Reservation policies

Thank you for taking the time to read through our terms and conditions. We are a small, family-owned and operated outfitter near the Arenal Volcano that provides high-quality, personalized service. We pride ourselves on being an accommodating and flexible travel provider and will work with clients to find solutions when problems arise or changes need to be made.

The experiences and getaways we operate directly can be cancelled and confirmed within 24 hours of operation with no penalty for parties fewer than 10 people. Groups larger than 10 people will be charged a 10% administrative fee. No refunds for no shows.

About our rates

The rates listed on our website are subject to change without notice. We work hard to maintain our website up to date, but cannot guarantee prices should a provider change pricing without informing us. Please let us know should you encounter any discrepancies.

Peak season rates

Please add 25% extra as hotels charge additional amounts during these high-demand times.

The more-popular and “higher end” accommodations should be reserved at least 6 to 12 months in advance for peak season, which is usually around December 20 to January 2.

Reservation policies

Our goal is to give peace of mind by ensuring the health, safety and enjoyment of our clients during their visit to Costa Rica! We have over 20 years of adventure experience and solid financial planning that helped us through the impact of COVID.

We have expert local knowledge to help you plan the perfect Costa Rica vacation. We take the time to understand what our guests would like to do and where they’d like to go, and then help plan a dream vacation. We look forward to sharing our favorite places, and experiences with you!

And once clients are here in Costa Rica, we make their trips worry free and take care of all logistics and booking, so sit back and relax. :-)

We are here to help with 24-hour emergency service, 365 days of the year. We understand better than ever right now that travel plans change, sometimes uncontrollably. 

In the case of any unforeseen change of plans, we will try to the best of our abilities to provide a full-refund or travel credit for unused tours and transport (note: many hotels have a 30-day cancellation policy). 

When given 14 days of notice, we will transfer all funds to a future credit valid for at least a year and honor the same pricing as well.

RESERVATIONS ARE NOT MADE OR GUARANTEED UNTIL DEPOSIT IS RECEIVED

  • Reservations made more than 3 months in advance require 25% down payment to secure reservations, 50% of total reservation must be paid within 3 months of arrival date, and the remaining 50% balance due no later than 30 days prior to arrival date.

  • Reservations made within 3 months of arrival date require 50% down payment to secure reservations. The remaining 50% balance must be paid on or before 60 days prior to your scheduled arrival date. 30 days prior to clients arrival, payment for the remaining balance will be processed. After processing, a printable receipt of payment will be sent.

  • Though we will send a reminder statement via email, it is the sole responsibility of the agency to contact us for all payments. If an agency does not make payment or other written and confirmed arrangements with us within 14 days of scheduled payment due date, their vacation may be subject to cancellation.

Reservations are not made or guaranteed until the deposit has been received. Availability will be checked prior to sending an invoice, but due to the nature of a dynamic itinerary with numerous components, we cannot guarantee availability of all aspects unless we otherwise state so in writing.

Terms & conditions for tours and transport

  • We will provide a refund should a service be cancelled due to inclement weather or safety concerns.

  • There are no refunds for no shows, last-minute cancellations (under 24 hours) or for portions of a tour a client chooses not to participate in (such as the cost of lunch, transport, etc.). If a client is granted a refund, the client is refunded according to the method the payment was made.

  • Many of our adventure activities such as rafting, canyoning, biking, hiking, stand up paddling, kayaking, etc., involve inherent risk and physical exertion, so you must be in good physical condition without any recent health condition that may impede your safety and wellbeing, such as, but not limited to: surgery, heart condition, pregnancy, disability, asthma or injury. If you take medication such as allergy pills and need them with you or have other medical concerns, please inform the guide.

  • We reserve the right to cancel any trip due to unsafe conditions and will only run a tour according to established company policies. For reasons beyond our control (climate, river levels, etc.), we may change to a more suitable tour with an equal or similar difficulty rating and adventure appeal or offer other tour options so you don't miss out on a fun day in Costa Rica. Our Head Guide helps make the final decision.

  • Costa Rica's natural environment is filled with insects, snakes, crocodiles and other wildlife. In addition, landslides, falling rocks and sudden flash floods are possible. We may not be held responsible for any of the above. We are not held responsible for issues of force majeure and may evaluate any such event on a case by case basis to find a reasonable solution.

  • We have the right to cancel a tour if a client is seen unfit to do a tour for their own safety and/or safety of clients and guides. Clients must not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

  • Please do not take valuables on tours such as jewellery, passports, etc. We are not responsible for lost, broken or stolen items. We have a lost & found for tours and services and donate items after 2 weeks if they are not claimed.

  • We recommend closed-toed shoes for hikes, horseback & canyoning. You should know how to swim and feel comfortable in water for rafting, canyoning, SUP and kayaking.

  • The maximum weight limit for horseback riding is 200 lbs as Costa Rican horses are smaller in frame than Western horses. We require a maximum of 225 lbs for rafting and canyoning. Please contact us should you have concerns about this.

Recommended ages for tours

  • Rafting class 3-4: Ages 13-65

  • Rafting class 2-3, mountain biking, Venado Caves, Río Celeste: Ages 10-65

  • Canyoning: Ages 10-60

  • Safari Float & most nature walks (Arenal Volcano, Hanging Bridges, Nature Combos): Ages 6-66+

  • Horseback riding: Ages 8-65

  • Stand up paddling (SUP) & kayaking: Ages 8-85

  • Community, culture & nature, turtle observation tours, culinary adventures, cooking class & farm tours, yoga & meditation: no age limit.

Most tours require 2 people minimum. Please be ready at the given pick-up time and allow time for road conditions and other clients being picked-up along the way. Your guide and/or driver can only allow a 5-minute wait time. If clients are not ready, the driver will ask the receptionist to indicate "No Show" at the time indicated. Clients left behind are responsible for making arrangements to catch up with the trip at their own costs. If you have not been picked-up within 10 minutes of your established pick-up time, please call our office.

Multi-day vacation package reservation policies

Lodging options

  • We perform routine inspections and follow client reviews to make sure we have the most updated information about the hotels and other lodging options we recommend. We prefer to use comfortable, locally-owned hotels or rental homes with Costa Rican charm.

  • The itinerary will detail reservation policies for children at hotels and the amenities available. Costa Rican queen-sized beds are the same as what those in the US and Canada consider "double beds", although some hotels may have true queen-sized beds.

  • Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the type of bed requested at our hotels.

  • Double rooms: The hotels we work with consider double rooms as a room with one or two beds and private bathroom.

  • Triple and quadruple rooms: Usually two beds with a rollaway bed available. Some hotels do have adjoining rooms or larger suites available at an additional cost.

  • If on a group tour and a room is being shared and a person cancels, a single supplement rate may be charged. 

  • Our Costa Rica multi-day vacation package prices do not include air travel, country entry or departure fees, airport porter fees, visas, phones, valet, beverages, alcohol and food not on the itinerary, tips and gratuities.

Transportation

  • We provide transportation in our modern vehicles with a/c, friendly drivers with some English-speaking abilities.

  • We can not be held responsible for limited WiFi signal in certain parts of the country.

  • Please be ready at the given time of your service. If you have not been picked-up within 10 minutes, please call our office.

  • We use Nissan Urvan, Hyundai H1 or Toyota Hiace for up to 8 pax and Hyundai County, Toyota Coasters for 9 to 22 pax and Mitsubishi Rosa for 23 to 35 pax.

  • We are not responsible for lost or damaged belongings and strongly recommend not traveling with valuables.

  • If you rent a car, the insurance is often excluded and you often will not be able to use your credit card for insurance. It's important to check first. 

Passport, Visa requirements & border crossings 

  • Travel to Costa Rica requires a valid passport for more than 6 months after the date of arrival. Please check your passport, visa and other entry requirements. It's a good idea to carry a copy of your itinerary and passport with your last entry stamp with you.

  • For package tours that enter Nicaragua or Panama, you must have your valid passport with you at all times. Border-crossing fees are not included.

Cancellations for multi-day vacation packages

  • Cancellations for day tours must be made no later than 48 hours prior to the service.

  • For entire package tours canceled less than one month in advance, we cannot give a full refund as many hotels and some tour operators do not allow for short notice cancellations (see policy below.)

  • There are no refunds for no shows or parts of the tour or itinerary clients request to cancel at the last minute or decide not participate in while on an excursion.

  • Any cancellation by a client must be made in writing and acknowledged by us. The date on which the request to cancel is received by us will determine the applicable charge. Note that any costs incurred for changes made by the customer after the itinerary is confirmed are the sole responsibility of the customer.

Refunds for multi-day vacation packages

  • As mentioned earlier, we will try to the best of our abilities to get full refunds where possible should you need to change your plans, move your vacations dates and re-book tours and transport with us. Please note, we cannot give a full refund for some services cancelled less than one month in advance because other tour operators and hotels do not allow for short-notice cancellations and we must adhere to their reservation and cancellation policies.

  • Up to 31 days before your multi-day trip starts: refund of 50% deposit minus 10% (of total package price) administrative fee.

  • 30 to 2 days before multi-day trip starts: 40% refund (the 60% we keep would cover the hotel costs which are usually 40-50% of the total package price plus 10% for administrative costs)

  • Peak season travel (December 20 – January 2) requires a 50% per person non-refundable deposit.

  • There are no refunds for unused portions and no-shows. Should clients change their itinerary once in Costa Rica, it will be at their own expense. Just let us know if there is anything to add or change to the itinerary. 

  • No refunds for no shows.

  • For groups that require 10 or more rooms for any dates:

    • If the vacation is cancelled 90 days or more prior to the scheduled arrival, refunded amount is 75% of the total price.

    • If the vacation is cancelled 31 days to 90 days prior to the scheduled arrival, refunded amount is 50% of the total price.

    • If the vacation is cancelled 30 days or less prior to the scheduled arrival, no refund will be available.

Other notes

We encourage you to do research on the destinations, hotels, tours and transportation options on the itinerary so you are fully aware of what is included and do not have false expectations. The items we include in these itineraries should never be viewed as the only option. We can always customize other options and come up with more off-the-beaten-path or unusual ideas and requests.

Things to consider

  • There is an additional 13% Value Added Tax for services.

  • Promotions cannot be combined in any way. Only one promotion per vacation group can be applied.

Exclusions

  • Room service 

  • Baggage handling

  • Tips on day tours 

  • Meals unless indicated in the itinerary

  • Airfare, Passports, Visas, Laundry cost

  • Alcoholic beverages

  • Tour and trip cancellation insurance

  • Health insurance

  • Services not included in the tour programs, and other items of a personal nature.

Entry requirements

All tourists must meet the requirements indicated at: https://www.visitcostarica.com/en/costa-rica/planning-your-trip/entry-requirements