It’s already day five of South by Southwest and somehow the energy is still at an all-time high. The first panel I attended today, Documenting The Unknown – Storytelling in the Amazon, featured documentarian Rafa Calil and members of the Rainforest Partnership Alexander Santa and Niyanta Spelman.

Each panelist shared stories of their adventures traveling through the Amazon jungle and embracing the culture of not only the wildlife but also the local communities. Calil said he’s most passionate about documenting the lives of the humans of the Amazon.

“When we capture these stories, we are a bridge from the forest to the rest of the world.”

Santa also discussed his experiences in the forest. After the panel, I asked Santa what piece of advice he would give to someone journeying into the Amazon for the very first time. Here’s what he had to say.