About Us
Transformative travel experiences in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico — designed and led by people who call these places home
Richer experiences, stronger communities
Tourism can be a powerful force for good when local communities are at the heart of the experience. At Offbeat Travel, we provide travel experiences through a local lens — our operations are run by in-country teams with decades of experience, and our owners are from the places we visit.
This local perspective shapes everything we do. We partner with small businesses to provide travelers with home-cooked meals, thoughtful lodging, and atypical excursions that highlight the people, places, ecosystems, culture, and community in the places we live, work, and play.
Our mission
We are striving to decolonize travel and create equity in the travel industry by ensuring the people in the places we visit have ownership of the design, implementation, management and economic benefits of travel to their communities.
Our vision
We're working toward a world where everyone has access to the transformative power of responsible travel, where experiential education develops the next generation of global leaders, and where climate change is treated as the critical issue of our generation.
The Offbeat experience
Beyond the tourist trail
Beyond the tourist trail
We connect your group with people and places most visitors never see. Think a home-cooked meal with a local family, a morning with the marine biologist leading a conservation project, or a community workshop run by local artisans. These are the moments our teams design into every itinerary because they know their communities personally.
Custom all-inclusive travel
Custom all-inclusive travel
Every itinerary is built from scratch around your goals, group, and timeline. We handle accommodations, meals, transportation, activities, and local guides so you can focus on the experience. Every detail of your itinerary is crafted specifically for you and your group.
One dedicated program manager
One dedicated program manager
Throughout your program, you'll work with one primary contact who understands your institution, your learning goals, and how they translate to on-the-ground experiences. Your program manager is your single point of contact from initial planning through post-trip reporting.
Pre- and post-trip resources
Pre- and post-trip resources
From your first conversation through post-trip follow-up, you'll work with one primary contact who knows your program inside and out. Your program manager learns your goals, coordinates all planning, and communicates updates throughout the process.
24/7 on-the-ground support
24/7 on-the-ground support
Every service project is part of a long-term Community Impact Plan developed in collaboration with local stakeholders. We work with community partners like FUNDEMAR to identify projects that address real local priorities, and we design the experience so students are learning about the social, economic, and political context of the work they're doing.
A journey of friendship and purpose
We founded Offbeat Travel after becoming friends while working for more than a decade at an industry-leading student travel company. Our CEO Ricardo was running the company's Costa Rica operations when he hired Harry (COO) and Wainer (Chief of Staff) as seasonal program leaders way back in 2008.
Over the years, Harry and Wainer joined Ricardo as part of the company's operations leadership, where all three helped build the systems behind its rapid growth. At Offbeat Travel, we brought that experience with us — and the values that shaped it. We prioritize the traveler experience, our impact on local communities, and safety across every program we run, whether we're working with tour operators, educators, or families planning their next adventure.
Read our 2025 Impact Report
Every year, we measure the impact of the projects our travelers support alongside local communities.
Local expertise
We have decades experience leading educational and adventure travel programs. We live and work in the communities in which we operate. That means we know which roads wash out when it rains, which family-owned restaurants serve the best local meals, and how to create safe, authentic experiences off the typical tourist path.
Responsible travel
Responsible travel means the communities we visit benefit from tourism—not just host it. We prioritize locally-owned businesses, keeping more than 75% of program costs in-country. Every service project is part of a three-year community impact plan developed with local stakeholders, aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals prioritized by our home countries.
Safety and security
We partner with Cornerstone Safety Group, a leading travel safety and risk management consultant, and maintain fully insured and licensed in-country operations. Our program leaders are trained in First Aid, CPR, Wilderness Medicine, and as lifeguards. We vet every vendor annually to ensure they meet our safety standards.
Who we serve
Whether you're a travel operator, educator, or family, we partner with you to design intentional experiences through a local lens
Ready to start your journey?
Whether you're planning a student trip, exploring partnerships, or seeking a family adventure, we're here to help you create something extraordinary.
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