From Conflict to Opportunity: How travel builds peace in Colombia | V Social Foundation

Building Peace in Colombia

Tourism Turning Conflict into Opportunity

For many communities around the world, conflict has left deep scars—economic struggles, stigma, and a lingering sense of insecurity. Former combat zones often remain isolated, their residents facing limited opportunities to rebuild their lives.

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Travel has the power to change this. When travelers visit these regions, they don’t just bring economic benefits—they challenge perceptions, both from the outside world and within the communities themselves. Tourism helps break down barriers, proving that these places are not defined by their past but by their potential.

That’s why V Social supports former combatants, conflict victims, and local communities in developing sustainable tourism initiatives. By welcoming visitors, these communities can share their stories, preserve their traditions, and create new opportunities for a peaceful future. And the impact doesn’t stop there. As these projects prove that tourism can be a tool for peace, they inspire other communities to follow the same path—creating a ripple effect of hope and transformation.

Take Caguan Expeditions, for example. In San Vicente del Caguán—one of the regions hardest hit by Colombia’s armed conflict—a group of former combatants and local residents chose to trade their weapons for rafting paddles. Twenty former FARC guerrillas and their families have opened their community to travelers, determined to break down the prejudice and marginalization they have faced long after demilitarization.

Peace is not just the absence of war—it’s the presence of opportunity, dignity, and hope. By choosing to travel with impact or placing a donation, you can help strengthen communities, break down barriers, and support a future where tourism becomes a force for lasting change.

In Colombia, V Social partners with five community organizations across post-conflict regions, helping them develop authentic tourism experiences that create sustainable livelihoods. These projects include rafting adventures led by former guerrillas, immersive experiences in Afro-Colombian culture with a local fishing cooperative, beer tastings where stories are told about life in the guerrilla camps through descriptions of the unique ingredients, and off-the-beaten-path tours in places like Bolívar, just outside Cartagena.