Community Based Tourism Projects from A - Z

Hilata, Llachón and Santa María are three indigenous communities that live on the Capachica peninsula. The inhabitants of these villages live very attached to tradition and tourism is still little known.

Capachica was one of the first projects in which V Social as an organization became involved. V Social has financed the installation of water pipes for the communities living on the Capachica peninsula and the construction and improvement of infrastructure of 3 schools on the peninsula. This support lasted for more than 15 continuous years.

Among these communities, different families benefit directly from tourism. The money earned through visitors goes directly to these families and does not benefit the whole community, as is the case in Community Based Tourism. Since V Social focuses on Community Based Tourism projects since 2017, we do not collaborate anymore with Hilata, Llachón and Santa María. We hope our impact in the territory is lasting and are happy to hear that the communities continue to receive visits to create income through tourism.

Casa Kolacho in Medellín's Comuna 13 is a transformative community project, offering graffiti and hip-hop tours that empower youth and combat crime. V Social's support since 2019 has included providing funding for training and workshops, and connected the project with international visitor groups. This collaboration has facilitated sustainable tourism strategies and has helped to sustain employment opportunities for local youth. Due to collaboration challenges based on capacity issues within the organization, we mutually ceased our support in 2022.

Through storytelling, art, and cultural exchange, Casa Kolacho promotes reconciliation, resilience, and the vibrant hip-hop culture of Medellín, showcasing the journey from violence to peace in one of Colombia's most notorious neighborhoods.

Juanilama is an organized group of women that, together with V Social created the product "Yucafé o Yucatour", a combination of coffee and yuca. In a visit in community Juanilama, Costa Rica, you can learn from the community, it's efforts and many agricultural products of our beloved Costa Rica.

The project is located 3km from the village of San Carlos de Pocozol 3km on the road to Los Chiles. Here you must turn left and at the Y turn right. The meeting point to visit the project is at the Rancho de la Asociación in front of the school.

We thank Juanilama for the short and good collaboration and wish the members of the initiative much success for their projects!

Projeto Morrinho is a creative collective and community space offering tours through the favela and visits to its own artwork, a miniature favela made of colorfully painted bricks. Walking tours of Pereira da Silva offer travelers the opportunity to find out more about the reality of life in the favelas and change the way favelas are perceived by national and international tourists alike.

V Social has been supporting Projeto Morrinho since October 2018 until 2022, helping the project define its tourist services and connect it with international tour operators. Working with similar projects in Argentina, Colombia and Chile, V Social has also connected Projeto Morrinho with other similar walking tours, enabling each to learn from others’ experiences.

We hope to be able to reestablish our collaboration in the future.

Shandia is a Quechua community located in the Talag parish in Ecuador. The Lodge was built by hand with materials such as bamboo and straw, with support from the Maquita Foundation and international cooperation. The people of the community have been trained in customer service, restaurant and hotel management, as well as gastronomy, and the income generated is used for the good of the community.

V Social has helped the Shandia Lodge to generate a strategy to strengthen the project and access Community Based Tourism certification. The community keeps collaborating with the non-profit organization Planeterra. A visit can be organized with through different booking platforms.

Taboquinhas, nestled in the rural landscape of Bahia, Brazil, is home to cocoa farmers striving for economic resilience amidst fluctuating crop prices. Through the ASTATURC initiative, these farmers have embraced tourism as a means of diversifying their income streams. Thirteen families, primarily farm owners, have directly felt the positive impacts, extending to approximately 130 individuals. This endeavor has not only provided financial stability but has also opened up avenues for their children's future prospects. With V Social's support, totaling 15.000 Euros, encompassing infrastructure development, training programs, and networking opportunities, the community's growth trajectory has been bolstered since our collaboration in 2015. The headquarters constructed by V Social serves as more than a mere physical structure; it's a symbol of unity and progress, offering a space for collective gatherings and fostering a sense of community cohesion essential for sustainable development.

In agreement, we decided in 2022 to pause our collaboration, since organizational structures unfortunately have suffered a lot during the pandemic and floodings so that the availability and disposition of members to retake efforts can't guarantee impactful partnership for now.