Ricardo started working in the tourism Industry as a whitewater rafting guide while completing his degree in Business Administration at the Universidad de Costa Rica. In 1998, he was part of Costa Rica’s national rafting team participating in the whitewater rafting World Championships. In 2005, he changed gears and started his journey in experiential education. Ricardo is a calm, collected and analytical operator who brings a unique perspective on business operations to our team. Outside of work, Ricardo enjoys spending time with his wife Marcela, son Mateo and daughter Olivia on the beach, up in the mountains or in rivers of his native Costa Rica.

Harry was born in New York City, and at 6 months old, relocated to his family's native home in the Dominican Republic. Ever since, he has lived in the cultural and physical space between the Dominican Republic and the United States. Harry has been working in the travel industry in the Caribbean and Central America for more than a decade and has led and managed programming in Costa Rica, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba. Harry splits his time between Santo Domingo, Havana, New Orleans and Providence. When not personally participating in our clients' experiences you can find him cooking or gardening with his partner Lauren and two sons.

Wainer grew up in a big family on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica and ventured to the capital of San Jose for university. His studies took him abroad for a year-long exchange in rural Ohio, where his love for travel and intercultural exchange was first sparked. Upon graduating, Wainer started working in student travel and education in Costa Rica for a U.S.-based company. His experience, balanced management approach and curiosity make him a critical member of the Offbeat leadership team. He has managed and led travel programs in China, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Central America, and continues to travel in his spare time, bringing with him his high energy and insight into service, education, and socially-impactful travel.

Manuel is a proud product of Santo Domingo. He studied chemical engineering as an undergrad and recently completed a masters degree in sustainability, specializing in water treatment systems. He brings years of experience facilitating experiences for student travel companies in the Dominican Republic and a keen sense of customer service to our team. Manuel is passionate about travel, community development and sports. When he is not studying or working, you can find him attending concerts or watching soccer games.

With a degree in sustainable tourism management and years of guiding experience under his belt, Offbeat’s programming and mission combines two important components of his life: access to nature and wildlife. Felipe has extensive experience working across Costa Rica's national parks and rural communities, focusing on sustainable issues in his previous role as vice president of a non-governmental environmental organization. As Offbeat’s Director of Program Delivery in Costa Rica, he applies his experience and knowledge of the outdoors and sustainable community development to our programming and traveler experience.

Check out Felipe’s Staff Feature to learn more.

Isabel was born in La Vega and raised in Jarabacoa. Known as la ciudad de la eternal primavera or the land of eternal spring, Jarabacoa is an area surrounded by nature and love. Isabel received a scholarship to travel to the United States and study environmental science at Berkshire Community College. She then returned to the Dominican Republic and has worked in the ecotourism industry for more than twenty years managing the operations of a large ecolodge and student travel logistics. She's a proud mother of three (two daughters and a cat) loves to walk, travel and help others.

Lidia is of Dominico-Haitian descent, which from a young age, positioned her as the perfect translator for volunteer groups in her native Dominican Republic where she worked with native English, Spanish and Haitian Creole speakers. She has spent the last five years leading and managing student groups in Latin America, which allows her to do what she loves most: travel, work on community initiatives, bring a sense of humanity to younger generations and create a better world for her son.

Antoine was born in Brittany, France and started traveling abroad as a backpacker when he was 19; first in Europe, then in Southeast Asia and lastly in Central & South America. In 2013 during one of his trips Antoine discovered Costa Rica and fell in love with the land of Pura Vida. In 2016, he started working in the youth education and travel industry as a guide in Costa Rica, mainly in community service oriented programs. In 2021 he joined the Offbeat travel family as a program manager. Antoine loves traveling, biking, wood/bamboo working and Costa Rican culture! He is usually shy at first and then super sociable when you get to know him.

Lucía was born in San José Costa Rica but has moved from one place to another over the years around the country's capital. This has allowed her to interact with different environments and people, as well as allowing her to learn about multiple ways of living. She is interested in social interactions and dynamics, which is why she graduated as a Social Worker from the University of Costa Rica in 2019. She is passionate about culture, nature and the arts as a great way to bring people from different backgrounds together

Francis was born and raised in the city of Constanza which is known as el valle encantado, or enchanted valley. Francis graduated from university with a bachelor's degree in tourism business administration. He has worked as a translator for various organizations and medical missions to help his community. For several years, he has also worked with various groups of foreign students as an ambassador of Dominican culture to help them acquire a global vision of the world. When not facilitating experience for our students, Francis loves experimenting with new foods, spending time with his friends and keeping up with the news of the world.

Mabel was born and raised in Santo Domingo where she attended the Universidad iberoamericana for her undergraduate degree and the Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domigo for her MBA. With over a decade in Business Management and Logistics, she decided to pivot to a career with purpose in Service Learning back in 2019. It was in 2022 that she discovered Offbeat, where her passion for community, knowledge-sharing, and giving back found a perfect home. Outside the office, you'll find Mabel on outdoor adventures, biking from town to town or enjoying a nature walk. Based in Santo Domingo, she shares her home with her loyal companions, Malú the dog and Mao the cat.

Dennis, a proud 'tico' from Cartago, Costa Rica, has always been enchanted by his country's natural beauty. Living in the central valley, he enjoys exploring the rich flora and fauna through hiking and biking. Passionate about meeting people from around the world, he loves sharing stories of Costa Rica's landscapes and traditions. With a diploma in Business Administration and Tourism Activities, Dennis excels in creating personalized, unforgettable vacations for solo travelers, families, honeymooners, and couples, finding great joy in crafting unique experiences.

AnaMaria Garcia is a photographer and writer who received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in photography with a minor in creative writing in 2018 from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Since then, she’s been exploring, working and creating art in different corners of the world. With a background in experiential education, sales and marketing, AnaMaria is ready for any challenge. She is currently bringing the most breathtaking landscapes to your daily life through her print shop and beyond. Most of the images on our website are AnaMaria’s work.

Laura loves connecting with people, learning new things, organizing ideas, and getting crafty. She was born in Argentina, grew up mainly in the U.S., and has been deeply shaped by time spent in Greece, Montenegro, and the Dominican Republic. Her curiosity for different cultures and perspectives led her to study anthropology and geography at the University of Washington, serve as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic, work with international students in college admissions, and come back to the DR as an Offbeat Program Leader in Summer '22. Since then, she has continued exploring the island, meeting incredible people, dancing lots, and working as a language and micro-school teacher. The Offbeat community has helped her feel at home here and being a part of the team has been a gift!