Terms of Service
By booking any experience offered by Peñas Blancas Safari S.A. (hereinafter, "the Company"), the guest acknowledges they have read, understood, and accepted the following terms in their entirety. These terms constitute a binding agreement between the guest and the Company under the laws of the Republic of Costa Rica.
1.1 — Eligibility & Booking
Reservations require a valid government-issued ID, full payment at the time of booking, and explicit acceptance of the waiver enclosed with the confirmation email.
- Children must be four (4) years of age or older to participate. Children aged four (4) through eleven (11) qualify for the child rate of USD $50.
- Minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian throughout the experience.
- Pregnant guests beyond the second trimester and guests with serious cardiac, neurological, or orthopedic conditions are not permitted to participate.
- All guests must complete a brief medical questionnaire prior to embarkation.
1.2 — Conduct on the River
Guests are required to follow all instructions from the lead naturalist guide at all times. Disruptive behavior, refusal to wear safety equipment, or attempts to interact with wildlife outside of guided protocols may result in immediate termination of the experience without refund.
1.3 — Weather & Force Majeure
The Company reserves the right to postpone, modify, or cancel any experience due to conditions including but not limited to: heavy rainfall raising river levels above safe thresholds, electrical storms within a 30 km radius, seismic activity, or any other event reasonably deemed unsafe by the lead guide. In such cases, guests will be offered a full refund or rescheduling at no additional cost.
1.4 — Liability & Insurance
While the Company maintains comprehensive third-party liability insurance, guests acknowledge that nature-based activities carry inherent risk. The Company is not liable for personal items lost or damaged during the experience, nor for pre-existing medical conditions undisclosed during booking. The specific insurer and policy details will be confirmed in the final version of these terms.
Cancellation Policy
We understand that travel plans can change. Our policy is designed to be fair, transparent, and human — built around the reality that we operate small-group experiences where every seat is reserved exclusively for you.
| Notice given | Refund |
|---|---|
| More than 24 hours before departure | 100% refund or free reschedule |
| Less than 24 hours before departure | No refund (medical exceptions apply) |
| No-show on day of tour | No refund |
2.1 — Medical & Emergency Exceptions
In the case of a documented medical emergency or family bereavement, the Company will issue a full refund or open-dated credit valid for 24 months, regardless of notice period. Documentation may be requested.
2.2 — Cancellations by the Company
Should the Company cancel an experience for any reason, including weather and operational concerns, the guest will receive a 100% refund processed within 5 business days to the original payment method, or the option to reschedule at no cost.
Privacy Policy
We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. This policy outlines what data we collect, why we collect it, and how we keep it safe — in compliance with Costa Rica's Law N° 8968 on the Protection of the Person regarding the Processing of Their Personal Data.
3.1 — What We Collect
- Booking information: name, email, phone, passport or national ID number, emergency contact, dietary requirements.
- Health questionnaire: relevant medical history disclosed for safety purposes only.
- Payment data: processed exclusively through PCI-DSS compliant providers. We never store card numbers on our servers. The specific payment processors will be listed in the final version of this policy.
- Photographic media: images and video taken during your experience, only with your explicit consent.
3.2 — How We Use It
We use your data exclusively to: (a) deliver the booked experience; (b) communicate logistics and safety information; (c) process payments and refunds; (d) comply with Costa Rican tax and tourism law; and (e) — only if you have opted in — share occasional newsletters and field journals.
3.3 — Your Rights
You have the right to access, rectify, or erase your personal data at any time, free of charge. Requests can be sent to privacy@penasblancas-safari.cr and will be processed within 5 business days, in accordance with PRODHAB regulations.
3.4 — Data Retention
Booking records are retained for five (5) years for tax and legal purposes. Marketing preferences are honored immediately upon request. Photographic media is archived only with documented consent and may be removed at any time.