Potencial ecoturístico de los recursos naturales del cantón San Felipe de Oña, Provincia del Azuay

Abstract

The Canton San Felipe de Oña is located in the province of Azuay, 102 km from Canton Cuenca, it has a series of natural resources, which are the basis for the development of this research. According to the tourist attraction inventory of the canton, twelve natural resources have been established, such as: Loma de Mauta, Cerro Partido or Zhuñin, Tinas Naturales de Pullicanga, Cascadas de Rodeo, Cascada de Ingachaca, Las 3 lagunas, Laguna Grande, Bosque Primario de Zhidil, Vertiente el Pogllo, Cataratas del Cubilán Cascada de Tasqui and Mirador del Cóndor o Zhuracpamba. The purpose of this research work is to establish the ecotourism potential of the canton´s natural resources, for this purpose, these resources are identified, and applies the methodology of Hierarchization Cards of Tourist Attractions proposed by the Ministry of Tourism of Ecuador, this methodology facilitates analyzing the essential criteria that an attraction should have, such as: accessibility and connectivity, tourist premises, state of conservation and integration, hygiene, among others; the will establish the potential that have the aforementioned attractions. Finally, the tourist zoning of the natural resources with the greatest potential is proposed. For this purpose, the Natural Protected Areas Destination Management Methodology designed by the Ministry of the Environment and the Rainforest Alliance are applied.