
Basic information
Experience

Sleep
Impact
Directly impacted families:
20
Start collaboration:
2019
Project description

There are often few development opportunities for indigenous communities, and for Saraurko in southern Ecuador the situation is no different. As a result, communities around the village of Saraguro have taken their future into their own hands, providing development opportunities for both women and young people, thus creating a viable alternative for young people leaving their ancestral lands in search of employment. Through tourism, these indigenous communities are reclaiming their indigenous identity with the aim of developing together as a community, promoting their culture and sharing it with tourists. Many of the project leaders are not leaders within their community, allowing them a new perspective on how to develop their community-based tourism project.
Travelers visiting Saraurko can enjoy traditional meals and accommodation at an indigenous-owned hotel, take part in a cultural ceremony to repay the land as well as nature tours to local beauty spots, including waterfalls, mountains and caves. Visitors also have the opportunity to visit artisans’ houses, where they can learn more about local crafts and sample beer at an indigenous craft brewery.
Involvement of V Social
Supporting Saraurko since March 2019, the VSocial Foundation has helped the community obtain its community tourism certification, and financed training and workshops to help develop the project and strengthen its tourist services. By connecting the social project with international tour operators, VSocial has also been able to increase the number of travelers to the project.
Directly impacted families:
20
Start collaboration:
2019
Your impact
Saraguro
Country: Ecuador
The Saraurko community tourism project directly benefits more than 20 families, all from different communities, with another 50 families benefiting indirectly through a ripple effect of secondary services. By creating a cross-community network of projects, Saraurko is thus able to have a much broader impact on the wider community, improving both the infrastructure and wellbeing of local, indigenous communities.
Their story


