The objective of the article is to discuss the application of the principles developed in the field of landscape ecology for the management and development of rural tourism. Although the importance of the systemic approach to tourism development is widely considered, many of the proposed solutions are characterized by a sectoral approach, with a particular predominance of studies focused on socioeconomic characteristics. Looking for a more integrated approach, we refer to the principles of landscape ecology, based on the analysis of the landscape mosaic. This mosaic is formed as the result of natural and social interactions and reflects the links of these two subsystems in a multi-scalar, dynamic and hierarchical way. In this framework we discuss the role of content and spatial context in the development of sustainable local tourism. As the case study, San Juanito (Meta, Colombia) was taken; a rural community close to alarge and important protected area