Our Story
“Some people look at the sky and see weather. I look at the sky and see a runway.”
Growing up in Niterói, across the bay from Rio de Janeiro, Ricardo 'Caju' Maciel was surrounded by the raw beauty of Brazil's coastline. The wind wasn't just weather — it was an invitation. He answered it young, and never stopped.
The first time Ricardo lifted off the ground under a paramotor, he knew this wasn't a hobby. It was a calling. The combination of absolute freedom, mechanical precision, and the raw beauty of seeing the world from above became his obsession.
Ricardo moved to the United States, immersing himself in the paramotor community, training relentlessly, competing, and beginning to teach. His natural ability to communicate — in multiple languages, with infectious energy — made him a standout instructor from the start.
Based in Northamptonshire, Ricardo established himself as one of the UK's most respected paramotor instructors. Earning the APPI Master Instructor certification — the highest international standard — he began training hundreds of pilots, many of whom became instructors themselves.
Ricardo had trained over a thousand students. They could fly — but where would they go? WNTT was born from a simple insight: the best flying in the world happens in places most pilots will never find on their own. Ricardo would take them there. Not as a tour guide, but as a fellow pilot who happened to know the wind, the land, and the people.
Every WNTT expedition is built around one idea: the feeling of absolute freedom. Not freedom as a concept — freedom as a sensation. The wind on your face, the ground falling away, the horizon expanding in every direction.
We obsess over the details so you don't have to think about them. Logistics, equipment, weather, culture, safety — all handled. Your only job is to show up and fly.
This isn't about ticking destinations off a list. It's about experiencing places from a perspective that changes how you see everything.
The highest international standard for paramotor instruction. Ricardo is one of a select group worldwide to hold this certification.
Certified tandem paratrike pilot, offering unique dual-flight experiences for companions and non-pilots on every expedition.
Trained and flown across Brazil, the USA, UK, Egypt, and the Amazon basin. Fluent in English and Portuguese.
Official partner with Vittorazi Motors — the world's leading paramotor engine manufacturer. Using and recommending the best equipment in the industry.
The Team
Ricardo doesn't run expeditions alone. Each trip features a carefully selected team: ground support, safety coordinators, media professionals, and local cultural guides. The result is a seamless experience where you fly, explore, and live — while the team handles everything else.
Vittorazi Motors — World-leading paramotor engines
Three expeditions. Three continents. Infinite freedom.
Explore Expeditions