Gotsezhy Wiwa Community Tourism, Colombia

Location -  Santa Marta, Colombia

The Wiwa are an Indigenous people of the Sierra Nevada, and until the last few generations they have remained isolated from the rest of the world. In the last few years as they have increased their contact with the outside world, the Wiwa community have strived for access to tourism that celebrates and upholds their cultural values, customs and traditions but that provides the families of the community economic autonomy. Our local team have worked closely with Wiwa community leaders to create opportunities for communities along the Ciudad Perdida trekking route. Alongside an Indigenous-owned agency they have been able to develop a training programme for Indigenous-owned tourism businesses and guides to increase employment in the area. Thanks to this initiative, a training kitchen, meal and handicraft experience have been developed in the Wiwa community, and provides opportunities to for women to sell traditional handmade crafts and also to provide meals to trekkers.