At the beginning of 2006, the Yurakaré indigenous community “Sanandita-TIPNIS” decided to commence activities that could replace the production of coca and forest management (mostly badly managed) and generate alternative incomes for the families of the community. That same year, a working plan with the DELPIA foundation (Desarrollo Local de Pueblos Indígenas Amazónicos-andinos=Local Development of Indigenous People of the Amazon and the Andes) was established, and a series of meetings and discussions initiated. One of the problems identified was poverty, but it was found that other problems and threats exist as well, the most serious of which being the loss of territory due to the constant invasion and settlement in the park and indigenous territory by the cocaleros (coca-growers). For many years, the indigenous territory has suffered a series of invasions with the consequence that whole communities had to resettle. .

For this reason, the authorities of the community of Sanandita, CONISUR (Consejo Indígena del Sur=Indigenous Council of the South), CPITCO (Coordinadora de Pueblos Indígenas del Trópico de Cochabamba=Coordinator of Indigenous People in the Tropical Region of Cochabamba) and the team of the DELPIA foundation decided to develop projects directed not only towards the generation of resources but also towards the conservation, protection and consolidation of the indigenous territory.

At the end of 2007, the foundation also started to work with Quechua y Aymara communities in the sub-andean Yunga regions of Cochabamba (Council of Independencia). After a technical analysis, a programme for the development of tourist activities - within the framework of the ´Dual Tourism´ concept - was developed. Other types of activities have also been commenced. One of these is organic farming using ancestral techniques, with the aim to give the agricultural products a higher economic value and to improve the diet of the population. These types of activities also fit perfectly within the proposed tourist programme.

Until today, the projects have been undertaken without any source of financing. At the beginning, responsibilities of beneficiaries (Indigenous) and partner (DELPIA-volunteers) were defined; this process considered a participative work framework and always kept the self-determination of the indigenous peoples in mind. This way, the beneficiaries have developed an awareness for the development of their society through their own and self-sustainable initiatives. In the case of the Dual Tourism project in the indigenous community “Sanandita”, the motivation of the local people has helped immensely in the rolling out of the project. Members of the community built a typical cabaña. The DELPIA foundation on the other hand has trained the community, markets the programme and receives the tourists in the office located in the city of Cochabamba.

All these joint efforts - on the one hand the interest and work of the community members in Sanandita, on the other hand the professional and charitable efforts of the members of the DELPIA foundation - have resulted in the fact that this project now constitutes an example for other communities. Furthermore, with the income from the tourism programmes other projects could be launched, like the breeding of Jochi (rodent similar to a guinea pig) and honey production.