Otomi women who inspire: resilience and community-based tourism in the Tesquedó Forest

Have you ever wondered what life stories accompany your travel experiences?
In the community of Tesquedó, in the municipality of Amealco de Bonfil, Querétaro, we discovered a story that reflects the strength and family unity of the original Ñhöñho (Otomí) people.

With only 200 inhabitants and 22 households, Tesquedó was for a long time a town marginalized from local development plans. However, among its pine-oak forests - protected since 1942 - a deep awareness has blossomed to conserve the nature and culture that sustain the lives of its people.

Conservation and community life in the Tesquedó forest

The community protects its forest each year by collecting acorns to reforest the area and maintain the ecological balance. The families know that the forest is their source of food, firewood and water; therefore, logging and grazing are controlled with collective responsibility.

In this environment, otomi women have been silent protagonists of change. In the past, their days were filled with subsistence tasks: preparing food, washing clothes or walking miles to fetch water. Today, thanks to access to basic services and educational programs, many have found new ways to improve their quality of life and strengthen the local economy.

Rocío and the strength of a new generation

Rocio Garcia Miranda, one of Martha and Jose's 13 daughters, represents the new generation of women who seek to transform their community from within. She studied gastronomy in the city of Querétaro, and during the pandemic paused her studies to support her family.

Inspired by her name - which evokes drops of life and hope - Rocío decided to channel her learning into a common dream: to build a tourism project that would strengthen her family and community.

Texquedó Community Working Group is born

With the support of National Institute of Indigenous Peoples (INPI)the Garcia Miranda family formed in 2018 the Texquedó Community Working Groupwhich seeks to promote local sustainable tourism. With these resources, the construction of two cabins and a rustic restaurant was planned to receive visitors on their own land.

Although the pandemic halted part of the project, the group's determination remains strong. Since 2015 they have been offering interpretive tours where people can collecting mushrooms during the rainy season, enjoying walks through the forest, waterfalls and dams, tasting traditional gastronomy and buying local handicrafts. such as Lele dolls and Otomi embroidery.

Thanks to this initiative, Rocío's sisters -Briselda, Alicia and Cristal- and their families have access to paid temporary jobsdemonstrating that community-based tourism can be a real path to wellbeing and conservation.

Community-based tourism: sowing wellbeing and preserving life

The story of Rocío and her family is an example of how the community-based tourism strengthens the common good: it improves the quality of life, rescues traditions and promotes the conservation of the natural environment.

From La Mano del Mono, we continue to promote this type of projects that promote the local autonomy, regenerative tourism and protection of biodiversityensuring a sustainable future for the communities and their territories.

Would you like to know more stories like this or visit Tesquedó?
Discover how community-based tourism is transforming lives and territories in lamanodelmono.org