Colombian Amazon Village Bans Prying Tourists http://www.insidecostarica.com/dailynews/2011/march/13/latinamerica110301301.htm

Just off the Amazon River, lies the village of Nazareth. But don't think about dropping by. Tired of being a curiosity to the outside world, the indigenous people have banned tourists.Thousands of adventurous, backpacking tourists flock to southern Colombia every year, drawn by eco-tourism and the hope of interacting with the peoples who live and commune with the Amazon jungle following age-old traditions.The Colombian Amazon, a peninsula sandwiched between Brazil and Peru, is famed for its spectacular flora and fauna, some of the most varied on the planet.Last year 35,000 tourists poured into the region to swing with the monkeys, swim with the famed pink dolphins that frolic in the Amazon waters or to fish for piranhas.But here in Nazareth, guards armed with their traditional sticks stand ready to deter unwelcome visitors.

And the very few who are invited to visit with the community of about 800 residents must register with the guards and show an ID.Elders say the indigenous people, composed some 80 percent of Ticuna indians, do not benefit from the growth in tourism across the region."This was a decision taken at an important assembly of the inhabitants," said Juvencio Pereira, an indigenous guard, who stands watch at the guards' cabin."What we earn here is very little.

Tourists come here, they buy a few things, a few artisanal goods, and they go. It is the travel agencies that make the good money."The Ticuna people are one of the most endangered communities on Earth, with the United Nations having counted their remaining numbers at only around 30,000.And they are fearful of seeing their culture eroded by prying visitors."We had lots of problems. People came, left their rubbish behind, garbage bags, plastic bottles," explained resident Grimaldo Ramos."Tourists come and shove a camera in our faces," he said. "Imagine if you were sitting in your home and strangers came in and started taking photos of you. You wouldnt? like it.