Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, the Chocano coast, the Bahía Solano environs, the ecosystems around San josé del Guaviare and the Andean forests in Tierradentro, are important conservation areas located in four of the regions of high biodiversity in the country. At least three of these are neighbours to natural national parks such as Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Tayrona, Ensenada de Utría, Serranía de Chiribiquete and the rest is located in the middle of the Colombian Macizo, the most important fluvial star in Colombia.

Unfortunately, a infinity of social and economical processes occurred in the last years has put this natural patrimony at risk, and landscaping have in many cases, obliged the communities  to dedicate themselves to illicit activities or have been the production centre or the passageway for the drugs or precursors used for their production.

After analysing the characteristics of these regions the Agencia Precidencial para la Acción Social y la Cooperación Internaciocional and the Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo, decided to use the comparative advantages, in terms of its attractions and cultures, to approach eco ad ethno tourism as income generating opportunities , for a sustainable environment and reconstruction of the social weave.

In this text, Ecotourism is understood as “ specialised tourism developed in areas with special natural attractions, that searches for recreation, to relax and educate the visitor, that has a minimal impact on natural ecosystems and respect the cultural patrimony and that generate incomes destined to help and promote the conservation of the natural areas in which they are realised and the bordering communities.”