Resumo: From a reflection on development strategies 'inward', 'outward' and 'from within,' posed as a solution to the structural problems that cause underdevelopment of Latin American countries, and the analysis of management experience rural community tourism in Costa Rica, set forth guidelines for the promotion of local economic development through rural community tourism, aimed at organized communities and social economy entities, involved in the creation of community-based tourism projects. The experience and lessons learned from, they might be useful to other communities with similar characteristics organized, interested in promoting community-based tourism.
