI (National Indian Foundation) began having initial contact with Indigenous people.
Why the name Maroaga? In the Kinja Iara language, spoken by the Waimiri Atroari tribe, the letter ‘L’ doesn’t exist. So, FUNAI asked the tribe where the chief’s longhouse was. The Indigenous person would start saying ‘Maroaca,’ and they understood it as ‘Maroaga,’ thinking it was the chief’s name.
But they were actually just trying to say the chief was in the maloca (longhouse) — ‘Maroaca.’ Since there's no ‘L,’ they said it that way. So it’s all a myth."

- AUDIO TRACK

"In the past, since it was free to visit, people used to leave a lot of trash here, play loud music, bring grills — basically turning this into a picnic spot.
But after the tour guide associations took over, in 2012 this place became an APA — a Permanent Environmental Protection Area. Since then, from 2012 until today, 2025, entrance is only allowed with guides."

- AUDIO TRACK

"To us, this place means a lot. Beyond the scenic beauty, it represents our culture and is the livelihood for the 45 guides who work and survive sustainably here in the Maroaga APA.
We receive approximately 1,000 to 3,000 visitors per month, though that depends on the season — some months are slower."

- WATERFALL AUDIO

"Above the cave, there's a spring that completely dries up in the summer, but during the rainy season it flows strongly — that’s what you’re seeing here with the waterfall due to winter rains.
The cave's inhabitants, as we call them, are bats — hematophagous, frugivorous, nectar-feeding, insectivorous — and from time to time we spot a ‘stone alligator’ (also known as ‘crown caiman’), a species that lives near the cave.
We also have a spider called Amblypygi, a medium-sized cave-dwelling spider, and deep inside the 400-meter cave, we find a catfish — a smooth-skinned, totally blind fish that lives in the cave’s interior.
Biologists, geologists — many researchers visit this cave. The last project was called ‘Light in the Darkness.’ The cave was closed for two days while geologists explored and studied everything."

- AUDIO TRACK

"This stream comes from within the Maroaga Refuge Cave — it's a spring located inside it. We do an aquatic trail here.
Once you exit the Maroaga Refuge Cave to visit the Judeia Grotto, you follow this path along the cliff.
The cliff is made entirely of sandstone, a rock formation held together by minerals like aluminum, iron, and copper.
If you look closely, you’ll see multiple sediment lines in the rock.
And here also lives the Andean Cock-of-the-rock (Galo-da-Serra), where the female nests on the cave wall. There’s one in her nest right there."

- AUDIO TRACK

"We’ve now arrived at the Judeia Grotto. The difference between a grotto and a cave is that a cave has depth — a grotto does not.
The story of the Judeia Grotto begins when the Indigenous people left the APA (Permanent Environmental Protection Area).
As the AM-240 road began to open up, people started claiming land along it — aiming for the future, all the way to the Balbina hydroelectric plant.
Someone claimed the land backing onto this area and didn’t know a grotto was there.
They named their property ‘Belém da Judeia Farm.’
Over time, people exploring the area found the grotto and named it Judeia Grotto because it was located within the Belém da Judeia property."

- AUDIO TRACK

"This is part of the APA complex — you visit the Maroaga Refuge Cave first, followed by the Judeia Grotto, this natural wonder you’re seeing now."

- AUDIO TRACK

"Come and experience this, folks — take this beautiful image with you in your memory."

- FINAL AUDIO TRACK