(1) Location, country: Andean Inn Routes (Mitibibó, La Toma Alta, Misintá), Venezuela
(2) Description of project: A network of community tourism services Caminos Posaderos Andinos allows the traveler to become familiar with places and cultures that are different from those offered by traditional tourism. This network of routes was designed especially for the adventure traveler and nature lover and generally uses the old pathways that allowed the inhabitants of the different villages to maintain contact and carry out trading. Thanks to a series of small grants and training programs local communities and businesses have been able to band together to create a network “mucuposadas” or Andean Inns which are interconnected by a network of approximately 150 miles of mountain trails and pathways. By using these services, sojourning with the farm families and enjoying the magnificent natural surroundings, the tourist participates in the improvement of the living conditions of the rural communities visited and helps with the conservation of fragile ecosystems and protected Andean areas.
(3) Project goals: The project “Caminos Posaderos Andinos” was developed as part of a larger effort to promote alternatives to agriculture in rural communities.
(4) Project partners and stakeholders: The Programa Andes Tropicales (PAT), a local NGO, provides financial and technical support to the many small business owners who benefit from the project. Major donor support comes from the European Union, the CODESPA Foundation (Spain), Conservation International-Venezuela, the Venezuelan National Parks Institute and several European companies and foundations.