La Ruta Moskitia Ecotourism Alliance

The La Ruta Moskitia Ecotourism Alliance is a collection of six indigenous communities that provide ecotourism products and services within the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve in Honduras. All the ecotourism enterprises compromising La Ruta Moskitia are 100% community-owned and operated. All of the financial benefits of the sustainable tourism initiatives of La Ruta Moskitia go directly to local communities. Sustainable tourism practices help prevent locals from overhunting, overfishing, and overusing the land in the bio reserve. The La Ruta Moskitia Ecotourism Alliance started with the support of Rare, the conservation and wildlife protection organization, and the United Nations because of the joint community and conservation benefits la Ruta Moskitia Ecotourism Alliance promotes.[1]

While La Ruta Moskitia seems to have stopped functioning 2012-2014, in late 2014 the community requested a grant from the United Nations to restart its activities.[2]

Accomplishments, awards, and recognition

The Rio Biosphere Reserve, which lies in the heart of La Moskitia, is a 2-million-acre (8,100 km2) UNESCO World Heritage Site. Through time the operations, products, and services from the Alliance have already injected more than $350,000 into the local communities, created 250 jobs, and supported 1500 immediate family members in the Reserve.

Awards and recognition of The La Ruta Moskitia Ecotourism Alliance include the World Travel and Tourism Council's Tourism for Tomorrow "Investor in People" award in 2008, the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Award "Best Park or Protected Area" in 2007, and the Conde Nast Traveler's coveted Green List in 2006. These international rewards were presented to acknowledge the Alliance's quality products, as well as identify its aid towards poverty alleviation and biodiversity conservation. In addition, to the awards mentioned above La Ruta Moskitia was recognized as one of National Geographic Adventures' "Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth." Finally, several publications have recommended La Ruta Moskitia as Moon Handbook for Honduras, Lonely Planet ,and Outside Magazine.[3]

Destinations

The Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve and La Mosquitia are compiled of several unique regions. These regions make up La Ruta Moskitia, which is a traveler's path to experience the indigenous community, the ecosystem, and the unique adventures awaiting them throughout the Biosphere Reserve. The destination regions included in the La Ruta Moskitia tour packages are:

-The Great Pine Savannah region: Brus Laguna and Yamari Savannah Cabanas

-The Miskito Coast region: Belen and Raista

-The Garifuna Coast region: Plaplaya and Batalla

-The Rainforest Highlands region: Las Marias[1]

References
  1. ":: La Ruta Moskitia :: -Honduras-". Larutamoskitia.com. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  2. "Pobladores de la Moskitia Hondureña piden reactivar la ruta Moskitia". Hn.undp.org. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  3. M. Humke (2008) "The La Ruta Moskitia Ecotourism Alliance: A Case Study"
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