Rural Tourism in the South Of Bolivia

We met some folks one Sunday on the Prado at a festival of Rural Products who were starting a Rural Tourism company. The idea was that the agency would be a solidary type enterprise with the communities and they would share in the profits of the tourism venture and would be a vehicle of sustainable development. The business model would be contrary to the current system where outside agencies visit the villages or the region with outside guides and leave very little for the local economies. This agency would be formed as a cooperative with various local organizations and the guides, drivers, cooks and hosts would all be locals.
We were one of the very first groups to take the tour and although there are still some rough edges, the trip was very nice. We met some great folks who opened their villages and their homes to us and were very happy for our visit. We were shown local customs, attractions and way of life.
Some of the highlights were the explanation of the wool thread making processes, dyeing and weaving in Livicucho; the explantion of the uses of medicinal plants and the hike in the canyon in Puqui; the meteorite crater in the middle of the desert; the ancient mummies; and the salt flats....





The Salar de Uyuni
Mummies.... hundres of years old.
The island of Cactii and the Salt Flats

Driving out to the Salt Flats


Livicuchans

Vicuñas
Weaving with Llama wool and natural dyes from Puno plants


Local garb

Making wool into thread


Typical scene in the Bolivian Altiplano.... expansive vistas, brillant colors and very uncertain weather. In the foreground is a thunderstorm while in the middle a mixed herd of sheep and llama.