Tierraventura
Ecoturismo in Oaxaca Mexico
Claudia Schurr, a sociologist from Germany, and Yves Chavan, a Swiss architect, have lived in Oaxaca since 1998. Fascinated by the richness of Mexico’s indigenous cultures and landscapes, they founded Tierraventura in 1999 with the vision of creating meaningful journeys that connect travelers with the authentic spirit of Mexico.
As some of the first people to develop ecotourism experiences together with local communities in Oaxaca, they became pioneers of community-based ecotourism in the region. Over the years, their work created deep relationships with indigenous communities, healers, artisans, and wisdom keepers throughout southern Mexico.
Claudia’s passion for traditional medicine and ancestral healing traditions eventually led to the creation of Tierra Sagrada in 2019 — a project devoted to preserving and sharing indigenous wisdom, sacred traditions, and the connection between healing, culture, and the land.
Philosophy
Tierraventura and Tierra Sagrada are rooted in the mountains and indigenous communities of Oaxaca, southern Mexico.
For many years, we have dedicated ourselves to sharing the “real” Oaxaca: its villages, celebrations, traditions, landscapes, history, and the wisdom carried by its people. Beyond the well-known tourist destinations, Oaxaca holds a deeply living Indigenous culture, extraordinary biodiversity, ancestral medicine traditions, archaeological treasures such as Monte Albán and Mitla, and communities that continue to preserve ancient ways of life.
Through small and personal journeys in the mountains, along the Pacific Coast, in the Sierra Mixteca, and the northern and southern sierras, we create meaningful encounters between travelers, nature, and local culture. Our experiences include hiking from village to village, traditional Indigenous medicine, ceremonies, and immersion into the cultural and natural richness of Oaxaca.
By staying and eating in local communities, our work directly supports family guesthouses, local restaurants, native guides, artisans, healers, and ecological projects.
We believe that respectful and sustainable tourism can help communities protect their landscapes, traditions, languages, historical heritage, and ancestral knowledge while creating sustainable local income.
