Community based tourism

Community based tourim is a very nice addition to a travel experience. It is one of the purest file parts of a trip unique to each country. A form of travel that is therefore a warm hearted by Go Local Travel. That’s why Go Local helps! Travel you with organizing this experience in your trip. We have (especially for Ecuador) a very large diversity of communities that like to offer tourists a glimpse into their culture. As a result, it fits almost in all itineraries. The simplicity or luxury is different for each community as well as the degree to which the ‘program’ is organized for you. We don’t just work with communities that have been doing it for years, we also want to offer communities an opportunity to introduce this beautiful form of tourism.

Below you will find a short description of the various projects. Some communities only offer day activities. We give a description below of the community based projects from North to South Ecuador. Than you can find the locations in Peru and Colombia. 

Homestay Quito – Mindo community Yunguilla

This community started 15 years ago with a micro-organization and works on organic vegetables, reforestation, education, cheese production and ecotourism. With these resources, the community can build a good life. A nice part of it is that the youth has taken over some of the responsibilities. The Yunguilla community is located in a protective forest with a large area covered with cloud forest at 2650m. You are staying with one of the families from the Yunguilla community. You will spend the night comfortably in the family home and learn about their life and family situation (a little Spanish is helpful here). You have some time to look around the village and they love to play football and volleyball, so if you are interested, you can join in. Together with the family you can help them with the animals around the house. After breakfast you have the opportunity to visit the agricultural area of the families and the projects where they produce the cheese, marmalade and other artisanal work. After lunch it is time for a nice walk where you can observe medicinal plants and birds. Suitable for: People who want to experience life in a different culture close by but want their own comfortable stay. Spanish speaking is always fine but not a must.  

Santo Domingo de Los Colorados los Tsachilas

This community is very proud of their historical value. You stay on the grounds of the Tsachilas del Bua community There are simple huts put up. There is also electricity sometimes, but not all cabins have this. The stay includes meals (lunch, dinner and breakfast etc. lunch) which often has a strong local character. With great enthusiasm you will get an explanation about the history and culture. You can see that many houses still have an earthen floor, which has a connection with nature. The shaman will tell you all about the traditions and use of medical plants. You will receive a full explanation and demonstration about the hairstyle. A visit is not complete without music and dance. Maybe you can help them weave? If you are thirsty, you can make your own ground sugar cane juice. If you want to immerse yourself in the river, you can do so, because the river is kept clean by the community. Suitable for: People who don’t mind having a simple stay, and traditional meals. This group still has a strong cultural value of its own, many of which can also be found in other communities in Ecuador. The program is reasonably well organized. A basic knowledge of Spanish gives the stay more intrest.

 

Homestay Riobamba Calpi San Francisco

Here you can stay in a private cottage on the grounds of Marecla. They have a vegetable garden, rabbits, guinea pigs and llamas. You can help in the vegetable garden that is so diverse that there is always harvest to be extracted and the preparation of meals. Of course also the more exotic meals like Cuy. There are also several trips to do, including the Chimborazo, to get ice for the Riobamba market. A dying profession that is only carried out by one person (at your own risk) allows you to join the glaciers. There is also a bike ride offered at the Chimborazo or a walk through the national park. All these activities are organized by the local community and are mainly in Spanish. Nearby is also the Lama museum. Here you can not only see everything about the Llamas but is actually more about the ancient traditions of the locals as well as the Inca time. The museum is not large but offers a pretty detailed explanation in several languages, well worth it. Attached to this is the restaurant and community project where you can eat delicious food (also ecological llama meat) and see the work of what kind of (hip!) clothing can make with wool. They also take you to their home where the manufacturing takes place. Suitable for: People who are open to culture, speak Spanish and want to enjoy themselves.

 

Suscal between Riobamba and Cuanca, kinti wasi community

In a beautiful area between the mountains is hidden a small village called Suscal. Normally not worth a stop but if you want to know how a large part of the Ecuadorians live in the countryside you get a very special look in the kitchen here. This project is run by 3 ladies who want to build an economic life in Suscal and really want to spread their culture to tourists. They are open to groups but individual visitors can also count on them. The stay is either in a separate cottage of the community (simple) or at one of the ladies’ home (even simpler). They will take you into their daily life in which you help with agriculture and various jobs. The walk that goes over the mountains with beautiful vantage points (5 hours) is also already a day filling program. In Suscal itself you have the opportunity to see the village life. In addition to these activities, there are also special cultural experiences that they give you, so you can count on a Pamapames (sharing a local meal together), Pachamanaga, (cooking meals underground) or the steam room here you will be cleansed body and mind. Suitable for: People who are open to culture, like to take a walk, speak spanish, like to help, simple overnight stay (with or without shower) do not mind.

 

Cuenca day activity at community Kushi Waira

Please note this project does not offer a place to sleep! We incorporate this location into our community based programs simply because it is incredibly well organized. From Cuenca you will be picked up (you will pass the vantage point!) and then a day will be entertained at Kushi Washi, a community that consists mainly of empty houses, because everyone has left. This is precisely why this project was created. This day you will take a walk (2 hours) which does not require a huge condition but shows you a very diverse landscape and beautiful views. You are undergoing a cleansing ritual here and there is a Pamapames (sharing a local meal together). Only with that you have a very impressive day. However, you will also see the necessary cultural aspects in the form of dance, music and play. After this day you will return to the new world with renewed look, for the overnight stay in Cuenca Suitable for: People who want to get some of the local culture but have little time or a good night. The pace of activities is also suitable for children. Spanish speaking is always fine but not a must.

 

Guayaquil Isla Santay

A special (nature) piece of Guayaquil is Isla Santay. Here are mangrove forests that once stood around Guayaquil. There is a small community living on this island that lives on fishing and now also tourism. The island is easy to reach, namely by bike (or walking) across the bridge. Then there is a nice platform path that goes to the community. They have built 2 cottages for guests where tourists can stay and spend the night on this island. Hopefully the crocodiles will stay a bit quiet because they also stay in the Mangrove as well as a large amount of bird species. At this stay you are very independent and there is no program. If you want to do more with the community, you can do so on your own initiative. For example, to fish, help with plastic cleaning up or prepare a meal. Maybe you want to take the kids to school in the morning… Suitable for: people who love nature, want to spend the night in the middle of nowwhere with the lookout for Ecuador’s largest city, want to observe a community but don’t want to be in the middle of it. When you then take the train from Duran station and visit the plantations you can rightly say I’ve gone go local

 

Loja community at Paltras

What is a community capable of… Come visit this project and you will see that there is still much to be achieved in life. The origin of this project can be found in a collaboration between Bos+ (Belgian) and a local NGO. The aim was to provide a dry and unlivable area through logging. This goal has been achieved with flying colours and makes it clear what CO2 compensation and a community are capable of. Here you have the opportunity to take a big walk through the area up the mountain. There you will be rewarded on a nice view. They also show what products they are already making and selling with the community for the continuation of this project. You also have the opportunity to visit a family who, thanks to this project, has water for agriculture again. You’re going to find the biggest vegetable department in the supermarket. An unintended but very successful Perma culture is the example of this. Suitable for: people who want to walk, can withstand heat and rain, very easy stay and meals.

 

Sucua at the Sucua Kinti Panki community (also as day activity)

Less than 20 minutes from the beautiful Sucua where you can visit a botanical garden and have a great view from the vantage point or also called “mirador”, the kinti panki community lives a small Indian tribe where you are warmly received by the shaman and his family. Ideal as half day trip to plan in. The shaman takes you a few hours to a beautiful place where he explains medicinal plants and as you walk over bamboo bridges and the shaman shows you some rituals you arrive at the waterfall. It’s great to swim in. The water feels so pure and pure. After this beautiful experience you come back to the community and a traditional dance is performed. If you also want to spend the night with them, you will be taken to a simple cabin and can eat with them. Suitable for: People who want to experience how an Indian tribe lives and want to get to know their rituals. Speaking Spanish is easy due to the explanation during the walk but not a must.

 

Awamaki in Peru (also as day activity)

Visit the community Awamaki in the sacred valley, this day tour is easy to undertake from Olloantaytambo. This day starts at 09:00 and around 14:00 you are back in Ollantaytambo. During this visit, you’ll also pass the beautiful church of Markacocha and visit the Inca ruins Muscaypuquio.During the visit to the community, you’ll learn all about the local culture and learn more about their weaving culture. A delicious local lunch should not be missed at this visit and is included. This community also has the opportunity to expand it further with an overnight stay or for example a Pachamanca dinner. Suitable for: People who want to see more of the traditional life in Peru, it is an outing that is particularly well organized.

 

Real Cartagena in Colombia (as daily activity)

Cartagena famous for its fantastically beautiful houses and warm colored houses. Also has a different face behind these colorful streets. With the help of a local partner, attention is given to the community that does not participate in the tourist mass. They show you (with an English-language guide) a special piece of Colombian life. Of course we will have a moment to think about the famous squares and streets of Cartagena, but after that you will visit the fishermen in the mangrove and/or the market at Bazurta. Here you can buy yourself some essentials with which you will visit the community. After the introduction you will jointly convert the fresh vegetables into a delicious meal. After this day you will say goodbye and be taken back to your hotel in Cartagena. Suitable for: People who want to see more of the traditional life in Colombia, it is an outing that is particularly well organized.

 

Guainia in Colombia (only as minimum 3 day tour)

Guainia and Los cerros de Mavecure, a special stretch of Colombia near the border of Venezuela tucked away on the transition from Savanna to the tropical forest. Here you will take a tour which is coordinated by a local foundation. They bring the different communities together to a fantastic journey. These communities can only be reached by boat, this is also one of the few places where a car does not yet belong to general good. The journey starts in Inirida where you will arrive by plane from Bogota. From here the tour starts to the communities. They will welcome you and here you will spend the next few days and you will get the meals. They also take care of the local guides to show you the area. The height point is Los cerros de Mavecure (the famous rocks that rise from the forest), but the experience of the daily life of these communities is not much less. Note the stay is very easy and has little privacy. In the villages you will see the activities (join) that fill their daily life (making Yuca, fishing, washing, artesania or going to school etc). In addition to the walks on the rocks, you will also visit a bee project, learn to survive in the forest, see petroglyphs, freshwater dolphins and birds. A tour for holders but an experience you won’t soon forget. Suitable for: People who can be truly basic and without privacy their conception of life is clearly different than we are used to in Europe.

 

Taironaka in Colombia (also with overnight stay in hotel possible)

Taironaka near Santa Marta, Taironaka is a location located between Santa Marta and Palominos. It is a very accessible place to get in touch with the Kogi Indian tribe. A very special people who, more than 50 years ago, proclaimed that human behaviour is going to be a climate change. The location you visit here exposed a wealth of history when a lodge was built 11 years ago. Living terraces have been found (and restored) and many special artifacts have been found and are now in a museum. In addition to the culture, you will also get a guided tour of the garden full of fruit trees and plants. To get here there is a 10-minute canoe trip or a fantastic 20-minute walk that is brightened up with birds and the sounds of the roar monkey, in fine weather the high mountains of the Sierra Nevada contrast in stark contrast to the forest in which you find yourself. Suitable for: People who like to get an insight into local culture but want to stay at an appropriate distance

 

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