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 of the ecotourism enterprises that are a part of 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. The benefits of sustainable tourism practices help prevent locals from over hunting, over fishing, and over using the land in the bioreserve. This alliance was initiated with support of Rare, the conservation and wild life protection organization, and the United Nations because of the joint community and conservation benefits la Ruta Moskitia Ecotourism Alliance promotes.
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While La Ruta Moskitia seems to have stopped functioning 2012-2014, in late 2014 the alliance requested a grant from the United Nations in order to restart its activities.
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. The La Ruta Moskitia Ecotourism Alliance is in its third year of operations. Within this time through its operations, products, and services the Alliance has already injected more than $350,000 USD into the local communities, created 250 jobs, and supports 1500 immediate family members in the Reserve.
Awards and recognition of The La Ruta Moskitia Ecotourism Alliance includes 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 such as Moon Handbook for Honduras, Lonely Planet and Outside Magazine.
Destinations
The Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve and La Mosquitia is compiled of several unique regions. These regions make up La Ruta Moskitia, which is a traveler's path to experience the indigenous communities, the ecosystems, and the unique adventures awaiting them throughout the Biosphere Resererve. 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