Voluntourism with Planeterra


 

Ecuador Community Tourism Project

Location: Otavalo, Ecuador

In partnership with an indigenous Quichua village our goal is to develop a community-based tourism program that will provide travellers the opportunity to participate in the daily lives of local families while sharing in a meaningful cross-cultural experience. We will be working with four local families to develop a family home stay. The cost per family will be $4,000 in order to provide capacity building workshops and to build a cozy cabin for visitors beside the family home. In order to develop authentic and responsible community tourism we will also be providing work opportunities for local guides who are from the communities themselves.  



Cotacachi is located just a few kilometers from the town of Otavalo, famous for having the largest handicraft market in South America.  Hundreds of travellers visit Otavalo on a weekly basis to purchase locally made items such as wool sweaters, hammocks, wood-carvings, embroidered shirts, leather goods and ceramics. However, very few people actually have the opportunity to truly experience the rich culture or to share the traditional lifestyle of families from this region.

Travellers can visit this project by participating on the Gap Adventures  Above the Equator tour where two nights are spent in one of the villages already involved in community-based tourism.

Why is this project needed?
By supporting this project, you are contributing to the reduction of poverty, the empowerment of local people to develop meaningful employment opportunities, and the encouragement of community participation. We are also enabling the people from these villages to share the beauty of their natural and cultural heritage with visitors.


DONATE to support Community-Based Tourism
A total of $16,000 is needed to fund the development of a community-based tourism program in one village. With your support we can develop meaningful employment opportunities for local indigenous people in this region.
 
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Donate to The Ecuador Community Tourism Project

100% of your contribution goes directly toward helping these projects achieve their goals. All individual donations are matched dollar-for-dollar by Gap Adventures.



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