OX EXPEDITIONS TERMS & CONDITIONS

 

1 – TRIP DEPOSIT POLICY

1.1 – DEPOSIT: In order to reserve a place on one of our excursions, you must leave a TRIP DEPOSIT ($29). All trips require one. The trip deposit secures your place for that tour on your specific date. That doesn’t mean that your tour is guaranteed to run (see section 3.3) The deposit can easily be made online from the tour page on our website, or you can pay cash in our office.

1.2 – TRANSFER: Your deposit can not be transferred to another person or another tour. We allow one date change after paying the deposit as long as it is requested more than 48 hrs before your tour date. If you request a date change within 48hrs of the tour date you will need to have paid the tour in full and the new date requested already has a tour running. This transfer is given only one time. No exceptions. Contact us for more details.

1.3 – GOVERNMENTAL ID / ID DEPOSIT: A Governmental ID will be required from every participant in order to be a part of one of our tours and/or to be use any of our services. This ID will also be used as a deposit for the gear borrowed/rented/used from OX Expeditions. You will be accountable for any damage caused to any of the gear (see section 13.3 for more info). This includes but is not limited to any clothing gear and any infrastructure at our campsite (cabins, kitchen, etc).

This is personal and individual, ONE ID PER PERSON, if you are in a group or in a multi person reservation, each person will be required an ID. If you are a minor, or traveling with minors, please contact us. 

 

2 – CANCELLATION – REFUND POLICY

2.1 – TOURS REFUNDS AND CANCELLATIONS

2.1.1 –  Your full PAYMENT will be refunded if you cancel a trip more than 48 hours before the trip date. (Example: The tour leaves at 7am Jan 22nd, your cancellation must be made before midnight on Jan 19th)

2.1.2 –  If you cancel your tour less than 48 hours before your trip date, OX will refund any money above the trip deposit (OX retains the trip deposit). 

2.1.3 –  If you cancel your tour less than 12 hours before your trip date, no refunds are offered for any reason. (Midday before your tour date). This includes payments made the afternoon before the tour. 

2.1.4 – If you have already requested a date change, no refund will be made for a cancellation.

2.1.5 – For refunds on tours cancelled by OX EXPEDITIONS please see section “3” 

 

2.2 – DOWNGRADING YOUR TOUR

2.2.1 – If  you have booked a MULTI DAY Tour, an “OX TREME” tour, or any other FIXED Tour and for any reason you are not able to continue the tour No Refund will be made.

2.2.2 – DOUBLE WHAMMY AND FUEGO OVERNIGHT: If you have booked a Double Whammy or Fuego Overnight tour and OX Expeditions cancel the trip to “Volcan Fuego” you will receive a refund for Fuego portion of the trip ($40 for the Double Whammy, $30 for a Fuego Overnight). If you decide not to do the Fuego portion of the trip no refund will be made.

 

2.2.3 – DOUBLE WHAMMY AND FUEGO OVERNIGHT: To preserve the safety of all our clients OX Expeditions reserves the right to not allow any client that it deems unable to complete this portion of the tour.

2.2.4 – TRIDENT: If you have booked the Trident tour, and for any reason you don’t want to continue the tour after hiking the first or the second volcano no refund will be made.

 

2.3 STAND BY RESERVATIONS:

2.3.1 SPECIAL TERMS: Stand-by reservations are subject to unique rules, terms, and conditions, which may differ from those of standard bookings.

2.3.2 CANCELLATION POLICY: Cancellations made within 48 hours of the tour will not be eligible for a refund. We recommend considering this policy carefully before making a reservation.

2.3.3 NO DOWNGRADE OPTION: The tour booked is the DOUBLE WHAMMY TOUR, including the Fuego trip. this tour cannot be downgraded.

 

3 – TRIP CANCELLATION (BY OX)

3.1 – OX Expeditions only cancels tours for the following reasons:

  • If the minimum number of people required is not reached.
  • The case of a national emergency or red alert
  • Force majeure
  • Please note OX Expeditions, S.A. does not cancel tours based on bad weather or weather forecasts.

3.1.1 – If OX cancels a trip more than 48hrs before the trip date, all money is returned to you including your trip deposit in the form by which you made your payment. OX Expeditions reserves the right to cancel any tour up until office closing time (6 PM) the day before the tour. In this event you will be reimbursed in full.

3.1.2 – If OX is forced to cancel a tour due to force majeure within 48hrs of the trip date you will be reimbursed all money above the trip deposit.PM) the day before the tour. In this event you will be reimbursed in full.

3.1.3 – If OX is forced to cancel or evacuate a tour due to force majeure on the date of the trip or during the tour, no refund will be given. All pending payments MUST be submitted in order for IDs to be returned.

3.2 – TRIP MINIMUM PEOPLE REQUIRED: OX Expeditions requires a minimum number of people to run a tour, and each tour has a reservation closing time (see schedules of each tour). If OX Expeditions does not have the minimum number of people at the time of closing the reservations, the tour will be canceled and a full refund of the amount paid will be made, including your trip deposit. Please see  here for the minimum people required for each tour.

 

 

4 – TRIP RESCUE SERVICES

4.1 – This happens in the case that a client cannot continue on a tour for any reason and must return to Antigua.

4.1.1 – For the Acatenango and Pacaya Volcanoes:

If you decide to return within 30 minutes of starting your tour there is no charge. After 30 minutes the rescue cost will depend on the services provided.

Please note that if for any reason you decide to contract 3rd party services payment and responsibility are assumed by the 3rd party.

** Prices vary depending on timing/season

 

5 – TRIP PAYMENT / MONEY CONVERSION

5.1 – We offer a variety of ways to pay for your adventure trips here at OX. All our prices are in US$ Dollars.

5.2 – Online deposit payments must be in U.S. dollars via Paypal.

5.3 – Payment of the remainder in our Antigua office must be in cash.

5.4 – In our Antigua office you have the option of paying in U.S. Dollars or Quetzales

5.5 – Our prices are in U.S. Dollars, however we do accept Quetzales (GTQ) currency in our office.

We do not do a daily money conversion for exchange of dollars for Q. or vice versa. Our conversion rate is always Q8 to $1. If you are dissatisfied with the exchange rate simply pay in the other currency.

 

6 – SERVICE

6.1 – GUIDES: OX Expeditions will strive to always have at least one English speaking guide from the OX guide team, however please bear in mind that many of the local guides do not speak English.

6.2 – CLIENT DECISIONS: If you decide to leave the group or do not follow our guides advice or instructions for whatever reason, OX Expeditions will declare you OUT of our tour, and you will be on your own. Please restrain from activities that will put your life and those of others in danger. 

6.2.1 – RAINY SEASON MANDATORY GEAR: The use of a rain poncho (provided by OX Expeditions) is mandatory from the months of May to October, or when indicated by your guide. Failure to comply with this rule will result in your removal from the trip, without the right to any refund.

 

 

7 – OX-DISCOUNTS

7.1 – Our trips are priced fairly and run at a western standard; the price is as marked, and is not negotiable. Some exceptions include:

  • MID-WEEK promotional trips
  • Environmental clean-up trips at a discount.
  • If you have a big group
  • If you participate in two or more tours with us.
 

8 – GROUPS

8.1 – If you have a group coming to Guatemala and would like OX to create an adventure package for you at a discount, please send us an email, let us know what you are interested in and we will create something special for you. Please specify dates of travel to Guatemala and how many are in your group. (Discount will be based on # of people on the group)

8.2 – If you are a repeat TOUR LEADER (G-Adventures, Intrepid, Tucan Tours, etc) please contact OX Management at camilo@oxexpeditions.com

 

 

9 – FILM & T.V

9.1 – If you are a film crew, television show or a group of volcanologists seeking a professional yet unique guiding experience, we do have “fixer” services available and can make your trip happen. We have hosted several V.I.P. client groups and shows such as the WEATHER CHANNEL and HAMISH & ANDY. Contact us and explain your details and trip needs.

 

10 – INFLUENCER TRAVELERS & BLOGGERS

10.1 – If you are an influencer traveler and are looking for a partnership with us, please reach directly to our management at camilo@oxexpeditions.com

 

11 – MULTIPLE TRIPS

11.1 – If you book several OX trips, you might be eligible for a 15%, 25% or 50% discount on your second, third or more trips with us. Pre-booking is required and some trips are not applicable due to the fact OX may use other partner agencies for certain tours, or sections of tours where our prices are not flexible, but if you are a dedicated OX client we would love to show our appreciation for your commitment to the OX cause.

 

12 – PARTNER POLICIES

12.1 – *Please note: Third Party Policies do not apply. These include tours where we rely on the experts in a very specific tour type such as zip-line, paragliding, motorcycle tours and surfing. You may be required to sign an additional waiver when participating in these tours with our partner companies.

 

13. RENTAL GEAR

13.1 – Each tour that we run requires 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 your guide gives to you (For example: HEADLAMP, WARM CLOTHING, ETC). 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, so please let us know if you see if your gear is not in optimal condition.

13.2 – We will have a list with your name and the items you are borrowing. You might be asked to leave an ID when you receive the equipment, this will be returned to you when you return the gear.

13.3 – There will be extra fees charged if you lose, fail to return or destroy any gear that we provide you.

Lost or Destroyed Gear Fees:

  • BackPack – $80 (Q.640)
  • Headlamp – $20 (Q.160)
  • Puffy Jacket – $75 (Q.600)
  • Fleece – $40 (Q.320)
  • Gloves – $10 (Q.80)
  • Hat – $5 (Q.40)
  • Part of the Tent – $100 (Q.800)
  • Sleeping Bag – $100 (Q.800)
  • Mountainbike – $500 (Q.4000)
  • Other Campsite infrastructure damage – Will vary based on severity

 

14 – FOOD

14.1 – FOOD ALLERGIES: As part of our service we offer vegetarian, vegan, gluten free or dairy-free meals. Please inform the person reserving your tour if you have any food allergies.

14.2 – Please note we use a 3rd party for some of the food provided and cannot guarantee the food is 100% compliant to your dietary requirements.

14.3 – OX Expeditions is not responsible if you failed to detail your dietary requirements in the booking process.

 

15 – DISCLAIMER

15.1 – You will be asked to sign our “OX EXPEDITIONS PARTICIPANT AGREEMENT, RELEASE OF LIABILITY” before your tour – if you refuse to sign that agreement you cannot participate on our trips.  – you can see the agreement by clicking here >> Participant Agreement

15.2 – WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE! This is for a client’s safety and the safety of our groups. Please note, the word “Adventure” is very relative these days. We are not making reference to a bus tour or a cruise ship. Please use your own common sense when making the decision to participate in one of our tours. Our challenge level determinations (Easy, Moderate, Difficult, OX-Treme) are given from the perspective of an average fit client (exercise 3 times a week) from an age range of 18 to 35 years of age. If you do not fall into this range, please make appropriate variations in this challenge level determination. If you are in any doubt we are more than happy to help; please contact us and speak to a professional OX guide for more details.