LAVA TRAILS TERMS & CONDITIONS

Terminology used:
Public tour: A tour open to everyone, individual people or smaller groups can participate and will form a bigger group together.

Group booking: 1 group or company rents every bed on the campground or 1 cabin privately. This group will be processed as one entity and have a private and customizable experience.

1 - TRIP PAYMENT

1.1 – PAYMENT PUBLIC TOURS: All tours will be bookable on the website. Bookings are available until all beds are sold. Your spot will only be reserved after fulfilling the deposit on our website.

1.2 – PAYMENT GROUP BOOKING: If you want to reserve a group booking, we advise you to do this as soon as possible. From the moment someone else books a spot/bed on a specific date, it is not possible anymore to reserve the complete campsite in private.

A group booking will only be booked with the payment of a first deposit:
-25% of the total amount at booking.
-the remaining 75% 2 weeks before the day of the hike.

Not receiving the remaining 75% on time will result in a cancellation of the reservation and the 25% deposit will become non refundable.

1.3 PAYMENT OPTIONS: All prices are in United States Dollar. Both USD and Quetzales are accepted in the office with the following exchange rate -> 1 USD = Q8.
Accepted payment options are:
Cash (morning of the hike )
Creditcard (online) -> +3%
Payment with card day fo the hike -> +10%


2 - REFUND POLICY

2.1.1 – REFUND PUBLIC TOURS:
Cancellations requested more than 48 hours before the start of the hike = the deposit will be refunded.
Cancellations requested less than 48 hours before the start of the hike = the deposit will be non refundable.

Any additional fees charged on top of the deposit, are instantly non-refundable. (Example:booking fee)
No refunds will be made if you can not complete the hike and have to return due to illness or health related issues.

2.1.2 – DATE CHANGE PUBLIC TOURS: We allow 1 date change for every booking up to 48 hours before the start of the scheduled hike.

2.2 – REFUND GROUP BOOKINGS: All tours are considered to start at 8AM, refund and cancellation fees will depend on the time of cancellation.
 More than 2 weeks before the start of the hike = the 25% deposit will be a 100% refund
Less than 2 weeks before the start of the hike = the 25% deposit will be non refundable
More than 5 days before the start of the hike = the remaining 75% will be a 100% refund
Less than 5 days before the start of the hike = No refund

3 - TRIP CANCELLATION BY LAVA TRAILS
If LAVA TRAIL has to cancel a tour due to force majeure, you will be reimbursed 100%.

Reasons why LAVA TRAILS would have to cancel a tour:
-natural disasters
-civil unrest
-safety concerns on or around the volcano

Weather circumstances are never a reason or obligation for LAVA TRAILS to cancel or reschedule a trip.


4 - TRIP RESCUE SERVICES
If someone decides you can not hike any further and want to descend, a guide will escort him/her back down to the supply center. If LAVA TRAILS has a bus going back to Antigua later that day, the person not finishing the hike can join this bus to go back to Antigua. If LAVA TRAILS has no bus that day returning to Antigua, the person will be responsible for his/he own transport back to Antigua (public bus or taxi).

If you sustain an injury on the hike a rescue team from the municipality will bring you down on a stretcher. There is no car access, every forced descent will be on foot or on a stretcher.

5 - GUIDES
LAVA TRAILS will strive to always have at least one English speaking guide, however please bear in mind that many of the local guides do not speak high level English. While we always strive to have a 1 to 6 guide/hiker ratio, groups from 18 to 20 hikers might only have 3 guides. During the optional hikes (Fuego and summit day 2) the guide/hiker ratio might be lower.

6 - FUEGO
The extra hike to Fuego is optional (Q.200). You can decide to hike Fuego on arrival to basecamp. Like this you can first assess how you physically feel, the weather circumstances and the guide's advice before making the decision.
The extra Q.200 fee will have to be paid on arrival back to the supply center on day 2.

7 - LEAVING THE TOUR
If you decide to leave the camp without a guide (for example hike Fuego on your own), LAVA TRAILS will have no responsibility over your actions or you as a person. You will be expelled from the campsite and transportation back to Antigua.
Please use your common sense hiking a volcano and always listen to the guides.

8 - PROMOTION
In exchange for your services discounts can be discussed. Videomakers, bloggers or photographers can always email to info@lava-trails.com to talk options.

9 - GEAR

9.1 - RENTAL GEAR
Some of our tours require some specific gear; in case you do not have the required gear or not enough we can provide you with some at no extra cost. You are responsible for the gear that you borrow. Please take good care of it, if you do not you may be charged an additional fee. Bear in mind that our gear is used frequently, it is the hikers responsibility to let the team know when their gear is not in optimal condition. They will take note and not charge you for the already “damaged” item on return.

9.2 - LOST OR DESTROYED GEAR FEES:
Backpack – $50 (Q.400)
Headlamp – $20 (Q.150)
Jacket / sweater– $20 (Q.150)
Hiking poles - $20 (Q150)
Blanket – $8 (Q.60)
Gloves – $8 (Q.60)
Hat – $8 (Q.60)
Sleeping Bag – $50 (Q.400)

9.3 - PERSONAL GEAR / STORAGE
LAVA TRAILS is never responsible for any personal gear or luggage that is left in the supplycenter or lockers

10 - FOOD

10.1 - FOOD RESTRICTIONS
We offer vegan, vegetarian, gluten free or dairy-free meals if they are requested. It is the hikers responsibility to inform Lava Trail at least 16 hours before the start of the hike of their dietary restrictions/preferences.

10.2 - FOOD
It is the hikers responsibility to make sure they bring up their own food. LAVA TRAILS is not responsible if you forget water or food in the supply center.

11- Transport

11.1 - Schedule
The included route in your tour is: Antigua to the volcano (Pacaya or Acatenango) and back to Antigua at the end of the tour.

11.2 Late show up
If you are late for a pickup (5 minutes after the indicated time) you will be left behind without refund. Please make sure you are on time for the shuttles so we can maintain the quality of our tours.

12 - Age restrictions
LAVA TRAILS does not accept children under the age of 12. We lack the equipment to provide our high quality service to younger children. Minors above the age of 12 are welcome to join our hike with a supervisor, but LAVA TRAILS will hold no responsibility/liability over them in any way.
The supervisor is responsible for bringing the proper gear for the minor. LAVA TRAILS does not have the proper equipment for minors. (Jackets, gloves, sweaters)

13 - Privacy

13.1 Privacy policy
Our privacy policy can be consulted on our website (www.lava-trails.com) or in our supply center.

13.2 Pictures
All pictures taken by the Lava Trails guides, or publicly shared into the Whatsapp group can be used as promotion material. It is the hikers responsibility to inform Lava Trails if they do not wish to be featured in any pictures used by Lava Trails as promotion.

13.3 Whatsapp group
Lava Trails will create a Whatsapp group with you and all other people hiking on the same day as you. It is the hikers responsibility to inform Lava Trails if they do not want their number to be used for this.

14 - Contacts and data

It is the hikers responsibility to provide LAVA TRAILS their correct contact and hike information when making the booking.

15 - Discounts

Discount codes are not stackable, only 1 discount code can be used per booking.

16- Liability

By taking part of any activity with LAVA TRAILS or making a reservation online, you are agreeing to the following Terms:

-I understand that the participation in any activity organized by Lava Trails could include actions or tasks which might be hazardous to the participant.

-I release the organization or business named above from all liability, costs and damages which might arise from participation in the above named event or activity.

-I agree with all of the above, all terms and conditions even when they are not written in my native language.

Terms & conditions