Urkuñan
Urkuñan — Community Tourism – Sigchos, Cotopaxi – Ecuador
families involved
tourism infrastructure built
community hostel — the main initial asset
investment required
Approximately 64 families, one shared territory
Transforming territory, culture, and nature into opportunities for the community. Sigchos holds a unique wealth: natural landscapes, ancestral traditions, and a community committed to developing its own territory. Since 2016, Community Evolution has focused this program on building awareness of — and care for — nature. The Sigchos Community Tourism Program is an initiative led by its own inhabitants to turn their cultural, natural, and productive resources into a sustainable source of income and community strengthening. The program already has base infrastructure built in 2024 through the ‘Páramo, Water and Work’ program, highlighted by the community hostel as the starting point for tourism operations, and is moving toward a consolidated offer integrating lodging, gastronomy, rural experiences, and local culture. The URKUÑAN program involves 64 families in the sector.
Rural experiences, hospitality and local gastronomy
Where nature and culture meet
Community lodging — spaces prepared to welcome visitors with an experience close to local life. Rural experiences — activities linked to the countryside, local production, gastronomy, and community knowledge. Nature and adventure — Andean landscapes, unique ecosystems, and routes that reveal the territory’s natural wealth. Culture and identity — traditions, music, dance, and ways of life that represent the essence of Sigchos.
Nature
Culture
Hospitality
Local gastronomy
The foundations are already in place
Already underway
An active community organization. Initial tourism infrastructure. The community hostel as its main asset. Progressive participation of community families. Links with strategic allies for promotion and commercialization. The existing infrastructure reduces start-up costs and concentrates investment in better services, equipment, promotion, and organizational strengthening.
Investment breakdown — USD 21,418
Infrastructure and equipment — $7,418. Organizational strengthening — $3,000. Tourism product development — $3,000. Commercialization and marketing — $3,000. Environmental sustainability — $5,000.
Expected impact
New sources of local income. Greater community participation. Stronger family enterprises. Conservation of natural and cultural heritage — a direct benefit for approximately 64 families.
Our vision
That every visitor gets to know Sigchos — and also knows its history. Share community life, discover our landscapes, enjoy our gastronomy, and value our traditions. Because tourism should not only generate visitors; it should generate opportunities for those who keep the territory alive
Investment required
Infrastructure and equipment
35% of total
Environmental sustainability
23% of total
Organizational strengthening
14% of total
Tourism product development
14% of total
Commercialization and marketing
14% of total
Expected impact
Community tourism
Nature
Culture
Hospitality
Rural experiences
Andean landscapes
Local gastronomy
Community organization
Environmental sustainability