Agua Blanca is a small indigenous community located within Machalilla National Park, just north of the town of Puerto López. The community consists of around 300 inhabitants, cultivated plots, a museum, church, and small restaurants in a valley surrounded by the globally imperiled dry tropical forest ecosystem. Establishment of the national park in 1979 created challenges for Agua Blanca community members as it restricted their access to much of the landscape that had traditionally been utilized to support their livelihoods. Since that time, Agua Blanca has worked to rebuild its community and economic life around ecotourism and cultural tourism while continuing to hold fast to traditional practices. Spending time in this community will allow us to understand both historic and contemporary relationships between people and the dry tropical forest ecosystem and to consider the challenges associated with maintaining livelihoods in the context of strict conservation policies.