RAISING AWARENESS ALONG THE PRIMATES ROUTE
The Primates Route is an opportunity to promote and engage a community for ecotourism activities. Our proposal purpose is create a community tourism model that incorporates the facilities and opportunities that exist in the area. It also proposes to guide and empower communities on tourism potential for lifestyle improvement. The aim is achieving the protection of biodiversity, by making people understand that this is the most valuable element that communities have. The ATCF funding will bring the opportunity to these communities to receive training and guidelines about the importance of biodiversity conservation for its value for ecotourism and its projection in a more organized way.
Neil Ever Osborne
The Issue:
The Burica Peninsula, spanning Costa Rica and Panama, is rich in biodiversity—home to endangered Central American squirrel monkeys, capuchins, howler monkeys, sea turtles, migratory whales, and rare bird species. Though it offers stunning rainforests and coastal landscapes, local communities lack the capacity to engage in sustainable tourism. Currently dependent on traditional livelihoods, they are missing out on opportunities that could support both conservation and local economies. Proyecto Primates aims to develop eco-tourism alternatives that protect biodiversity while providing sustainable income, empowering communities to become stewards of their natural heritage.
Grant Award Use:
The awarded funds will support the development of a community-based tourism model in the Burica Peninsula, designed to empower local residents and promote biodiversity conservation. Key activities will include:
Induction Workshops on community-based tourism to introduce residents to the principles and opportunities of sustainable tourism.
Skill-Building Seminars focused on tourism entrepreneurship, guiding community members in creating tourism-related services that align with conservation values.
Educational Workshops on biodiversity, sustainable development, and ecological restoration to foster environmental stewardship and deepen understanding of the area’s ecological value.
Tourism Resource Inventory to document and assess the region’s natural attractions, helping to build a strong foundation for eco-tourism offerings.
Design and activation of the Primate Route Website
By supporting education and sustainable economic opportunities, this initiative will help local communities become active protectors of their natural environment.
What Would a Successful Project Result In?
A successful outcome for this project will be a more environmentally conscious and empowered community in Punta Burica, with the foundational knowledge and tools to launch the Primate Route—a locally led eco-tourism initiative that celebrates and protects the region’s biodiversity.
The Burica Peninsula will continue to be recognized as a vital habitat for primates and other key species, while becoming a model for community-driven conservation tourism.
Over the course of 12 months, success will be measured by:
# of community members trained in sustainable, conservation-focused tourism practices
Formation of community tourism groups to coordinate and implement visitor experiences
Development of visitor resources, including a local guide to lodging, dining, and natural attractions
Launch of a dedicated Burica Peninsula website to promote tourism, share conservation stories, and attract responsible travelers
These outcomes will help build a sustainable tourism economy rooted in environmental stewardship and community pride.