Text and photos : Nicole Häusler
Can stock-farmers of lamas in the highlands (Altiplano) of Bolivia become entrepreneurs within a time-frame of two years in order to run a Lodge of high quality ?
MAPZA, a project of the German Development Cooperation GTZ/GFA, and more than 200 inhabitants of the community Caripe in the National Park Sajama try to proof exactly this.
The oldest National Park of Latin America (founded in 1939) is close to the border of Chile about a four hours drive southwest of La Paz. With its fascinating landscape in the highlands of Bolivia it offers an interesting range of touristic activities like trekking, hot springs, lagoons and wildlife watching (among others condors, vicuñas, lamas, alpacas, pink flamingos). The park is surrounded by three volcanoes (Sajama/6542 m ; Parinacota/6340 m ; Pomerape/6300 m).
The lodge „Albergue Ecoturistico Tomarapi“ had been constructed in 2002 in the village Tomarapi at the foot of the extinct snow-capped volcano Sajama by the local community Caripe with financial and technical support of MAPZA and the German Development Bank ¨Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau – KFW“. Architecturally it has been integrated in the traditional design of the village and is equipped with 16 beds, solar energy, hot water, radiators and a restaurant.
Management und administration is in the hand of Tomarapi S.R.L., a company, in which 24 families of Caripe are partners. For this community, which earned its livelihood in the past only by stock-farming, “Albergue Tomarapi” has become an important additional income source. The construction of this lodge has offered the people the opportunity to follow a new direction and alternative ways to improve their life.
Contact
Albergue Ecoturistico Tomarapi
Courriel : info@boliviamilenaria.com
Email : ecotomarapi@yahoo.es
Cellular (591) 72472785