Community-based Tourism

This section is a contribution of the Ministry of Tourism to the development of community-based tourism

This ecotourism project includes the conservation of approximately 82 square miles of the most pristine Amazon Rain Forest within the Yasuní National Park, an important UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the largest tract of tropical rain forest in Ecuador.
It is located by the Anangucocha lake, in the unique ancestral territory of the Añangu Kichwa Community. In the early 90s, the Comunidad Kichwa Añangu searched for an alternative to the irresponsible logging and oil extraction that neighboring groups were allowing to destroy their forests. Community members concluded that an eco-lodge could provide jobs while conserving their land in Yasuni National Park. The Napo Wildlife Center, a community-owned and operated business, is the realization of their vision. Proceeds from the center go directly toward the conservation of the rain forest as well as salaries, healthcare and education for staff.

Visitors to NWC can join some families on their daily activities when harvesting bananas, coco, manioc, a starchy jungle root, staple food for Amazonian people, or maybe help preparing chicha, a traditional drink based on cooked and fermenting manioc. For those who like to fish, visitors can try catching their own in Amazon rivers helped by the local natives and their particular techniques. 

Experience Ecuador from within
Community-based tourism offers the opportunity to live a full intercultural relationship while contributing to community development and the conservation of natural resources and cultural traditions. The Ministry of Tourism has committed with the development of this kind of tourism, which should represent a sound development tool for communities and allow for them to improve their living conditions.

Communities become hosts, and display their traditions, cultural expressions, art, gastronomy and natural environments. Many are open to share their local festivities, traditional handcrafting, their knowledge of medicinal plants, amongst other cultural manifestations. Moreover, they have developed additional activities for tourists to enjoy, such as hikes, horseback riding, birdwatching, and fishing. Step off the beaten path and allow the native communities to be your hosts!

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