Report

Ecotourism has been labeled as the main economic alternative in Bolivia by the Bolivian government. The main goal of my World Citizenship Program internship was to assess the potential for community-based tourism as a contribution to developing a strategy for its promotion in and around the Madidi National Park for CARE Bolivia.

The Madidi National Park was created in 1995 to protect the diverse natural environment found there from the high Andes to the Amazon basin. It is estimated that 44 percent of all New World species of mammals, 38 percent of neotropical amphibians and 1000 species of birds dwell in this protected area. CARE is very interested in helping communities to develop economic projects such as community-based tourism, however they realize the necessity of extensive planning to attract enough tourists for the community to make money while maintaining the environment and communities which attract the tourists in the first place, especially in and around a protected area.

I accomplished my goal by conducting information interviews with government officials, individuals and business involved in the tourism industry, and communities and individuals interested in developing community-based tourism projects. I also attended many workshops conducted by the Bolivian government on such topics as using community-based tourism to help preserve national park land and trainings of local people in developing projects.

While conducting these interviews and attending workshops, I was able to visit many different areas around the Madidi National Park and meet many interesting and diverse people. For the first two weeks I was stationed in Apolo, a very remote province of Bolivia. The first trip into communities I took was a four-day hike into the Madidi National Park from Apolo to Virgen del Rosario. Along this trail, I stopped in five communities and conducted interviews. Not only did I get to see beautiful landscape and quaint villages but I also found myself staying in one community on the day of their town celebration. I was, then, able to hear their traditional music and take part in some of their traditions.

After my stay in the quieter and cooler Apolo Province, I traveled to steamy, bustling Rurrenabaque where the majority of my work was carried out. Rurrenabaque is a favorite destination for many tourists looking to experience the Bolivian Amazon and Madidi National Park. Therefore, many communities in the area are trying to take advantage of the existing tourist market. From there, I traveled downriver to visit several communities which are currently developing ecotourism projects.

I was also able to visit Chalalan, a community-based ecotourism project that has been under development since 1991. Chalalan is considered a model for this type of project. The community of Chalalan was assisted by Conservation International to secure funds, to construct the lodging area and train its employees.

Not only was my stay in Bolivia very positive experience for my professional goals, but on a more personal note as well. I met my fiancé there during my internship.

Photo Gallery

I hike a trail in Apolo Province.

The "CARE gang" in San Buenaventura.

View of the Beni River from San Buenaventura.

Taking a boat ride during a pampa tour.

An ecotourism workshop in Ixiamas.

Saluting Coca-Cola at a lunch with CARE employees.

View of Chalalan EcoLodge.

With my fianceé, Samuel, at Lake Titicaca.