Research on eco-tourism in Latin America is largely concentrated in Mexico. This country that has led policies aimed at protecting the environment from a conservationist approach and social inclusion perspective, implementing ecotourism strategies that allow the protection of natural resources. This document is produced from the documentary review on the development of ecological tourism in different contexts, mostly in Latin America, which have strategic territories and are suitable for their application. The main objective of the review was to systematize the importance of the role of communities making decisions, regarding environmental protection and community development around ecotourism. As a result, it is highlighted the importance of linking communities in the diagnosis, planning and the execution of ecological tourism proposals to succeed with these processes in a sustain-able way. It is concluded that not all initiatives have been successful, since the participation of the habitants in these interventions is low, and it has caused an inequitable distribution of resources generated in these activities, failing one of the pillars of ecotourism, the local development.