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We are grateful for the recognition we have received over the past 15 years.
  • 2008 - Best project in natural resource management, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León.
  • 2009 - Reference model in "The role of education for sustainable development in natural resource management, research and international cooperation", UNESCO, Univ Greiswald.
  • 2009 - Reference model in "Conservation and Management of Biodiversity in Tropics", Univ. Göttingen, Germany. 
  • 2010 - National award for best project to "Promote Culture in Natural Protected Areas". CONANP.
  • 2011 - Recognition for "Best nature tourism product in Mexico", SECTUR.
  • 2012 - Reference model at the "International Development Design Summit", Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 
  • 2013 - High impact social enterprise in Mexico, New Ventures, 2013.
  • 2014 - present. Training Company and Evaluation Entity for Nature Oriented Tourist Guides based on NOM-09-TUR-2002 in Mexico.
  • 2016 - Honorable Mention for Nature Conservation in Mexico, CONANP.
  • 2018 - International Visitor Leadership Program, US Embassy.
  • 2019 - Future Leaders Connect, for public policy design in Mexico, British Counsil.
  • 2019 - Visionaris, high-impact social enterprise, UBS Bank, Switzerland.
  • 2019 - CEMEX-TEC Community Entrepreneurship Award Finalists.
  • 2020 - Silver Winner World Travel Market Latin America Responsible Tourism Award
  • 2022 - Three Global Inspiring Tour Operators Award. Adventure Travel Trade Association. 
  • 2024 - Coordinators of the LATAM Responsible Tourism Recognition in the category of Biodiversity Conservation, World Travel Market

Who we are

Joining local hands to create global impact

La Mano del Mono is an organization that creates partnerships for the regeneration of natural areas and the well-being of their local communities through innovative tourism business models. 
Our vision
Rural, indigenous and urban communities live with wellbeing, preserving the natural and cultural heritage on which we all depend, where tourism is a profitable, inclusive and regenerative opportunity for local communities, as well as an accessible, safe and transformative opportunity for visitors.

We combine three objectives:

We promote the nature tourism as a management and conservation strategy for natural protected areas.

We strengthen sustainable livelihoods in local communities living around natural areas.

We inspire and strengthen the capabilities of leaders so that they are agents of change in their own realities.

We are grateful for the recognition we have received over the past 15 years.

2024. Coordinators of the LATAM Responsible Tourism Award in the category of Biodiversity Conservation, World Travel Market.

2022. Three Global Inspiring Tour Operators Award. Adventure Travel Trade Association.

2020. Silver Winner World Travel Market Latin America Responsible Tourism Award

2019. CEMEX-TEC Community Entrepreneurship Award Finalists.

2019 . Visionaris, high-impact social enterprise, UBS Bank, Switzerland.

2019. Future Leaders Connect, for public policy design in Mexico, British Counsil.

2018. International Visitor Leadership Program, US Embassy.

See all awards

We are proud to be part of:

We are members committed to the core values of the community of Social Entrepreneurs that generate systemic changes to take care of the planet, people and their prosperity.
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We are ambassadors of the ATTA because in addition to sharing values, we grow together with a community of companies and industry leaders contributing to a collective purpose that amplifies its impact on the adventure travel industry.
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We are proud to join the community of members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature to share our experience with other regions of Latin America and the world.
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Our Team:

We are a united team passionate about the regeneration of our nature and the well-being of its communities. We have extensive expertise in tourism, technology, communication and facilitation. We organize ourselves under the principles of sociocracy and engage in co-design and co-creation schemes to ensure ethical and sustainable results.

Alejo holds a degree in Agricultural Engineering from the Universidad Nacional del Litoral in Argentina, and a Master's degree in Sustainable Tourism from the Universidad del Medio Ambiente in Mexico. 

He has been designing, coordinating and facilitating personal and professional strengthening processes for the last 10 years. He has worked in the academic area as a teacher and researcher. He was a business advisor and coordinator of agricultural development. He actively participated in the sports field as a coach-coach of field field hockey. And in recent years he has worked as an operational leader in the cultivation of sustainable destinations.

He is currently Operations and Innovation Coordinator at Mano del Mono, and collaborates as a teacher and consultant at the Universidad del Medio Ambiente. 

Contact us:
alejo@lamanodelmono.org

Alejo Heymo (Him)
Líder de Operaciones e Innovación

Karla is a sustainable tourism planner with a postgraduate degree in environment and development. She has 18 years of experience developing consulting projects for the public, private and community sectors, a trajectory endorsed by the CONACYT Registry of Accredited Evaluators in Sustainable Tourism. Her goal is to co-create initiatives to contribute to safety, wellbeing and sustainability. She has collaborated with specialized firms, as well as in international cooperation projects financed by organizations such as GIZ, WWF, GEF and UNDP. She has also participated in joint initiatives such as the ICSAL project for sustainable consumption in Latin America (UN-UNEP) and the Local Agents of Change in Open Government and Sustainable Development program to territorialize the 2030 Agenda (UNDP-INAI-CSOs). Since 2021, she is Lead Facilitator and Project Coordinator at La Mano del Mono, where she continues to contribute to socio-environmental wellbeing through skills strengthening (Market Ready Model), resilience in destinations and communities, conservation, good practices, as well as nature, community and regenerative tourism.

Contact us:
karla@lamanodelmono.org

Karla Rivera (Her)
Lead Facilitator

Cristina has a degree in Public Accounting from the Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas. Since her beginnings, she has collaborated with accounting firms, specializing in the tax and accounting area, providing tax advice to companies. Throughout her career, she has played key roles as an accounting assistant in several organizations. Currently, she holds the position of Administrative Leader at La Mano del Mono.

Contact us:
administracion@lamanodelmono.org

Cristina de los Santos (Her)
Líder de Finanzas

Master's degree in Biological Sciences from UNAM and is currently a doctoral student in Sciences for Sustainability and Interculturality at UIIM.
For 14 years she worked in the conservation of Mexico's natural heritage, in federal natural protected areas (NPAs), coordinating and developing regulatory and territorial planning instruments and also served as deputy director of NPAs. She has extensive experience in facilitating community and multisectoral participation workshops, as well as in coordinating sustainable community development projects and preparing socio-environmental diagnostics. To this end, she collaborated within the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas and as a consultant with UNDP and GIZ. Since 2022 to date, she is Lead Facilitator in La Mano del Mono, focusing on Market Ready, Impact Measurement and Biodiversity criteria in tourism.

Contact us:
ethel@lamanodelmono.org

Ethel Árias (She)
Project leader

Diana is a leading entrepreneur with over 8 years of experience collaborating with a wide variety of organizations, including government agencies, corporations, educational institutions, start-ups and NGOs. As a facilitator, she has honed her skills in leadership, innovation, design thinking and entrepreneurship over the last decade. Her impressive ability to solve complex problems is driven by a positive mindset that has become a cornerstone of her professional brand.
She has specialized in topics such as community project management, environmental education, educational technology (EdTech), gender equity, politics and holistic wellbeing. Diana has led and supervised social innovation projects in numerous communities and has played the role of mentor in several projects, guiding them along their entrepreneurial journey.

Contact us:
diana@lamanodelmono.org

Diana Lagunes (Her)
Reserva Natura strategic leader

Edwine is a passionate communicator with a strong background in marketing, project management and facilitation. With more than eight years of experience, she has collaborated with private organizations and NGOs, leading communication strategies, graphic design and logistical planning.
She has a Bachelor's Degree in Communication Sciences and Techniques, a Master's Degree in Literary Appreciation and Creation, a Diploma in Management Skills and is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Communication and Corporate Identity.
Her ability to organize, create and lead with creativity has led her to work on international projects, standing out for her responsibility, adaptability and strategic approach.

Contact us:
edwine@lamanodelmono.org

Edwine Payán (Ella)
Strategic Communications Leader

Alejandro has a Bachelor's Degree in Communication Sciences with a major in Graphic Design. He holds a Master's degree in Narrative and Audiovisual Production from Universidad Panamericana.

With a solid experience in the field, he has worked in several Advertising and Marketing Agencies, contributing with graphic and audiovisual proposals for a wide range of brands. His skills have been highlighted in the development of graphic strategies for SMEs in different sectors. During his first professional years, he played key roles as Editor and Style Editor at WikiTribune. He currently works as Creative Designer at La Mano del Mono, contributing his experience and creativity to promote projects that promote social impact and environmental conservation.

Contact us:
alejandro@lamanodelmono.org

Alejandro Alcázar (Him)
Líder de Diseño Creativo

Anaïs is a multidisciplinary professional with international experience in human talent management, sustainability and regenerative organizational development.
She holds a Master's Degree in Sustainable and Regenerative Tourism Management and a Master's Degree in Ecosocial Transition and Ecological Humanities, as well as several accumulated certifications that support her holistic approach between caring for people, living systems and organizations.
Throughout her career she has collaborated with teams and communities in different countries and continents, facilitating processes oriented towards collective wellbeing, collaboration and conscious transformation.
Integrates management, facilitation and leadership tools to strengthen clearer, livelier and more sustainable work cultures.

Contact us:
anais@lamanodelmono.org

Anaïs Balaguer (Her)
Human Talent and Sociocracy

Mauricio is a professional with 20 years of experience dedicated to promoting social businesses focused on natural and experiential tourism. His work focuses on the conservation of protected natural areas and the welfare of the communities that depend on them. In addition, he has a solid background as a biologist, specializing in education in natural protected areas and in the collaborative design of social business models in areas of high economic vulnerability.
As co-founder of La Mano del Mono, the Market Ready Model and Reserva Natura, Mauricio has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to innovation and positive social impact. His influence extends beyond his foundational projects, as he currently holds prominent roles as an ambassador for the Adventure Travel Trade Association, Ashoka Fellow in Latin America, facilitator for the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and member of the Protected Areas Commission at the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Contact us:
mmmiramontes@lamanodelmono.org

Mauricio Martínez (Him)
Líder de Alianzas

She has a degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Instituto de Estudios Superiores del Golfo de México (IESGM), a diploma in indigenous leadership and a diploma in social enterprise management.
An expert in community-based tourism, since December 2011 she has directed Expediciones Sierra Norte, a tourism company of the Pueblos Mancomunados, one of the most important success stories of community-based tourism in Mexico.
Consultant since 2018, she has accompanied governance processes and product design for community enterprises in the Mixteca Alta of Oaxaca, La Costa de Oaxaca, Cancun, Campeche and Edo de Mexico. Lecturer in specialized tourism events, such as: ATMEX, TurismoEs, Encuentro Nacional de Paraísos Indígenas, XII Congreso Internacional de la AMIT, XVI Seminario de Turismo y Sustentabilidad de la Universidad del Caribe among others.
Lover of nature and outdoor activities.

Contact us:
marketreadyt@lamanodelmono.org

Angelina Martínez (Her)
Lead Facilitator

Graduated with a degree in Alternative Tourism from the Intercultural University of Chiapas, he has extensive training in the field of nature tourism. He has been certified as a Tourist Guide specialized in Hiking by the Secretary of Tourism of Mexico, he is an instructor of outdoor activities by Outwardbound Mexico and Assistant Guide in Canyoning by the International Centre of Adventure and Nature.
With twelve years of experience in the tourism sector, Eric has held various positions, including professor of alternative tourism at the Intercultural University of Chiapas and collaboration with adventure and ecotourism tourism companies in the same state. He is co-founder of Gastándonos Los Tenis Experiencias Que Dejan Huella, a company that operates adventure and nature tours in Chiapas.

Contact us:
eric@lamanodelmono.org

Eric Castro (Him)
Lead Facilitator

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