Last updated on October 17th, 2023 at 02:44 pm EST
The policy information listed below is provided as a courtesy to travelers who visit our website.
General disclaimer
For your convenience, we list tour operators’ policies on our website. Please note, however, that tour operator policies are subject to change at any time and without notice. For the most up-to-date policy information that will supersede any detail, error, or omission resulting from the information provided on our website or via email/live chat correspondence, please contact the tour operator directly.
DESAFIO ADVENTURE COMPANY’S RESERVATION POLICIES
Payment policies
Tour Pricing, Payment & Cancellation Policies
- Cancelations for Desafío-operated day tours (for 1-6 people) must be made no later than 48 hours prior to the tour date to receive a full refund. (See below for cancelations for Desafío-operated day tours for groups of more than 6 people.) Desafio cannot give a full refund for some services (e.g., hot springs, canopy tour operators, hanging bridge parks, ATV tour operators, etc.) because other tour operators do not allow for short-notice cancelations.
- Desafio prides itself on having flexible reservation and cancellation policies. Desafio will provide a refund should a Desafio service be cancelled due to inclement weather or safety concerns. No refund applies for services used (such as the cost of lunch, transport, etc,).
- There are no refunds for no shows, last-minute cancellations or for portions of a tour a client chooses not to participate in. If clients are granted a refund, the client is refunded according to how the payment was made.
- 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.
- Children 5 and under are free on Desafio-operated tours, however, we are held to policies for services we sub-contract.
- Extra bilingual guides are available on Desafio-operated tours. Be sure to request a quote for the service required.
- Due to our small, personalized tours, we cannot guarantee your reservation until we have confirmed receipt of your payment. We may require an earlier pre-payment for tours and services during our high and peak seasons (July-August and/or December-January, etc.).
Payment and Cancelation Policies for Groups (7 or more people):
- The group needs to pay 25% to proceed with the reservation. At 90 days before the reservation the other 25% have to be paid. And the 50% payment balance has to be paid 60 days before the reservation.
- For cancelation with less than 90 days, the penalization will be 25%. For cancelation with less than 60 days the penalization will be 50%. For cancelation with less than 45 days the penalization will be 100%. For cancellations, due to COVID-19, the payment is not refundable but the amount paid is a long life deposit, which means that can be used in a future reservation. (including the current tax at the time)
Other policies
Be SAFE! Have Serious FUN!
- Many of our adventure activities such as rafting and canyoneering 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 well-being, 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.
- Desafio Adventure Company reserves the right to cancel any trip due to unsafe conditions and will only run a tour according to established company policies. A refund is given if (on rare occasion) no tour is run. 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 & other wildlife. In addition, landslides, falling rocks & sudden flash floods are possible. We may not be held responsible for any of the above. We may evaluate any force majeure event on a case by case basis to find a reasonable solution.
- Desafio Adventure Company has a comprehensive civil responsibility and liability insurance policy and our guides and drivers are trained in first aid/CPR in case of emergency. However, we recommend you have your own travel insurance with a reputable company prior to participating in a tour.
- 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 jewelry, passports, etc. Desafio Adventure Company and affiliates are not responsible for lost, broken or stolen items. We have a lost & found for tours and services and donate items after 2 weeks.
- We recommend closed-toed shoes for hikes, horseback & canyoning. You should know how to swim and feel comfortable in water.
- The maximum weight limit for horseback riding is 200lbs as Costa Rican horses are smaller in frame than Western horses. We require a maximum of 225lbs. for rafting and canyoning. Please contact us should you have concerns about this.
- For those outside of the age recommendations or if there is an adult accompanying a child, we ask that clients request and sign a special waiver.
Recommended Ages for Tours Operated by Desafio:
- Rafting class 3-4: 13-65.
- Rafting class 2-3, Mountain Biking & Venado Caves: 10-65.
- Gravity Falls: 16-55.
- Canyoning: 10-60.
- Safari Float & nature walks (Arenal Volcano, Hanging Bridges, Nature Combo 6×1): 6-66+
- Horseback riding: 8-65.
- Stand Up Paddling & Kayaking: 8-85.
- Community, Culture & Nature, Turtle Observation Tours, Cooking Class & Farm Tours: no age limit.
