Responsible Travel in Bolivia with Thaki Voyage
Thaki Voyage is a local agency, based in La Paz. Passionate about Bolivia, we share our enthusiasm with travelers eager to venture off the beaten path
Thaki Voyage is a local agency, based in La Paz. Passionate about Bolivia, we share our enthusiasm with travelers eager to venture off the beaten path and discover this magnificent South American country, with respect for the environment and local communities. To this end, we have designed nature-focused circuits and community tourism experiences. Want to learn more? Discover the challenges of responsible tourism in Bolivia…
Understanding the challenges of responsible tourism in Bolivia: Thaki Voyage in action
The importance of sustainable tourism in Bolivia
With a population of 12 million, Bolivia boasts significant resources in hydrocarbons, agriculture and mining. Since 2010, the country's economy has experienced steady growth… Yet it remains one of the poorest nations in Latin America.1
To support the country's tourism sector (severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic), Bolivia must now strike a balance between environmental, social and economic challenges. How? Through sustainable tourism…
Community tourism at Thaki Voyage
Founded in 2011, Thaki Voyage aims to preserve indigenous life, protect the environment – and raise awareness about the importance of sustainable tourism in Bolivia.
In practice, we promote community tourism, that is, tourism focused on supporting and valuing indigenous populations. The objective is twofold:
- involve indigenous peoples in the development of local tourism (and support the economy) ;
- combat the risk of folklorization (or turning the uniqueness of a culture into a tourist attraction) !
Some of the initiatives completed by Thaki Voyage… - Funding an environmental awareness project for children, thanks to royalties from the travel guide Cordillère Royale co-written by Anne Bialek. - Implementation of a water project, with the NGO Hydraulique Sans Frontières - Support for the Bolivian association Qala Uta to raise funds needed "for the renovation of two community tourism refuges in the Cordillère Royale", via a crowdfunding campaign.2 |
Taking a responsible trip to Bolivia: a closer look at Thaki Voyage's sustainable circuits
Traveling to Bolivia inevitably comes with a high carbon footprint… Thaki Voyage's challenge is ensuring that once there, visitors have a journey "with the most positive possible impact, taking into account the country's challenges". To achieve this, our agency has developed and designed sustainable and authentic tourist circuits.
Discovering cycle touring
The bicycle is an ecological way to explore Bolivia. To fully enjoy the experience, it's advisable to train before your trip. Indeed, whether you're an experienced cyclist or not, the condition of the trails, as well as the elevation gain, altitude and weather won't always make your ride a leisurely affair…
To avoid cramps or muscle pain, practice mountain biking regularly. Once there, you'll have all the physical capacity needed for a bicycle crossing of the Salar d'Uyuni or a cycling circuit on the shores of Lake Titicaca!
Experiencing community tourism
Discovering the work of indigenous artisans
Thaki Voyage celebrates local traditions and craftsmanship through circuits dedicated to community tourism. We particularly highlight the women who practice and preserve traditions (seamstresses, farmers, dancers, etc.) through the Women Power circuit.
Meeting the Kallawaya healers
Carried out in the Apolobamba Cordillera, the Trek of the Kallawaya Healers circuit allows you to explore a wild and rarely visited area. You'll discover magnificent peaks, lagoons and experience the pleasant sensation of being alone in the world.
During this journey, you'll have the chance to meet the Kallawaya healers. This ancestral community is renowned for its pharmacy and divination gifts. "The Andean cosmovision" (made up of myths, rituals, etc.) has been inscribed on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage since 2008!
Other encounters facilitated by Thaki Voyage… - the women of the Alto and their children ; - the Aymara community ; - the Livichuco community ; - etc. Want to learn more? Discover all our circuits dedicated to community tourism |
Staying in an eco-lodge
The Traditions at the foot of Sajama circuit allows you to stay in an eco-lodge in the village of the same name. This type of accommodation, built for tourism, is likewise designed with respect for the environment in which it is built. In this circuit, the Tomarapi community introduces tourists to shearing alpacas and llamas, as well as wool weaving!
Trekking with a difference
Committed to offering an unforgettable experience in harmony with nature, Thaki Voyage offers unconventional hikes for travel that's both mindful and active.
Among our trekking circuits, the Trek & Yoga on the Altiplano will gently immerse you in wild nature at high altitude. During this journey, you'll discover, among other things, the Andes Cordillera, the Valle de las Animas and La Paz.
Frequently asked questions
Community tourism in Bolivia involves directly engaging indigenous populations in welcoming visitors and hosting tourism activities. In practice, this means staying with locals, participating in traditional activities (alpaca shearing, weaving, ceremonies) and contributing directly to the local economy. Thaki Voyage offers several dedicated circuits, such as the Women Power circuit or the Trek of the Kallawaya Healers.
While international flights represent the largest portion of your carbon footprint, there are ways to limit your impact once you arrive: opt for cycling (cycle touring on the Salar d'Uyuni or Lake Titicaca), stay in environmentally-conscious eco-lodges, support the local economy through community tourism, and adopt eco-friendly practices daily (waste management, water consumption). Thaki Voyage designs all its circuits with this approach in mind.
Cycle touring in Bolivia is accessible to all, but requires serious physical preparation. Altitude, elevation gain and trail conditions can make certain stages challenging, even for experienced cyclists. Thaki Voyage recommends training regularly on a mountain bike before departure. Once there, you'll be able to enjoy the crossing of the Salar d'Uyuni or circuits around Lake Titicaca with confidence.
An eco-lodge is an accommodation designed and managed with respect for the local environment: natural materials, low energy consumption, sustainable waste management and integration into the local ecosystem. In Bolivia, staying in an eco-lodge like the one in the village of Sajama also allows you to directly support the local community (here the Tomarapi community) and experience authenticity, far from standardized accommodations.
The Kallawaya healers are an ancestral Andean community renowned for their traditional medicinal knowledge and divination gifts. Their 'Andean cosmovision', blending myths, rituals and plant medicine, has been inscribed on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage since 2008. Thaki Voyage offers the 'Trek of the Kallawaya Healers' circuit, conducted in the Apolobamba Cordillera, which allows you to meet this community in a wild and preserved setting.
