Brazil Joins Peru, Venezuela, Bolivia, Mexico, and Colombia, in Exploiting Travelers with Fake ‘Sustainable’ Projects – Are You Being Deceived with New Eco Tourism Scams?

In 2024 and 2025, several Latin American countries have been involved in eco-tourism scams and greenwashing practices, which pose risks for travelers and investors. These scams often involve fraudulent claims of eco-friendly projects that disguise environmental harm or exploitation of Indigenous communities. For example, in Peru, companies misrepresented their backing from the UN to persuade Indigenous groups to sign away forest rights for supposedly sustainable investments, which turned out to be fraudulent. Similarly, Bolivia was targeted by the fake “United States of Kailasa”, which made misleading land deals with Indigenous communities, claiming sovereignty in return for contracts that benefited the fraudsters. In Brazil, the Operation Greenwashing raid exposed fraudulent carbon credit projects linked to illegal timber operations, showing how green projects can mask environmental exploitation. Similarly, Venezuela’s Los Roques tourism project faced backlash for expanding infrastructure at the cost of local ecosystems, and in Mexico and Colombia, fake shamanic ceremonies were offered to tourists as a spiritual experience, turning out to be scams. Travelers must be cautious when booking eco-tourism trips in Latin America, as deceptive marketing is becoming a significant issue.

Eco-Tourism Scams and Greenwashing: The Dark Side of Sustainable Travel in Latin America

In recent years, eco-tourism has become a booming industry in Latin America, attracting travelers eager to explore the region’s natural wonders while supporting sustainable development and local communities. However, the industry has also seen a rise in scams and greenwashing, with some companies falsely claiming eco-friendly credentials to profit from environmentally-conscious tourists. These fraudulent practices not only harm the environment but also exploit vulnerable communities and deceive well-meaning travelers. The year 2024 marked a notable increase in the number of eco-tourism scams across several countries, including Peru, Brazil, Mexico, and Bolivia, among others. This article explores some of the most significant eco-tourism frauds and greenwashing schemes that have recently come to light in Latin America and offers guidance for travelers looking to avoid falling victim to these deceptive practices.

The Amazon Rainforest and Carbon Credit Fraud in Brazil

In Brazil, the government’s efforts to combat deforestation and promote sustainable tourism have been undermined by fraudulent carbon credit schemes. In June 2024, Brazilian police launched Operation Greenwashing, which targeted a network of fraudulent REDD+ carbon credit projects in the Amazon Rainforest. These projects were marketed as eco-friendly efforts to reduce emissions, but in reality, they were part of a scheme to launder timber profits. The operation uncovered that a group led by businessman Ricardo Stoppe had been issuing fraudulent carbon credits while illegally logging large areas of forest. The investigation revealed that greenwashing in the form of carbon credit fraud had allowed the group to sell “rotten” credits worth millions of dollars while causing environmental harm. Travelers who believed they were supporting sustainable efforts through these projects had unknowingly contributed to deforestation and the exploitation of local resources.

Additionally, a controversial infrastructure project known as the Avenida Liberdade highway in Brazil has raised alarms among environmentalists. Despite claims that the road would feature eco-friendly features such as bike lanes and wildlife crossings, the highway’s construction is expected to cut through protected Amazon rainforest. This project has been criticized for prioritizing tourism over the long-term health of the environment. Critics argue that greenwashing is at play, as the government touts the project as sustainable when it will likely lead to further deforestation and habitat destruction.

Bolivia and the Fake Hindu Nation: A Land Scam Involving Indigenous Communities

In Bolivia, a bizarre and fraudulent eco-tourism scam gained international attention in 2025. The “United States of Kailasa”, a fake Hindu nation, was exposed for attempting to take over Indigenous land in Bolivia by signing fraudulent contracts with local communities. The contracts claimed that Kailasa would provide eco-tourism development in return for control over large swaths of forest. Indigenous leaders were promised benefits from these projects, which were framed as environmentally friendly initiatives. However, it soon became clear that the entire operation was a scam, designed to exploit local resources and land. Bolivia’s government expelled the Kailasa representatives, but the scam left a lasting impact on the Indigenous communities, who were exploited under the guise of eco-friendly development.

Peru’s Misleading Carbon Credit Projects and Ecological Exploitation

Similarly, in Peru, fraudulent eco-tourism schemes have taken advantage of Indigenous communities and the demand for sustainable investments. Reports in 2024 uncovered that some companies misrepresented their support from the United Nations to persuade Indigenous groups to sign contracts that handed over forest rights in exchange for phony sustainable investment opportunities. These fraudulent contracts were framed as a way to protect the environment, but in reality, they were part of a much larger scam aimed at benefiting the companies involved while stripping local communities of their land.

Venezuela’s Los Roques: Greenwashing in Paradise

In Venezuela, the Los Roques National Park, a stunning archipelago known for its biodiversity, became the focus of controversy due to the construction of an expanded runway to accommodate more tourists. Despite being marketed as an eco-friendly destination, the construction of the 1,300-meter runway severely impacted the fragile ecosystems in the park, destroying coral reefs, mangroves, and critical turtle nesting sites. The government’s lack of an environmental impact study raised concerns about the eco-tourism project’s true sustainability. This greenwashing case illustrates how eco-tourism can often be used as a façade for exploiting natural resources under the guise of promoting sustainable tourism.

Mexico and Colombia: The Shamans Who Prey on Tourists

Meanwhile, in Mexico and Colombia, the rise of shamanic tourism has led to a scam network that exploits vulnerable tourists seeking spiritual experiences. Spanish police uncovered a network that fraudulently marketed ayahuasca ceremonies and other shamanic experiences to tourists, promising healing and spiritual guidance. However, the ceremonies were nothing more than a scam, with untrained individuals posing as shamans. The network involved in this scam used dangerous substances and exploited Indigenous traditions for profit. This disturbing trend in eco-tourism highlights the risks associated with unregulated spiritual tourism, particularly when Indigenous traditions are commodified and misrepresented.

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