San Miguel del Bala is a small community of 55 families. They are the keepers of the Madidi National Park and of the sophisticated 500 year old Tacana culture. For years, the Tacanas learned to survive in the harsh but rich Bolivian Amazon. They have kept their traditions alive, and have found in responsible ecotourism to protect their historical heritage and preserve the Amazon Rainforest.
San Miguel del Bala Ecolodge (www.sanmigueldelbala.com) offers travelers a new way to explore the exotic Amazon habitat with our two eco-lodges near Rurrenabaque, Bolivia. The first, the San Miguel del Bala Lodge, is located in the community of San Miguel (about 45 minutes upriver form Rurrenabaque), where visitors will experience the living culture of the Tacanas. The second, Caquiahuara Lodge, is located inside the Madidi National Park, where travelers enjoy a pristine natural environment. Both lodges are 100% owned and operated by the indigenous Tacana community, built with local materials, use solar energy, and offer 100% locally grown food.
San Miguel del Bala Ecolodge is the vehicle to promote the concept of Local Travel in a sustainable manner. The community beliefs that Local Travel in the Amazon is more than a business opportunity; it is an opening for social development, to strengthen the local identity and protect the endemic species that inhabit the Madidi National Park. Ultimately, it is an authentic window for tourists to be aware of the treasures they have kept for hundreds of years. We believe Local Travel is not just off the beaten path destinations; it is about living like locals, with locals and sharing each other’s cultures. We value the natural environment because the Madidi National Park is our home. Through Local Travel we welcome tourists to our home, so they can learn and experience the biodiversity of the Bolivian Amazon. Tourists can explore the jungle in direct contact with thousands of plants and animals. Our guides will reveal their traditional medicinal and hunting methods, as they venture into the rainforest with visitors looking to experience more.
The San Miguel Ecolodge is based explicitly on the belief that the traditions of the Tacana community are valuable and that the community can achieve livelihoods through the celebration and sharing of these beliefs. Thus all tourist experiences at San Miguel integrate a number of different aspects of traditional Tacana culture. The cornerstone of the San Miguel del Bala enterprise is building and contributing to the local community. We were created by the community and for the community, and so all of our operations bring economic, educational and health benefits to the community members.
San Miguel del Bala is a true community tourism success. The community of San Miguel has put in a lot of their own time and funds to realize this dream, and we invite you to experience Local Travel at San Miguel del Bala Ecolodge: Gateway to Madidi.
This sounds fantastic! Perhaps true eco-tourism/local travel. I would be interested to learn how it came about, was it a push from the community or from an outside investor? How successful has the venture been so far?
Posted by Kate | July 6, 2011, 5:13 pmHi Katie! San Miguel del Bala came about entirely due to the initiative of the local community. In the early 2000s, the Tacana community in San Miguel came up with the idea for the lodge and approached various organizations with their plan, who then provided some assistance to get the project running. It’s still relatively small but has been very successful in providing steady income to the local community through employment and ownership shares in the cooperative, as well as paying for things like school supplies. It’s an awesome place, so spread the word!
Posted by Matt | July 7, 2011, 9:55 pmLocal travel should be promoted always to give job for the local communities.
Posted by pampanga hotels | September 25, 2012, 6:02 am