Juliana Marins’ sister goes on trip they planned together: ‘She was definitely there’

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Mariana shared the journey in a video that quickly went viral on social media, recounting how Andean culture helped her understand that loss is not an absolute end, but rather a change in state and presence.

The trip’s route was not completely closed, but its main destination was places that combine energy and spirituality, such as Machu Picchu and Cusco.

Unlike the Western view of rupture, for the Incas, death is not seen as separation, but as continuity, and ancestors remain constant participants in the lives of those who remain on Earth.

In an interview with GLOBO-Niterói, Mariana Marins explained how contact with local culture gave her a new perspective on Juliana’s absence.

— Actually, it was a mixture of sensations. Sadness, anger, helplessness… But, somehow, it also implied calm and understanding. There are many layers to pre-Inca and Inca cultures, and one of them is connection and respect toward death, he explains.

The decision to maintain the travel plan, even in the midst of grief, was driven by a search for a connection with her sister.

— That would be a “palpable” way to feel Juliana. Knowing that we would do something together, even if on different levels. The fear (of making certain trips) was paralyzing on several occasions — he reports.

Mariana says that in Inca culture, paradise was in the earthly world and the belief was that good-hearted people had the privilege of being reborn and returning.

— Some people of this period also believed that their ancestors were always present in their lives in the form of wind (affection), rays of sunshine (hugs), rain (tears), etc. So, in the end, it was a transformative experience that, in a way, warmed the heart a little. Juliana was definitely there on that trip, he says.

According to data from the autopsy of Juliana’s body, carried out by Brazilian experts, the Niteroi native died on June 22, about 32 hours after falling from a cliff. Coincidentally, two days later, June 24, is the annual date of an ancient Inca celebration of the rebirth of the sun and the beginning of a new cycle, called Inti Raymi.

The pain of loss took on new meaning when Mariana connected with elements of local culture. She said she concluded that death does not break, it reorganizes, and that it is vital to keep alive the memory of those who have left.

— Having understood that grief has no expiration date, that it is part of our life forever and that there is no way to overcome it, we also understand how important it is to keep alive the memory of those who are no longer here. Both for them and for ourselves – he said.

The video posted by Mariana ends with photos of Juliana and a message that sums up the experience: “I miss you, sister, I love you. Otherwise, we made our journey together.”

Juliana Marins’ fall occurred on June 21 this year, while she was hiking Mount Rinjani, Indonesia’s second-highest volcano. The incident occurred in the section known as Cemara Nunggal, one of the most risky points on the trail, at more than 2,600 meters above sea level.

Local conditions, characterized by low visibility and rugged terrain, made search and rescue operations very difficult. Six specialized teams and two planes were mobilized for four days to locate Juliana.

The young woman’s body was only found on the hillside four days after the fall and had to be lifted up to be rescued and brought back to Brazil. Mount Rinjani National Park was temporarily closed to tourists shortly after the rescue.

The case generated mobilization on social media across Brazil, where family and friends sought information and logistical support for rescue operations in Indonesia.

A few weeks after Juliana’s death was confirmed, the town of Niterói named the viewpoint and trail at Sossego Beach, in Camboinhas, in the oceanic region, after the young woman. The town hall said at the time that the name change was a tribute to her memory and the love Juliana had for the place, information provided by Mariana.