On October 1, 2025, thanks to the Turismo Circular Peru project led by Canatur with the financing support of AECID – Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo and the European Union, a workshop took place in El Alto, bringing together authorities, partner organizations, and local community representatives. The gathering marked the beginning of a historic process to position Cabo Blanco as an international reference for climate action and sustainable tourism through circularity.
Building Circular Tourism in Cabo Blanco
The workshop was led by the District Municipality of El Alto, in collaboration with CANATUR, Inkaterra, Olas Perú, and Turismo Circular Peru. Together, they explored how circular economy principles and decarbonization strategies can transform Cabo Blanco into a sustainable surf tourism hub.
Participants emphasized the importance of reducing emissions, adopting circular business models, and creating local value chains that benefit the community. The event also demonstrated how the Circular Tourism Peru project strengthens local capacities, ensuring that sustainability is not only a vision but also a concrete, measurable practice.
Insights and Contributions
Key interventions during the workshop included:
- José Koechlin, President of Inkaterra, presenting sustainable pathways for destination development.
- Roberto Muelas, Surf Cities Ambassador and President of Olas Perú, highlighting Cabo Blanco’s potential as a global surf model.
- Carlos Loayza, General Manager of CANATUR, underlining circularity as the new paradigm for tourism competitiveness.
- Experts from Circular Tourism Peru, sharing knowledge on decarbonization, circular business opportunities, and climate-smart planning.
Through participatory dynamics, attendees worked on practical solutions for reducing waste, optimizing resources, and strengthening Cabo Blanco’s positioning within the International Surf Cities Network.
Next Steps
This workshop is the first in a cycle of activities outlined in the project agenda, which will include:
- Technical training sessions on carbon management and circular economy practices.
- Community-led tourism planning workshops focused on surf, biodiversity, and cultural heritage.
- The signature of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, with support from UN Tourism.
These steps aim to consolidate Cabo Blanco as a national and international benchmark for sustainable, circular, and regenerative tourism.
A Shared Commitment
The Cabo Blanco Circular Tourism Project is made possible by the leadership of the District Municipality of El Alto and the commitment of partners including AECID, the European Union, CANATUR, Inkaterra, Olas Perú, and Turismo Circular Peru.While Green Initiative contributes with technical assistance, the driving force behind this transformation is the collective effort of partners and the local community, working hand in hand to build a more resilient, inclusive, and circular model of tourism in northern Peru.
This article was written by Virna Chavez from the Green Initiative Team.
