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Eighty percent of Colonia Carlos Pellegrini’s residents are engaged in tourism related activities. The growth of tourism has had a major effect on the town’s residents and specifically offered new opportunities to women that did not exist prior to the advent of tourism in the area. More money for the town’s residents has meant dramatic changes in people’s lives. For example, now young people can buy a bicycle, motorcycle or even plan to build new homes for themselves. While it is difficult to call the vast majority of people in the town rich, it is clear that tourism has provided them with money and opportunities that did not previously exist.
The town has marketed itself to be attractive to “nature lovers” and does not offer other entertainment such as a casino or water sports. Tourists can take boat rides on the Miriñay or the Corrientes Rivers to view and take photos of wildlife such as caiman and capybaras. Additionally, visitors can hike the Monkey Trail or go horseback riding as well as engage in bird watching and nature photography. In most cases these tourist activities are part of the “inclusive” hotel packages.
The growth of tourism has not only led to the construction of new hotels but also led to the improvement of basic services offered by hotels such as food and other amenities. Despite the many benefits that tourism has offered Colonia Carlos Pellegrini, the town still lacks basic businesses such as a supermercado (a small grocery store), bank and ATM, or a hair salon. Additionally, finding a simple item such as chocolate in the kiosks can be a challenge. As discussed under Infrastructure, Colonia Carlos Pellegrini is located 120 kilometers from the nearest city and hotels and businesses must obtain their supplies from either Mercedes or from Goya, a city located 300 kilometers away. Residents and owners either must drive to one of these cities each week or have supplies trucked into the town.