Terms and Conditions

Booking and Payment

• Preferred booking window: Please book at least 48 hours in advance.
• Minimum booking window: Reservations must be confirmed at least 24 hours before start time. Requests inside 24 hours are subject to availability and may incur a late fee.
• Day-before bookings: Tours booked the day before must be paid in full, in advance, via Zelle or bank transfer to be confirmed.
• Payment requirement: All tours must be paid in full in advance. A booking is confirmed only upon receipt of payment and written confirmation from us.

Pricing and Minimum Participants

• Minimum group size: Pricing is based on a minimum of two (2) paying participants.
• Single traveler policy: If only one person is booked, the single traveler pays the equivalent of two participants unless we can place you in another group. If we can add you to a group, we will adjust and refund any applicable difference.

Start Time and Meeting Point

• Standard start time: Tours begin at 5:00 AM.
• Pickup/meeting: Pickup location or meeting point is pre-coordinated and confirmed in writing.

Cancellations and Refunds (Client)

Notify us in writing to cancel. Refunds are based on when we receive your written notice:

• 48 hours or more before the tour: Eligible for a refund of the amount paid, minus any non-recoverable transaction or processing fees incurred (including, but not limited to, PayPal or payment processor fees).
• The day before the tour: Eligible for a 50% refund of the tour price, minus any non-recoverable transaction or processing fees incurred.
• Less than 24 hours before the tour or No-Show: Non-refundable.
• Refund method and timing: Approved refunds are issued to the original payment method whenever possible. Processing times vary by bank/processor. Transaction and processing fees are non-refundable.

Rescheduling

• One-time reschedule is permitted if requested at least 48 hours before start time, subject to availability.
• Requests inside 48 hours are treated as cancellations under Section 4.

Changes and Cancellations (Operator)

• We may modify, delay, or cancel a tour due to weather, safety, guide illness, road closures, park restrictions, or operational reasons.
• If we cancel before the tour begins, you may choose a full refund or a reschedule (subject to availability).
• Tours canceled by the operator are 100% refundable. Transaction and processing fees will be covered by us for operator-initiated cancellations.

Participant Responsibilities and Assumption of Risk

• Fitness and readiness: Inform us in advance of medical conditions, allergies, or special needs.
• Safety: Follow guide instructions. Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.
• Gear: Dress for early morning cloud forest conditions (rain, mud, uneven terrain).

Children/Minors

• Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent/legal guardian or provide a signed consent/waiver. Age limits may apply based on route and conditions.

Third-Party Services

• Some tours involve third-party providers (transport, lodges, reserves). Their terms may apply and can affect scheduling and refunds.

Force Majeure

• We are not responsible for changes caused by events beyond our reasonable control (extreme weather, natural disasters, strikes, epidemics, government actions, transportation interruptions). We handle these case by case and will work with you to reschedule or refund where possible.

Liability

• To the fullest extent permitted by law, liability is limited to the amounts paid for the applicable tour. We are not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages.

Booking & Payment Methods

We accept the following payment methods to confirm your booking:

• Zelle (USA)
• Banco Pichincha (Ecuador bank transfer)
• PayPal (Europe)

All tours must be paid in full in advance. Your reservation is confirmed only upon receipt of payment and our written confirmation.

Contact

• For bookings, changes, or cancellations, contact: tours@mindobirdwatching.com