At a Glance
Location: Colombia
Impact Areas: Suppliers, Environment
People Supported:
Indigenous Peoples
Joined NESsT Portfolio:
2025
Overview
The El Venado Indigenous Reserve is located 50 kilometers from Inirida, the capital of Guainía department in the Colombian Amazon. This indigenous territory is home to the Mavicure Hills, three towering monoliths that are a sacred site for local Indigenous peoples. This biodiverse landscape, which hosts a wide variety of plant and animal species, has seen a steady increase in visits from both local and international tourists seeking ecotourism options.
Founded in 2018, Asozhonm has developed a sustainable tourism model around these natural wonders, offering guided experiences that educate visitors while generating income for over 70 community members—many of whom previously relied on artisanal mining, fishing, or subsistence agriculture.
In addition to guided walks of the Mavicure Hills, Asozhonm members also provide transportation, meals and lodging, and cultural workshops. Asozhonm's guides place great emphasis on preserving and sharing cultural knowledge of the region and promoting ways to care for their territories. In this way, Asozhonm ensures that traditions at risk of fading are documented and preserved for future generations.
Through visitor access fees to Cerro Mavicure and its tourism services, Asozhonm strengthens Indigenous economic resilience while protecting ancestral lands. The association also plays a vital role in community governance, ensuring tourism growth aligns with Indigenous values and life plans. By formalizing operations and training local guides, Asozhonm preserves ecological and cultural heritage while creating a replicable model for responsible tourism in the Amazon.
Results & Impact
100%
Indigenous workforce
50%
women across all tourism roles
+70
Indigenous indirect and direct beneficiaries, receiving monthly income above poverty line
80%
of household income comes from sustainable tourism, reducing reliance on harmful activities like illegal mining
“Through NESsT’s support, Asozhonm has been able to strengthen its tourism services and our business. NESsT has helped us tremendously with financial investment, which has allowed us to build new cabins, something we’re now seeing the results of. Additionally, they’ve provided us with training in topics such as marketing, and we’ve learned a great deal about how to promote our work. NESsT is a key partner for us — we truly feel that, and it reflects the reality of our experience with them.”
NESsT Investment
Asozhonm joined the NESsT portfolio seeking support to professionalize its operations and expand its community-led tourism model throughout the Guainía region. With support from the Organization of Indigenous Peoples of the Colombian Amazon (OPIAC), and NESsT, Asozhonm's team is improving the quality of the tourism services it offers in addition to developing key skills in accounting and commercial management.
NESsT and OPIAC advisors will support Asozhonm to strengthen key operational areas including financial management, client acquisition systems, and sustainable tourism practices.
As part of its growth plan, Asozhonm will implement a community training program for its members focused on hospitality, guiding techniques, and small business management. This initiative addresses the dual challenge of creating sustainable livelihoods while protecting Indigenous traditions and the fragile Amazon ecosystem. By developing these capacities, Asozhonm aims to set new standards for responsible tourism led by local communities.