Bolivia's Fuerte de Samaipata trained to manage growing visitor numbers

UNESCO's Montevideo office organised a training workshop in Samaipata, Bolivia, on tourism carrying capacity at the Fuerte de Samaipata World Heritage property, it announced on 9 November 2026. The aim was to build management tools that protect the site as visitor numbers rise.

Key facts

• What: a training workshop on tourism carrying capacity at Fuerte de Samaipata
• Where: Samaipata, Bolivia, including fieldwork inside the archaeological park
• Who took part: park rangers, technical staff and local tourism stakeholders
• Organised by: UNESCO Montevideo with Bolivia's Ministry of Sustainable Tourism, Cultures, Folklore and Gastronomy and the Autonomous Municipal Government of Samaipata
• Funded by: the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands

What did the training cover?

The workshop ran over several days and combined theoretical and practical sessions on assessing and managing the impact of visits. Participants carried out fieldwork, observed visitor behaviour and measured routes and areas within the archaeological park.

They also applied specific methodologies to work out how many visitors the property can receive without compromising its preservation. UNESCO said the initiative supports more sustainable tourism management of cultural heritage.

Who was involved?

Park rangers, technical staff and local tourism stakeholders took part in the sessions. The activity was organised by UNESCO in collaboration with Bolivia's Ministry of Sustainable Tourism, Cultures, Folklore and Gastronomy, the Autonomous Municipal Government of Samaipata and other local institutions, with financial support from the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands.

What this means for travellers

UNESCO framed the workshop as a way to strengthen local capacity to manage tourism while safeguarding cultural heritage for future generations. The announcement does not state any new visitor limits, opening hours, entry fees or booking requirements for Fuerte de Samaipata, and it gives no date for any such measures.

Travellers planning to visit the site should therefore expect no announced changes to how visits work at this stage. The workshop points to closer attention to visitor numbers at the property in future.

No follow-up steps, deadlines or further decisions have been announced.