David Santiago Castaño

I grew up surrounded by the mountains of Antioquia, Colombia—a setting that shaped my deep connection to nature and a lifelong love for adventure. That connection eventually led me to rock climbing, a practice I’ve pursued passionately for the past five years. My training began with the Corporación de Escaladores de Antioquia and later continued through the Colombian Association of Mountain and Rock Climbing Guides (ACGME), where I began the process of becoming a certified climbing guide.

Over the years, I’ve worked with several well-known adventure tourism groups across Colombia, including CETAV in Antioquia, Vámonos Pal Monte in Cundinamarca, and Refugio la Roca in Santander. These experiences allowed me to guide and lead climbing activities for people of all ages—from young children to older adults—while continuing to deepen my knowledge of outdoor leadership and safety. I also hold a technical degree in tourist guiding from SENA and am certified as a Wilderness First Responder by AIDER Canada, a credential I’ve maintained since 2019.

Beyond Colombia, I’ve spent time in the United States as part of the high-ropes course team at Camp Watitoh, where I led youth adventure programming in English and further honed my skills in instruction, group facilitation, and cross-cultural communication.

I’m someone who finds joy in movement, growth, and teaching what I love. The outdoors has given me a sense of purpose, and I’m always seeking new ways to share that with others—with curiosity, kindness, and a strong commitment to safety and community.