Tourism for total peace in Colombia
Transfers & Tours has played a significant role in promoting total Peace Tourism with local and community tourism projects in Colombia, especially those involved in peace and sustainability initiatives. The company has worked closely with rural, indigenous and Afro-descendant communities and with people in the process of reintegration to develop and promote tourist experiences that not only highlight Colombia’s cultural and natural wealth, but also foster social and economic inclusion.
Influence on International Visibility:
Transfers & Tours has used its network and experience in the tourism sector to raise the visibility of these communities internationally. Through collaborations with global travel agencies, international tourism fairs and online booking platforms, the company has ensured that the cultural and ecological experiences offered by these communities reach a global audience. This not only generates a steady flow of foreign visitors, but also positions Colombia as a leading destination for community-based and peace tourism.
Promotion and Quality in Community-Based Tourism:
One of the most important contributions of Transfers & Tours is the implementation of quality standards that guarantee that tourist experiences are authentic, sustainable and respectful of the host communities. The company has worked to train community leaders in tourism management, ensuring that the services offered meet the expectations of international tourists in terms of safety, comfort and educational value. This training also includes aspects such as hospitality, preservation of the natural environment, and cultural interpretation, which has raised the quality of the experiences and generated greater visitor satisfaction.
Quality and Sustainability Parameters:
Transfers & Tours has been key in creating specific quality parameters for community-based tourism in Colombia. This includes the implementation of sustainable practices, such as the use of local resources, minimising environmental impact and respect for traditions and ancestral knowledge. In addition, the company has worked on the creation of tourist circuits that connect different communities, allowing tourists to enjoy a variety of experiences within the same region, maximising the positive economic impact on several communities.
Thanks to the work of Transfers & Tours, rural and marginalised communities in Colombia have been able to position themselves as high-quality tourist destinations in the international market. This approach has not only increased income for these communities, but also promoted tourism that contributes to peace and sustainable development in the country. The company continues to be an example of how collaboration between the private sector and communities can create transformative and equitable tourism.
Tourist Experiences in Colombia
Here, we detail some experiences in key regions of Colombia that align and are included in our offer to contribute to tourism for total peace with our focus on community, ethnic and cultural tourism.
Caribbean Region:
Saint Basil of Palenque:
Afro-descendant Cultural Tour: San Basilio de Palenque is the first free town in the Americas, renowned for its rich Afro-Colombian culture. The tour includes visits to historical monuments, traditional cooking workshops, Palenquero language classes and participation in cultural rituals. This tour is led by members of the community, ensuring an authentic and educational experience.
Experience of Drum and Dance: This tour focuses on the traditional music and dance of Palenque, where visitors learn directly from local musicians and dancers. These cultural expressions are vital to the community’s identity and to preserving its legacy.
Cartagena – Tour of the Raizal Community on Baru Island:
Tour of the Raizal Community on Baru Island: Tourists can explore the daily life and customs of the Raizal community on this island. Activities include artisanal fishing, craft workshops and tasting traditional dishes. This type of tourism provides direct income to local families and helps to preserve their culture.
Conservation of Mangroves and Marine Life: This educational tour is led by the local community, who show visitors the importance of mangrove ecosystems. The activity includes canoe trips and reforestation programmes.
Pacific Region:
Nuquí – Living with Emberá Indigenous Communities:
Cultural Walk with the Emberá: In Nuquí, an immersive experience of the Emberá culture is offered, including guided walks through the jungle, visits to traditional houses and craft workshops. This tour can also include participation in ancestral rituals and ceremonies.
Artisanal Fishing and Sea Turtle Conservation: This tour focuses on sustainable artisanal fishing and the protection of sea turtles, with the active participation of the Emberá community. Tourists learn about marine life and conservation practices directly from community leaders.
Bahía Solano – Afro-Descendant Cultural Integration:
Marimba and Singing Workshop: In Bahía Solano, visitors can participate in marimba and singing workshops led by the local Afro-descendant community, exploring the richness of Pacific music and rhythms.
Community Hiking and Bird Watching: This tour offers a hiking experience through the forests of Chocó, where local guides teach about the flora, fauna and oral traditions of people of African descent. The tour includes the observation of endemic and migratory birds, an important activity for the conservation of biodiversity.
Andean Region:
Boyacá – Rural Tourism in Villa de Leyva:
Rural Experience on an Organic Farm: In the area around Villa de Leyva, visitors can take part in agricultural activities on organic farms, where they learn about sustainable farming techniques and rural life. This type of tourism helps to keep agricultural traditions alive and provides direct income for rural families.
Windmill Route: A tour showcasing rural innovation in renewable energy and sustainable practices, where local communities share their knowledge of windmills and other green technologies.
Santander – Hike with Reintegrated Communities in the Chicamocha Canyon:
Historical and Cultural Walk: This tour, led by ex-combatants and victims of the conflict, offers a unique perspective on Colombia’s recent history. Along the way, the guides share stories of resilience and personal transformation, promoting peace and reconciliation.
Traditional Cooking Workshop: This workshop is run in conjunction with local families, teaching tourists about the region’s typical dishes and how cooking has become a means of integration and healing for communities affected by the conflict.
Amazonas Region:
The Colombian Amazon is an epicentre of biodiversity and cultural heritage, where indigenous communities such as the Ticuna, Yagua and Huitoto have played a fundamental role in the conservation of their traditions and the natural environment. In this region, several community tourism projects include demobilised and reincorporated people from the armed conflict, who have found in tourism for peace a way to achieve full social and economic reintegration.
Community Tourism Experience in the Triple Frontier (Leticia, Amazonas):
This tour includes visits to indigenous communities that have been involved in reconciliation and sustainable development processes, integrating former combatants into guiding and ecotourism activities. Tourists can learn about traditional medicine, participate in craft workshops and explore the Amazon rainforest guided by people who have transformed their lives after the conflict.
Impact: This type of tourism not only generates income for local communities, but also encourages the preservation of ancestral knowledge and promotes intercultural understanding between visitors and host communities.
Amacayacu National Natural Park:
In Amacayacu, tourism is led by indigenous communities who have collaborated with ex-combatants to offer immersive experiences in the jungle, including wildlife observation, ecological walks and participation in traditional rituals. These activities not only allow visitors to connect deeply with nature, but also contribute to total peace by offering employment and empowerment opportunities to people in the process of reintegration.
Impact: The park is a model of how total peace tourism can be a tool for social inclusion, providing communities with a means to share their culture and protect their territories.
Orinoquía region:
The Orinoquía region, known for its vast plains and rich llanera culture, has also been a key setting for tourism for total peace. Here, community tourism has become a driving force for the integration of ex-combatants and victims of the armed conflict.
Caño Cristales and Serranía de la Macarena (Meta):
This area, famous for its ‘river of seven colours’, has seen a significant transformation thanks to tourism. Demobilised combatants and local communities are actively involved in protecting the ecosystem and in the operation of the tours, which include guided walks, flora and fauna observation, and cultural encounters. Visitors have the opportunity to learn about the resilience and history of the communities that, after years of conflict, have found a path to peace in tourism.
Impact: The income generated by these activities contributes to the sustainable development of the region and to reconciliation between local communities and ex-combatants.
Guaviare and Vaupés:
In Guaviare and Vaupés, tourism for total peace has allowed indigenous communities and demobilised combatants to work together to promote ecotourism and cultural routes. Experiences include visits to sacred sites, sailing along iconic rivers such as the Guayabero and the Apaporis, and encounters with the indigenous cultures that guard these territories.
Impact: Tourism in these areas has contributed to the conservation of biodiversity and the strengthening of the social fabric, offering ex-combatants a dignified way to reintegrate into society while protecting and promoting their cultural heritage.
The role of Transfers & Tours in tourism For total peace
Community, ethnic and cultural tourism not only enriches the visitor experience, but also has a positive impact on host communities. It is a powerful tool for preserving culture and traditions, while promoting tourism for total peace and strengthening the local economy.