TERMS & CONDITIONS OF DETOUR

Detour’s Disclaimer:
Detour acts only as an agent for the various independent suppliers that provide hotel accommodations, transportation, sightseeing, activities, or other services connected with this tour. Such services are subject to the terms and conditions of those suppliers. Detour, LLC and their respective employees, agents, representatives, and assigns accept no liability whatsoever for any injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or any other incident which may be caused by the negligence, defect, default of any company or person in performing these services. Responsibility is not accepted for losses, injury, damages or expenses of any kind due to sickness, weather, strikes, hostilities, wars, terrorist acts, acts of nature, local laws, or other such causes. All services and accommodations are subject to the laws and regulations of the country in which they are provided. Detour, LLC is not responsible for any baggage or personal effects of any individual participating in the tours /trips arranged by Detour, LLC. Individual travelers are responsible for purchasing a travel insurance policy, if desired, that will cover some of the expenses associated with the loss of luggage or personal effects.

Cancellations: 
If you cancel the trip at any point after confirmation, you will forfeit a $100 per person handling fee to Detour. This is separate and in addition to the fees, deposits, and payments potentially owed to the tour operator (see information below).

Trip Changes:  
If you decide to make any changes to your trip (changes to your itinerary, travel dates, tours, or accommodations) after it is booked, you will incur a $50 change fee per person, per change.  Unavoidable changes (such as those imposed by an international flight schedule change) will not incur this fee.  Adding on services before or after your confirmed tour will not incur this fee.

Rate Changes to Domestic Flights, Park Entrance Fees, Government Taxes and Fuel Surcharges: 
The rates for all these items are subject to change at any point and these fees or fee changes can be imposed on any trip, even after a trip has been confirmed and paid for in full.  These rate changes are beyond the control of Detour or our local operating partners.  Oftentimes, these changes are imposed by government decree and take effect immediately.  While this is a rare occurrence and the rate changes themselves are typically quite small, these changes are unpredictable and sometimes unavoidable.  Travelers are responsible for any additional costs or fees due to these rate changes, even after the trip is paid in full.

Checking Your Passport Expiration Date: 
Some governments, notably Ecuador’s and Peru’s, require that your passport is valid for at least six months after you depart the country. Other countries require your passport to be valid for three months after you depart the country.

It is your responsibility as a traveler to check the entry/exit regulations of the country you are traveling to and to check our passport expiration date to ensure it is valid for your dates of travel.

Passports and Traveler Details: 
Passengers are responsible for sending up-to-date and correct information that is requested in the “Trip Reservation Form.”  If any of those details change, it is the passenger’s responsibility to notify Detour of the change before the trip departure.  If you need to renew your passport prior to your trip, you must notify Detour that you will be renewing your passport and you will have to email a scanned copy of both your old and new passports to Detour.  Additionally, you will have to bring both passports with you on your trip. Please make sure that you request to receive your old passport at the start of the renewal process.

Airport Transfers:  
Airport transfer rates are based on group size with the assumption that all travelers will be taking the same transfer.  If some travelers in your personal group arrive or depart on different days or at different times, additional airport transfers will have to be booked and the passenger is responsible for this additional cost.

 

VIAVENTURE TRAVEL TERMS & CONDITIONS

AGREEMENT

Enrollment in and payment for a service or a package implies agreement and acceptance of the terms and conditions set forth below. In this agreement, Viaventure may be referred to as the operator, or Viaventure.

PAYMENT TERMS:

30% Deposit Upon Program Confirmation
• A deposit of 30% is required to secure the booking.
• Until a deposit has been received, no services can be guaranteed.
• Please note that for certain bookings such as specific Belize hotels, certain flights, other special services or bookings at peak time we may ask for a larger deposit than 30% in order to cover all the deposits that we have to pay suppliers. This will be outlined in your invoice.

Full Payment 70 Days Prior to Arrival Date
• Full payment for the trip is required at 70 days before the arrival date
• Please note that for certain bookings such as specific Belize hotels, certain flights, other special services or bookings at peak time we may ask for full payment earlier than 70 days in order to cover all the pearly payments that we have to pay suppliers. 

We reserve the right to ask for additional early payment to cover the cost of any flights or special services which require early payment in order to secure the reservation.

Any bookings/services confirmed by us to the client during the trip planning stage are subject to availability if payment has not been received as per the above payment schedule.

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUND POLICY

Cancellation must be made in writing. The following charges and refunds will apply when cancellation is made after the booking is confirmed by Viaventure.

If a trip is cancelled more than 90 days prior to start date:
• Any cancellation fees, surcharges, or nonrefundable deposits charged to Viaventure by individual hotels, airlines or other third parties will be charged.
• The remainder of any deposits paid to Viaventure will be refunded.

If a trip is cancelled between 90 and 45 days prior to start date:
• Any cancellation fees, surcharges, or nonrefundable deposits charged to Viaventure by individual hotels, airlines or other third parties will be charged.
• Additionally, a cancellation fee of 10% of the total trip cost will apply.
• The remainder of any deposits paid to Viaventure will be refunded.

If a trip is cancelled between 45 and 30 days prior to start date:
• Any cancellation fees, surcharges, or nonrefundable deposits charged to Viaventure by individual hotels, airlines or other third parties will be charged.
• Additionally, a cancellation fee of 25% of the total trip cost will apply.
• The remainder of any deposits or payments paid to Viaventure will be refunded.

If a trip is cancelled within 30 days prior to arrival date
• 100% cancellation fees will apply.
• No refunds will be made.

We strongly recommend that each client purchase comprehensive trip-cancellation insurance (to be purchased through a third party insurer – not provided by Viaventure).

GENERAL REFUND POLICY

Refunds will be made in accordance with the Cancellations and Refund Policy mentioned above. No additional refunds will be made for no-shows or any unused part of the itinerary whether voluntary, caused by airline delay or cancellation, or any other factor beyond the control of Viaventure including but not limited to acts of god (sickness, injury, poor health, weather, etc.) strike, detention, riot, war, quarantine, theft, civil disturbances, government regulations or restrictions, third-party or subcontractor negligence, or any other. No responsibility can be accepted for expenses incurred due to delay or change in schedule or other causes.

RECOMMENDATION OF INSURANCE

It is highly recommended that all guests insure themselves and their property prior to arrival. We especially advise medical, emergency evacuation, and trip cancellation coverage. For the safety of its clients Viaventure reserves the right to use / authorize expensive emergency evacuation / rescue operation measures (i.e., Helicopters, Ambulances, etc.), at the financial responsibility of the client.

CONDUCT

We reserve the right to decline, accept or to retain any person as a tour member for any reason that affects the operation of the tour or rights or welfare of the other tour members. A refund of the recoverable land tour services is the limit of Viaventure’s liability in this event.

SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL AGREEMENT

In an effort to improve the effectiveness of our sustainable travel policy we hope that you as visitors to this country will work with us on the following important points:

Leave No Trace: Reduce your impact on the areas where you travel as much as possible. Respect wildlife, flora and fauna, reduce the amount of plastic and other waste you produce (refill water bottles especially) dispose of waste properly, be considerate of other visitors and leave what you find – do not remove / damage any cultural or historic structures or artifacts including rocks, native plants and other natural objects. Please leave everything as it was and where it was when you arrived.

No Trafficking: Viaventure will not tolerate trafficking of any illegal items such as animals, plants and archeological artifacts.

No Sexual Tourism & Child Prostitution: Viaventure is wholly against any form of sexual tourism and child prostitution.

Learn the Language: We encourage visitors to learn a few simple words and phrases of Spanish before your visit. Even the simplest words and phrases will go a long way in allowing you to interact with the local people. And, no matter how little you know, it’s always appreciated.

Purchase Locally Made Goods: We encourage you whilst in country to buy locally produced products and services. We strive to offer this to you already within your itinerary but if in doubt please ask our office or your guides & drivers for more information on the services being provided and/or to direct you to locally owned businesses and cooperatives.

Conserve Precious Resources: Reduce. When staying in hotels avoid having sheets and towels changed daily; turn off lights, air conditioner/heater, and television when you are out; take shorter showers. Re-use. Avoid repeated purchases of plastic water bottles; refill them where possible. Recycle. Viaventure has a recycling program so leave any cans, bottles and paper with your driver; ask them to take it to the recycle centre.

Learn About Your Destination: Buy guidebooks or use the internet to learn something about the culture, history, politics, and geography of the places you’ll be visiting. Most importantly, know how to be a good guest in the country or culture. Please ask your guide or driver about culturally accepted behaviors. Be open to different ways of thinking, living, and working. Accepting the differences in cultures is part of the travel experience.

Be Culturally Sensitive: Ensure that your dress and behavior is in line with socially acceptable limits within the area you are visiting. Be especially sensitive about taking photographs and interaction with children. If you are in doubt about what is / is not acceptable please check with your guide, driver, hotel staff or our office.

Avoid Giving Money or Candy to Children: Giving directly to children encourages begging and can undermine parents who cannot afford to give their children such items. If you must give gifts give useful items – pens, paper, clothing, etc. Viaventure would be happy to channel your donations to needy organizations.

Become Carbon Neutral: Viaventure has teamed up with Sustainable Travel International to assist in offsetting your international flight emissions and emissions caused by your tour. For $1 per person per day we can offset the tour emissions. Please ask your hotel, driver or guide to contact your reservations contact.

RESPONSIBILITY

Viaventure, its owners, associates, agents and employees, hereby referred to as Viaventure or we, assume no responsibility for injury or death, loss, damage to personal property, delay, or for additional expenses due to acts of god (sickness, injury, poor health, weather, etc.) strike, detention, riot, war, quarantine, theft, civil disturbances, government regulations or restrictions, third-party or subcontractor negligence, or any other. Viaventure is not responsible for any accidents, delays, inconveniences, expenses, mishaps of any kind what-so ever, or death resulting entirely or in part from the negligence of others or from causes beyond our control. We reserve the right to make changes to and / or substitutions in the itinerary where deemed necessary, for any reason. For trips and tours where Viaventure is neither the source nor supplier, as with the use of third-parties or subcontractors we act solely as agents and as such assume no responsibility should any supplier fail to supply the service contracted. Personal belonging and baggage safety responsibility and risk is assumed entirely by its owner. Viaventure is not responsible for lost or damaged items.

Some activities or sports Viaventure may take part in or sell to a client may involve extreme risk to personal property or life, and may result in loss, serious injury or death. Each individual is responsible for their own safety and for making their own decisions, and for using common sense at all times to determine whether or not he or she should take part in any activities that Viaventure may take part in or sell.

Minors are required to use services of Viaventure only after strict revision and under strict supervision of a parent or guardian.

HEALTH PROBLEMS

Persons with medical conditions, dietary conditions or other health problems should make them known to Viaventure well before arrival. We reserve the right to disqualify anyone at anytime for any reason during the tour if it is felt that the individual is physically incapable of performing an activity and/or if that individual’s continued participation would jeopardize the safety of the group or handicap the normal functioning or scheduling of the tour. Viaventure assumes no responsibility for special arrangements necessary for or problems experienced by passengers physically unable to participate in the planned activities.

AIRPORT & BORDER FEES

In Guatemala: National Airport Taxes $3 per person each journey (Guate-Flores-Guate). Departure Tax from the airport is $30 per person and is typically included in the cost of your international ticket. An additional $3 per person Security Tax is also due when flying out of Guatemala.

Important note: The Guatemalan government has recently approved legislation of an additional airport tax that applies the all passengers arriving and leaving internationally to and from Guatemala. The amount of this tax is 15.00 per person U$D.

• This tax has not been applied to passengers as of yet but will possibly be in power by the time your clients travel.
• This may be included in the airfare depending on time of purchase.

In Belize: The total Airport Departure Fee is US $39.25 p.p payable ONLY in US currency. This includes Passenger Service Fee $15.00 Airport Development Fee $18.00 Conservation Fee $3.75 Security Fee $1.25 Luggage Screening Fee $1.25

When crossing into Guatemala from Belize on the land border the total Border Departure Fees: US $18.75 or BZ $37.50 (Border Processing Fee $15.00 Conservation Fee $3.75).This is payable in US or Belize currency. All fees apply to nonBelizean citizens except children under 12.

When crossing into Honduras from Guatemala on the land border the total Border Departure Fee will be: US $3 + Q10

All fees subject to change without notice.