Our Team
Nels Langbauer
Nels began enjoying outdoor adventures with his family and the YMCA in the islands and mountains of Washington State. In high school, he first traveled to Costa Rica with a foreign exchange program where he sparked a passion for Latin America. After majoring in Spanish and more foreign exchanges, he was able to combine his love for the outdoors and Latin America together while guiding with tourism development projects in Central and South America. Based in California as a Spanish Instructor at Bay Area community colleges and as a Kayak Instructor with well known regional organizations like CalAdventures of UC Berkeley and formerly of the Kayak Connection of Santa Cruz, he is dedicated to offering some of the best outdoor and cultural experiences in the regions he loves.
Certifications and Relevant experiences:
20+ years sea kayaking experience
BCU 4 Star Trainee, Coach Level II Trainee
Current First Aide and CPR Certified, Wilderness EMT trained
NOLS Outdoor Educator, Leave No Trace Trainer
MA in Spanish. Trilingual in English, Spanish and Portuguese
15 years work, study and travel experience in Latin America
20+ years sea kayaking experience
BCU 4 Star Trainee, Coach Level II Trainee
Current First Aide and CPR Certified, Wilderness EMT trained
NOLS Outdoor Educator, Leave No Trace Trainer
MA in Spanish. Trilingual in English, Spanish and Portuguese
15 years work, study and travel experience in Latin America
Maria Candida Langbauer
Born and raised in the Brazilian Highlands of Minas Gerais, Candida grew
up visiting rivers and the natural environments around the colonial
city of her home town of Ouro Preto. Ouro Preto's colonial and natural
preservation began what has become a passion for tourism and cultural
exchange. After majoring in tourism studies in Brazil as well as working
in the field, Candida participated in an international leadership
exchange with the YMCA to the US. Candida later has worked throughout
Latin America in traditional and adventure travel projects. Candida is
an alumni of the NOLS Pacific Northwest Trip Leader Course and has
guided sea kayaking trips in California as well as in South America.
While working with OYV Kayak and Adventure, Candida completed a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning.
Wilderness First Aid
NOLS Pacific Northwest Trip Leader
7 years sea kayaking experience
BA in Tourism Administration
Masters in Urban and Regional Planning, MUP
Trilingual Portuguese, English, and Spanish