Tourism for the conservation

Pronatura Veracruz Tour Policies 2008

Deposits and Final Payment
In order to reserve a tour, a full payment equal to 100% of total cost must be made 90 days prior to tour departure date. We strongly recommend that tour participants make deposits as soon as possible in order to assure reservations.

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The balance of payment (if applicable) is due 30 days prior to tour departure date and can be made by wire transfer to the same account.

Refund Policy
Refunds are made according to the following policy:

• Cancellations made by tour participant 60 days before tour departure date will have 100% of tour payment refunded, minus a $50 administrative fee.
• Cancellations made by tour participant within 30-60 days will have 85% of tour payment returned.
• Cancellations made by tour participant within 7-30 days: will have 70% of tour payment returned.
• Cancellations made by tour participant 7 days or fewer prior to departure date will have 50% of total tour cost refunded.

The above policy applies to both individuals and groups. The above amounts of non-refundable monies are to cover certain fixed-cost services such as vehicle rental, hotel deposits, guide fees, administrative fees, and other services.

Tour Cancellation
Pronatura Veracruz (PV) reserves the right to cancel, postpone or suspend any tour based on the judgment of PV, its staff and representatives. If PV cancels a tour we will refund any deposits or payments made up to seven days before tour departure. If PV cancels the tour or the tour must be postponed during a time period starting seven days before tour departure and/or through the duration of the tour, PV will refund all money not yet spent and/or all refundable deposits.

Reservations
The PV Tour Coordinator and PV staff will make reservations based on a first-reserved basis and on the date the tour deposit is received, however specifically requested services (such as specific hotels) cannot be guaranteed based on the deposit payment. PV will make every attempt to provide the specifically requested services, but if the specifically requested service cannot be reserved, an adequate substitute will be found. In the case of hotels, there are often other quality hotels very close to the desired hotel where reservations may be made. In such cases, generally the tour cost will not change, however PV reserves the right to add an additional surcharge if the cost of the services increase based on the new reservation.

Trip Insurance
We strongly recommend the purchase of trip insurance in order to safeguard against any losses due to tour cancellation due to illness, weather, or accident. For those participants with medical concerns, trip insurance would cover any medical emergencies up to a medical evacuation. Please check with your current insurance policy and/or you may contact PV or your travel agent for more information.

Tour Information

Tour Price Increases
The tour price is based on the current exchange rate of US dollar/Mexican peso price quotes and a standard consideration for inflation. Price is valid only up to a local inflation rate of 10%. Beyond a 10% change in local prices, not in the rate of exchange, PV reserves the right to charge an inflationary surcharge of up to 10% of the tour price or cancel the trip. If the surcharge is greater than 10%, tour participants may cancel with a full refund, less the $50 administration fee.

Tours
A beginning and ending point for the tour will be pre-established by PV. Any changes in this schedule must be planned in advance with the PV Tourism Coordinator, in which case PV reserves the right to assess an additional surcharge based on any additional costs (i.e. meals, transportation, etc.).

For our full-service tours, the per person tour price includes lodging based on double occupancy in comfortable hotels, all meals as indicated, transportation, transfers, gasoline, tolls, user fees, entrance fees, local taxes, PV qualified bilingual guide and support staff, and tips for all meals. Other tour packages can be arranged with the PV tour coordinator.

The tour cost does not include airfare, any alcoholic beverages, meals other than those indicated, room service charges, and beverages consumed outside of mealtimes, and anything of a purely personal nature. Also not included are tips for PV tour guides and also contracted drivers.

On full-service tours, meals include breakfast, lunch and dinner on all full days during tour. For the arrival and departure days of the tour, meals will be provided depending on the flight times. In cases where the complete tour will be arriving or departing at different hours, meals will be provided accordingly, however an additional charge to the tour will be assessed accordingly in those cases. Individuals that decide--on their own--to arrive or depart at different hours will not be provided separate meals. Meals do not include alcoholic beverages, any meals outside of normal meal times, room service, and any snacks and refreshments unless provided for by PV. Primarily meals are taken in local restaurants, however at times pack lunches or breakfasts may be taken in the field.

Unless otherwise requested, participants will be expected to lodge in double occupancy hotel rooms with two beds. If a roommate is not specifically requested, a suitable roommate will be assigned. If a roommate is unavailable, the participant will be assigned a single room, and a Single Supplement Surcharge will be assessed. If a tour participant specifically requests a Single Room Supplement, a pre-determined charge will be applied and a single room will be provided throughout the tour.

Tour Extensions and other Tours
Our tours can be extended or lessened according to the desire of the tour organizers or individuals. However this must be planned in advance with the PV Tourism Coordinator. Additionally, the tour cost would differ accordingly. PV also is able to offer specific tours that cater to the needs of the tour organizers. These would include birding and natural history tours, and also cultural, historical, archaeological, and educational tours. Please contact the PV Tourism Coordinator for more information.

Group Size
We require a minimum group size of 6 and a maximum of 15, not including trip leaders and/or guides or PV staff. If a smaller or larger group is desired this must be discussed with and approved by the PV Tourism Coordinator beforehand. In cases of a group size and/or individuals smaller than 6 guests, PV reserves the right to join the guests of that tour group (or individuals) with another tour group (or individuals) in order to reach the required minimum group size of 6 guests.

Tour Dates
Pronatura Veracruz reserves the right to assign beginning and ending tour dates according to the availability of local services, guides, and natural conditions. If the tour operator desires specific dates, this must be discussed with and approved by the PV Tour Coordinator generally at least 90 days (preferably 180 days) before tour departure date. We will attempt to respect any requests and accommodate all groups and leaders, however during the peak migration season, keep in mind that we are operating in a short time frame with limited resources and many different tour groups; therefore the pre-organization of groups and dates is critical.

Tour Itineraries
A general itinerary of the tour will be provided to each participant prior to the tour arrival, including what sites will be visited, and where and when they are to be visited.

Itinerary Changes
All itinerary activities are subject to change based on local conditions. PV reserves the right to cancel, change alter and/or rearrange any specific scheduled itinerary activity, or the complete itinerary, based on the judgment of PV staff concerning local conditions, keeping in mind at all times the safety of our guests. It is understood that as the Mexican based tour and service provider PV has a special insight and knowledge in the host country and reserves the right to make all decisions that may effect the safety and health of our foreign visitors whether they be paying quests or guide, staff, management or owners of foreign-based tour operations. When possible, the guest tour leader will be notified and consulted in advance about any major changes to the itinerary deemed necessary by PV, and tour participants will then be informed of the changes.

Any desired changes or variations to the itinerary of the client tour leader should be discussed and planned with PV prior to the tour arrival in Veracruz. In general we wish to be flexible when providing tours; however, we ask that all prearranged tour visits keep to pre-arranged schedules whenever possible. At times, during the tour, PV and client tour leaders may decide to "swap" itinerary destinations between days, depending on weather conditions, group interest, etc., which is possible if no change of hotel is required and it is logistically feasible. It is requested that any such itinerary changes be made with the knowledge and approval of the PV Tourism Coordinator.

Assignment of Guides
Co-organized tours are to be guided by both a U.S. and a local Mexican (PV guide) tour leader. PV-organized tours are guided by a bilingual Mexican or a bilingual foreign guide familiar with the region. Tour co-organizers may request a specific guide to be assigned to their trip(s). However, guide requests cannot be guaranteed; guides will be assigned on a first-reserved basis. We cannot guarantee a specific guide be available based on deposit payment.

Tour Conditions
Our tours include a variety of conditions and a diverse itinerary. Tour participants should be prepared for a moderate amount of physical activity, early morning activities, and full days. The conditions at each site vary but generally we walk on good roads or trails, without much elevation change. We generally rest often and/or we are near the vehicle where one can rest and find refreshments. The pace of the entire group varies from tour to tour, but we always attempt to cater to the group’s different interest level and abilities. Weather conditions can very considerably. The tour participant should be prepared for very warm weather along the coast, and milder conditions in the mountains, to possibly cold and rainy conditions in the higher elevations.

Responsibilities
Pronatura Veracruz and its staff act only as agents for the passenger and therefore assume no liability for injury, death, loss, accident, delay, damage, or irregularity which may be occasioned either by reason of defect in any vehicle or for any reason whatsoever, or through the acts or defaults of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the tour. Pronatura Veracruz will not be responsible for any losses or additional expenses or inconvenience due to delay or changes in airline or other services, nor for the loss of, or damage to, baggage or any other article belonging to the passenger.

Contact Information

Tourism Coordinator: Jorge Barrios
Email: pvecotours@prodigy.net.mx
Phone number in Mexico: From within the US: 011-(52) 228/816-96-79, 9680 or 9681; from within Mexico: (01)-228/816-96-79, 9680 or 9681.

US contact phone (956) 465-0373

PV Executive Director: Martín Peñaloza Pérez
mpenaloza@pronaturaveracruz.org