The Sons of the Araucania – Part 2
Part 1 COMMUNITY-BASED TOURISM Before starting to collaborate with Travolution Travel in 2012, Joaquin and the other members of the Quinquen community knew only one type of tourism and tourists: the ones that were visiting the nearby lake. There was no relationship with them though, and “The only contribution they were bringing was the tons […]
The Sons of the Araucania – Part 1
Seeds of independence ROOTS The Araucania is a vast region, covered in the millennia old and picturesque monkey puzzle trees, which can rise over fifty metres above the other native plants and vegetation of the surrounding virgin forests. The araucaria is possibly the earth’s oldest living tree species, and is respected by the indigenous communities […]
Here we come, Land!
I met another inspiring tour guide. After Kokko unveiled the real scenery of the Maldives for me, Felipe led me on another fascinating exploration, this time to discover the ancient jobs and occupations of the rural Chilean countryside. I would invite you to join him for the tour too. Your wandering starts in the middle […]
The other shapes of Stillness
The relationship that Miguel Huaman has built with the cultural expression of his historical tradition was born organically, without being previously planned, and completely from scratch. To be precise, it arose from an actual drawing. And if Leymebamba today is well familiar with the shapes, the colours and the fine details of its ancestors’ artefacts, […]
Fountain of Colours in the mountains of Peru
LEYMEBAMBA Leymebamba community is located in the Amazonian Peru at an altitude of 1,800 metres. This location became internationally renowned due to the archaeological finding at the Laguna de los Condores in 1997. La Laguna de los Condores. Photo credits: Leymebamba Community Tourism Association The 200 perfectly conserved mummies have brought not only recognition and notoriety […]
Bridging the unknown
REPLACING IMAGES The image I had always held of the Maldives was one of an archipelago of predominantly deserted islands populated by luxury resorts. My limited perception needed to widen, but until I met Kokko and Secret Paradise my lack of knowledge did not have the chance to be challenged. There are indeed many deserted […]
The land’s call
THE ROOTS Eduardo Faria lives in Parelheiros, the extreme southern area of the biggest metropolis of Latin America but the rural look of his neighbourhood will disorient any new visitor. The thick forest of tarmac mushrooms – usually associated with the financial capital São Paulo- has been replaced by the very real Atlantic Forest and […]
A story of hope and cultural reconnection
FROM THE COUNTRY TO THE CITY When she was young Graciela Cheuquepan loved playing outdoors, jumping from one tree to another “like a monkey” and rolling around in the fields around her grandparents’ house. Sparkling eyes fill her face when she tells me about that time of her life. When she was 8 years old, […]