Before You Go
Costa Rica: Pura Vida
Overview
Trip Snapshot
We pride ourselves in running a relaxed and flexible schedule. Every trip is different depending upon the group, other trips on the water, and sometimes the weather. Please refer to your confirmation letter for the exact dates of your trip.
| MEETING PLACE: | Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José, Costa Rica |
| MEETING TIME: | A representative will meet you at the airport on day 1 |
| RETURN TIME: | For flights departing any time on day 7 |
| RIVER RATING: | Class III-IV |
| RIVER MILES: | 20 |
| TRIP LENGTH: | 7 days/6 nights |
| ACTIVITIES: | Rafting, zipline canopy tour, leisure kayaking, and wildlife viewing |
Itinerary at a Glance
Day 1
Arrive at Juan Santamaría International Airport, register with immigration, and go through the standard customs check. Outside the airport, look for your transfer guide holding a sign with OARS on it. He or she will take you to our hotel.
Depending on your time of arrival, you may have to time explore the area around the hotel. You’re free to explore dining options or enjoy dinner at the hotel restaurant.
Details of when and where to meet the next morning will be provided by your transfer guide, but it’s usually 6 AM in the hotel lobby. If you arrive ahead of day 1, look for this information to be provided via message at the hotel reception.
Days 2 – 6
Refer to the trip page for a more detailed sample itinerary.
Day 7
On the last day of your trip, enjoy breakfast at the hotel (included in your trip). OARS will arrange your transport to the airport for your departing flight (including domestic flights), a car rental office, or to a nearby hotel.
You may schedule your flight for any time on the last day of the trip. To expedite your departure experience, we have included the Costa Rica departure tax in the trip price.
Included in Your Trip Cost
- Skilled, professional guide service and naturalist provided by our affiliate operator
- 6 nights hotel/lodge accommodation (based on double occupancy)
- All meals as indicated in the itinerary (B = breakfast; L = lunch; D = dinner)
- All activities and equipment as outlined in the itinerary
- Dry bag for packing your belongings on the river trip
- All transportation from arrival in San Jose on day 1 through departure from San Jose on day 7
- 27-oz Klean Kanteen water bottle
Not Included in Your Trip Cost
- Flights to and from San Jose, Costa Rica
- Single supplement fee
- Airport transfers for arrivals or departures outside of days 1 and 7
- Insurance of any kind, including a travel protection plan or mandatory emergency medical & evacuation coverage
- Alcoholic beverages (at all lodges & restaurants)
- Personal items (see suggested packing list below)
- Gratuities (guides, drivers, lodge staff, etc)
Getting Ready
Pre-Trip Checklist
☐ Purchase Travel Protection: In order to take part in this trip, each participant must have a minimum of Emergency Medical Evacuation coverage in place for the dates of the trip. This can be purchased as stand-alone coverage, independent of a comprehensive travel protection plan. You can learn more about the plan we highly recommend and get a quote for this type of policy by entering a Trip Cost amount of $0.
Please note: By entering a Trip Cost amount of $0, the plan will not include Trip Cancellation coverage and you may not be eligible for Emergency Medical Expense benefits relating to any pre-existing conditions.
☐ Trip Forms: Each participant will need to complete the required trip forms within two weeks of making a booking. Refer to your confirmation email for the link to the online forms. If you prefer to fill out paper forms, please let us know right away. If you are reserving within 90 days of departure, your forms must be completed immediately to ensure we can properly plan for your trip.
☐ Reserve flights, shuttles, and lodging: Verify with your adventure consultant that your trip has met minimum numbers prior to booking flights and/or reserving overnight lodging for the night before and after your trip, if applicable. It is important to make reservations early as rooms may be limited during peak travel periods.
☐ Whitewater Orientation: To increase your safety, we expect everyone to watch our Whitewater Orientation video before joining us.
☐ Physical Requirements: Your outdoor adventure will be an active participatory trip. Please inform us of any physical limitations you may have as soon as possible. If you exceed 260 pounds, please give us a call. Make sure you are exercising frequently in the months leading up to your trip and can meet our Essential Eligibility Criteria.
☐ Payments: Final payment is due in our office 90 days prior to your trip (refer to your invoice for final payment date). Please let us know if you would like us to automatically charge your credit card on file when final payment is due.
TRAVELERS’ Responsibility Code
1. Read the pre-trip literature and arrive at the meeting place on time.
2. Understand the risks: your safety is ultimately your responsibility.
3. Treat your fellow guests and guides with respect and courtesy; harassment of any kind will not be tolerated.
4. Wear clothing and personal protective equipment suitable for the current conditions.
5. Listen to and follow the guides’ instructions.
6. Abide by the managing agency’s rules.
7. No drugs or alcohol prior to, or during, your trip.; alcohol is allowed in moderation in camp on overnight trips.
8. Minimize your impact on the environment.
9. Wear the issued and properly–fitted Personal Flotation Device (PFD) at all times when in the boats or swimming. Wear a helmet when required.
10. Your children are your responsibility!
Essential Travel Documents
Passports
If you don’t have a passport, apply for one immediately because the process can be lengthy. If you do have a passport, find it and check the expiration date to see that it is valid through the duration of your planned visit to Costa Rica. Make a photocopy of the photo page of your passport and carry it separately from your passport. It is a good idea to leave a copy with your emergency contact at home.
We request that you send us a copy to keep on file for emergencies during your trip. If your passport is lost or stolen, a photocopy will help the local consulate speed up authorization for replacement. Also, check your passport for blank pages. If you do not have at least two blank pages in your passport, we recommend that you apply to have extra pages added. Do not pack your passport in your checked luggage.
You may be asked for your visitation papers at various times during the trip. If you are carrying a customs form, please keep it in a safe place at all times. We recommend carrying it separately from your passport because you often must submit the passport at hotels, where reception clerks can easily lose the form.
Visas
Visas are not required for U.S. or Canadian citizens to enter Costa Rica if your planned visit is for 90 days or less. For citizens of other countries, please check with the Costa Rican consulate.
Travel Arrangements
GETTING TO SAN JOSE
From the United States, most airlines offer service to San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO). You may arrive any time on day 1 of the trip and depart any time on day 7.
Let us know if you’d like assistance with arranging your international flight logistics. Our partners at Exito Travel specialize in international destinations and we’d be happy to obtain a quote from them on your behalf.
Please do not purchase airfare until your departure has been confirmed by the minimum number of required guests.
PRE- & POST-TRIP ACCOMMODATIONS
If you plan to arrive early or stay beyond the OARS program, please contact our office if you would like assistance in booking pre- or post-trip accommodation at one of our hotels or lodges. Pre- and post-trip lodging is not included in the trip cost.
Accommodation at hotels other than the ones we work with can be arranged directly with that establishment. We recommend you make reservations well in advance in order to guarantee lodging.
Useful Information
Time ZoneS
Costa Rica corresponds to U.S. Mountain Time when the U.S. is in daylight savings time and U.S. Central Time during winter months. Costa Rica does not observe Daylight Savings Time.
The ‘Tico’ System
The pace of life in Costa Rica is quite different from what you are accustomed to—it’s slower. You can try to fight it, but if you do, you might as well go home. Try to understand, enjoy and make the most of the “tranquilo” pace. Even if we could achieve an industrialized world pace, you would lose an important part of the experience of being in Costa Rica. Slow down, learn, and enjoy.
Money Matters
The Costa Rican Colon, or CRC, is the official currency of Costa Rica. U.S. dollars are widely accepted and can be obtained at ATMs. If you want to exchange currency, an easy place to purchase Colons is at our hotel in San Jose. We suggest you bring U.S. dollars in small notes, such as $1, $5, and $10 dollar bills, as larger notes may not be accepted. Cash is also useful for tipping. Please note that as a general rule, foreign bills (U.S. dollars for instance) with the slightest tear are often not accepted, so make sure your bills are in good condition. Only well-known types of traveler’s checks (American Express) or U.S. currency can be exchanged in Costa Rica.
Major credit cards are generally accepted at hotels and shops. The Mawamba Lodge (nights 2 and 3) and the Rios Lodge (nights 4 and 5) both accept credit cards. However, cash is useful when visiting these remote locations, as credit card services are often interrupted.
In San Jose, most of the major banks have 24-hour ATMs accepting a variety of cards. ATMs outside of San Jose are either hard to find or often do not work. There is an ATM machine at the San Jose International Airport.
Health & Medical Info
Although we do not require any immunizations to participate in this trip, it is important that you be up-to-date on several standard immunizations and that you check with your physician prior to departure. The CDC is a good resource for recommendations pertaining to international travel immunizations.
CPAP Machine
If you require the use of a CPAP machine and intend to bring one with you, be sure to alert your OARS Adventure Consultant prior to your trip to let us know the dimensions of the machine, description of battery(s), and any protective case(s). Travel-sized CPAPs are readily available and often come with a battery kit. You must assess the power needs of your CPAP and bring the battery(s) needed to operate it for each night of your travels. We’re typically able to accommodate the transportation of your machine and accessories on the trip; however, please understand that despite efforts to protect your equipment we can’t guarantee your machine and accessories won’t suffer water or impact damage and therefore we recommend additional protective case(s) for your machine & accessories.
DIETARY RESTRICTIONS
We need to know as soon as possible about any dietary restrictions we must consider in planning your trip. If you have additional food allergies or necessary restrictions, we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Beyond our standard menu, we can provide options for vegetarian, vegan, and many allergy-restricted diets. However, we cannot always provide the same diversity or sophistication for restricted diets as we do for our regular menu. Similarly, certain allergen-free snack foods are difficult or impossible to source in our locations, so feel free to bring your own favorite snacks to supplement our provisions.
We cannot guarantee that cross-contamination from allergens will not occur during meal prep, and reserve the right to refuse service to anyone as it relates to safety, including the potential for a medical emergency caused by a severe food allergy. Also, due to the constraints of cooking for a large group in a wilderness setting, the availability of ingredients or specialty items in remote locations, and limited packing space, we are unable to cater to dietary preferences (likes or dislikes).
BEVERAGES/WATER
The local authorities state that the drinking water in Costa Rica is perfectly potable; however, we recommend that you stick to the bottled variety wherever possible to play it safe. Costa Rica is by no means Mexico (where Montezuma’s revenge has become the stuff of tourist legends) but there may be bacteria in the water in some areas that disagree with your system. As such, we simply suggest that you be cautious of what you eat and drink, as an upset stomach can be a burden during travels.
Alcoholic beverages are not included in the cost of your Costa Rica adventure but are readily available at your hotel in San Jose and at the lodges.
ELECTRICITY
Both lodges, along the river and at Tortuguero, provide electricity 24 hours a day.
Electricity in Costa Rica is 110v—the same as in the USA. Outlets are also the same and accept flat, two-pronged plugs like the kind used in the USA. Few outlets accept a grounding prong, so you may need an adapter to convert a three-prong device to two prongs.
Cameras
If you’re an avid photographer, we recommend bringing a waterproof digital SLR camera that can be used on land and at appropriate river locations. Please bring a waterproof case or bag to hold your camera and other items you might want during the day when rafting. We recommend padding it with a towel or clothing if it’s in a soft waterproof bag (vs a case).
We strongly recommend you take out a rider on your homeowner’s policy to cover your camera—especially if it’s fine equipment. If you are planning to bring a digital camera, don’t forget extra media cards, batteries, etc.
Electronics & Technology
The use of electronic devices, especially music players and flying drones, on your trip may represent an intrusion into the wilderness experience of your fellow travelers. We ask that you be mindful of the impacts on others and respect the wilderness nature of the trip. Please bring headphones if you intend to listen to music during the trip and leave your drone at home.
Many of our guests travel with their smartphones even though there is often limited cell service. On a trip like this, there is always the risk of water damage to smartphones and other electronic devices, even when they are stowed in a dry bag. If you intend to take your phone with you on the river, consider investing in a small, waterproof case just for your phone.
Communication
While at our hotel in San Jose, internet is available and cell phone reception is good. While at Mawamba Lodge, internet is available in the lobby. During our two nights at the river lodge, there is no internet service and no cell phone reception. The lodge does have radio communication for emergencies.
LAUNDRY
Laundry service is available at the lodges. Before dropping any laundry check for turn-around times. We recommend lightweight, quick-drying articles of clothing that can air dry. Bring plastic bags to keep wet and dirty items separate from clean ones.
Weather
We recommend checking one week before your trip for an up-to-date weather forecast for San Jose. Being properly prepared for weather variations is an important factor in fully enjoying your trip
In the cloud and rainforest areas this trip will visit, the weather is considered ‘spring year around’ with average temperatures in the high 80s to low 60s. It can rain at any time in Costa Rica (there is a lot of rainforest) and rain gear is a must! Guests are also advised to bring a warm layer for evenings, particularly in San Jose. Humidity can be expected throughout the region. Elevation ranges from 0 to 3,845 ft (the highest point is the city of San Jose).
Averages FOR SAN JOSE
| Air (Day)°F | Air (Night)°F | Rainfall | |
| July | 78 | 62 | 11″ |
| August | 78 | 61 | 15″ |
| September | 78 | 60 | 18″ |
Averages FOR TORTUGUERO
| Air (Day)°F | Air (Night)°F | Rainfall | |
| July | 87 | 73 | 23″ |
| August | 86 | 73 | 17″ |
| September | 86 | 71 | 11″ |
Packing for Your Trip
We want you to be prepared and comfortable for your trip. Below you’ll find some general tips for how to dress and what to pack and a comprehensive packing checklist. The need for warm weather or cold weather items should be based on a reliable weather forecast leading up to your trip.
Clothing for physical activity should be quick-drying and made of synthetics or merino wool. Warmth and comfort are the main objectives of this outline. Weather conditions can vary considerably. It’s important to dress in layers so that you can maintain a comfortable body temperature no matter what Mother Nature may have in store. The inner base layer should move perspiration outside, where it can evaporate. The intermediate layer should insulate while the outside layer should act as a barrier to wind and rain.
Clothing
During the day—For rafting and kayaking, start with swimwear and a lightweight shirt as a base layer. Additional layers for sun protection or insulation can be added and subtracted depending on the weather and temperature. Lightweight synthetic or merino wool layers that wick moisture may be desirable if temps are cool.
Gear for the zipline canopy tour and hikes can include lightweight shorts or pants, shirt, rain jacket, and closed-toe footwear suitable for an uphill hike.
Evening wear—After a long active day, you may want to refresh and change into clean and dry comfortable clothing. Soft, loose-fitting shorts or pants, shirts, etc. will allow you to truly relax in the evening. Many women find sarongs or a cotton dress to be a nice change. A few of our meals will be in restaurants, so you may want to bring something that makes you feel nice.
Turtle nesting tour—Bring a dark (black or similar) outfit, consisting of long sleeves and pants. Bright clothing is not allowed on the beach when viewing the turtles.
Footwear
During the day—For daily wear in the raft, kayaks, and onshore, we recommend an amphibious closed-toe shoe or river sandals with a secure ankle strap, as velcro tends to clog with the fine tropical sand. These shoes will be wet much of the time. Make sure you get good-grip, no-slip soles. Some people prefer to wear river sandals in the boat and on wet hikes and cushioned-soled athletic shoes for longer hikes. We highly recommend closed-toe shoes for the zipline. For around the lodges, flip-flops are perfect. Find professional-grade options made by Chaco®, the official footwear sponsor of OARS guides.
Evening wear—Lightweight athletic shoes can double as your evening shoes. Closed-toe shoes are required for the Turtle Nesting Tour in Tortuguero. It’s nice to put on dry socks and shoes after a day on the water. Flip-flops or sandals are great.
If you buy new shoes or sandals for the trip, make sure you break them in first!
Headwear
Wide-brimmed hats are a good choice for sun protection and rain. A ball cap or visor may fit under your helmet, which is required attire when whitewater rafting.
Rain Gear
Rain gear protects you from rain, wind, and the splash of the rapids. It is one of the essential items that all passengers should have no matter what time of year they are traveling. Look for a jacket that is 100% waterproof, not just water resistant, with secure closures around your head, neck, and wrists. Do not bring a rain poncho as it cannot be worn under your PFD. Rain pants are not necessary.
Sun Protection
Protecting yourself from the sun should be taken very seriously! In many cases, a long-sleeve shirt is the best method for preventing sunburn on your upper body. Lightweight long pants may also be appropriate to protect your legs. A hat, sunscreen, lip balm, and sunglasses are also a must.
Bugs & Mosquitoes
Bugs and mosquitoes vary depending on location and time of year. It’s a good idea to come prepared with insect repellent. Long-sleeved shirts and pants may be desirable at times.
MENSTRUAL CYCLE
Even if you aren’t anticipating your menstrual period, come prepared for it. We recommend you bring some sandwich-size Ziploc™ bags. These bags can store products during the day while you are on the river or on other excursions. Used pads or tampons can be disposed of in the trash as available. We provide some menstrual products on most trips for emergencies.
Packing List
Equipment and Personal Items
☐ Small bags (stuff sacks, plastic bags, or similar) to separate items for travel on the river
☐ Daypack: small, to carry a water bottle, camera, and rain jacket during excursions and general travel
☐ 1-liter water bottle: durable and reusable
☐ Locking carabiner (for clipping a water bottle into the raft )
☐ Headlamp or flashlight (consider bringing spare batteries)
☐ Polarized sunglasses with securing strap (consider bringing a spare)
☐ Toiletries
☐ Sunscreen and lip protection: waterproof & SPF 30 or higher (aerosol sprays not recommended)
☐ Moisturizing lotion or cream
☐ Insect repellent
☐ Personal first-aid kit (Band-aids, antibiotic ointment, ibuprofen, moleskin, eye drops, etc.)
☐ Spare pair of glasses and/or contacts
Footwear
☐ River shoes or sandals with a heel strap (such as those made by Chaco®); “Aqua socks” strongly discouraged
☐ Athletic shoes or light hikers (closed-toe required for the turtle nesting tour)
☐ Flip flops for around the lodges
☐ Hiking socks: 1-2 pair, lightweight
Clothing
☐ Long-sleeved shirt: lightweight, quick-dry for sun protection (old dress shirts work well)
☐ Long pants: lightweight and light color for sun protection
☐ Swimwear: tankinis and board shorts are a great option
☐ Shorts: 2-3 pair
☐ T-shirts/tops: 2-3
☐ Dark (black or similar) long-sleeved shirt and pants for the turtle nesting tour
☐ Shade hat or visor with securing strap
☐ Rain jacket: waterproof, breathable (not water resistant)
☐ Underwear
☐ Casual clothes for evenings
☐ One warm top (such as a fleece), as nighttime temperatures can be cool
Optional Items
☐ Sarong: useful for sun protection, evaporative cooling, changing clothes, etc.
☐ Small bags: stuff sacks, zip locks, or similar for organizing items in your dry bag and/or luggage
☐ Small dry bag (for rafting on the river and kayaking at Tortuguero)
☐ Binoculars
☐ Camera and accessories
☐ Sketchbook, notebook and pen, paperback book
☐ Bandana
☐ Cash for gratuities
☐ Small travel games, cards, etc. for evenings at the lodges
Packing Your Gear
We recommend traveling as light as possible without compromising your preparation for inclement weather and cool temperatures. On your international flight you may be allowed two pieces of luggage, but please check your airline for current guidelines—it changes from carrier to carrier.
The personal gear you’d like during the three days and two nights at the Rios Lodge will be packed into large, shared dry bags at the start of the river trip and carried downstream in the rafts (dry bags have plenty of space for items you’d like to have with you). Therefore, have an empty bag for packing what you need during that portion of the trip.
Your travel luggage won’t fit into the shared dry bags, so any belongings not needed will be kept by our staff and returned to you at the end of the river trip (on day 6). For items left behind in your travel luggage, consider bringing a plastic bag to keep dirty clothes separate from clean clothes. Avoid leaving wet clothes behind, as they may mildew and result in stains or ruined clothing.
Valuables
We recommend that you leave valuables, such as jewelry, at home. For personal items like passports, wallets, and cell phones, we recommend keeping them in a waterproof case (zip-lock bag) with your personal items that will travel by raft to the river lodge. When traveling to Tortuguero, you can keep these items on your person.
HELPFUL LINKS
- Find all the gear you need for your trip online in the OARStore and 15% of your purchase helps provide under-resourced youth with outdoor adventure experiences.
- From the blog: The Best Costa Rica Books to Read Before You Go
Reminders
GRATUITIES
Guests often ask whether gratuities are appropriate and in what amount. “Thank you” is always enough to put a smile on the faces of your guides and staff, but tipping is one of the many ways to reward them for their extra efforts. Because this adventure consists of several components with specific staff, we have created a list to assist you with extending a gratuity to the people who make your trip more enjoyable. You’ll want to plan ahead and have cash – either US Dollars or Costa Rican Colon.
- Lead guide (with you throughout the program): $8-$10 per person, per day
- Transfer guides (from the airport on day 1, to Tortuguero on day 2, to the river on day 4, to San Jose on day 6, to the int’l airport on day 7): $2-$5 per person, per transfer
- Mawamba Lodge guides (kayaking, hiking, turtle nesting): $5–$8 per person
- Raft guides: $5-$8 per person, per day
- Zipline and hiking guides (at the Rios Lodge): $5–$8 per person
- Lodge staff (restaurant and service): $2-$5 per person, per day
- Bellboy/luggage handler: $1 per bag at check-in or check-out
*Note that you may not be reunited with any guide after that particular activity ends
SOMETHING VOLUNTARY
In reviewing your statement, you’ll notice a $1 per person per day donation to International Rivers, a non-profit conservation organization dedicated to protecting rivers and defending the rights of the surrounding communities. Their work helps stop destructive dams and promotes water and energy solutions for a just and sustainable world. One hundred percent of these funds go directly to protecting rivers, and your contribution is tax-deductible. Please notify our office if you would prefer to delete the donation from your balance.
Terms & Conditions
Reservations and Deposits
A $500/person deposit is required at the time of reservation. Deposits may be made by check, money order, or Visa/Mastercard (American Express and Discover incur a 3% processing fee). Prices are in US Dollars, and all payments must be made in US Dollars. Payment of the deposit establishes your acceptance of our complete Terms and Conditions. Individual departures and trip capacity are strictly limited by the managing agency.
Canceling your trip after your deposit is processed will incur cancellation fees because OARS has absorbed costs on your behalf and will turn others away who would like to book the spaces we’re holding for you. Final payment is due 90 days before departure. Accounts on which final payment has not been received 80 days before the departure date will be canceled without exception.
Cancellations and Refunds
If you must cancel your reservation after the rescission period described above, your cancellation fee will be determined according to the schedule below. We regret we cannot make exceptions to the cancellation policy for any reason, including foul weather, poor air quality, wildfire activity, acts of terrorism, civil unrest, or personal emergencies. There is no refund for arriving late or leaving a trip early. For these reasons, we strongly urge you to consider purchasing a travel protection plan.
| DATE OF CANCELLATION | CANCELLATION FEE |
| 90 or more days before your trip | $250/person, balance refunded |
| 89 – 60 days before your trip | $500/person |
| 59 – 30 days or less before your trip | 50% of the trip price/person |
| 29 – 0 days before your trip | 100% of the trip price/person |
Requests to transfer a date will be treated as a cancellation, per the terms above.
Canceled Trips
OARS International and the outfitter Tropical Rivers and Adventures Tours reserve the right to cancel any trip due to insufficient registration or other factors that make the trip impractical to operate. Do not make nonrefundable travel arrangements unless you have spoken to your Adventure Consultant regarding the status of your trip.
If a trip must be canceled or postponed due to force majeure (factors outside the control of OARS), OARS will provide full credit for payments made toward future travel, or a refund less a 5% service fee plus any nonrefundable payments made on your behalf to 3rd-party suppliers. OARS will make good faith efforts to recover deposits made on your behalf to 3rd-party suppliers, however, we can’t guarantee recovery of any or all of the advance payments made. OARS is not responsible for expenses incurred by participants in preparation for a canceled trip.
Medical
Under most circumstances, if you are of an adventurous spirit and in reasonably good health, you should have no problem enjoying an OARS International trip. People with medical conditions, including pregnancy, should have a physician’s approval before taking an adventure travel trip.
Travel Protection
Because there are costs that you will incur if you cancel the spaces on this trip that we’re now holding for you, or in the event you need to be evacuated during the trip due to an unforeseen illness or injury, we strongly encourage our guests to purchase an optional travel protection plan. A travel protection plan may help reimburse the cost of your pre-paid, non-refundable payments in the event you are prevented from taking your trip for a covered reason. Trip participants must understand that in the event of an illness or injury on a wilderness trip, evacuation can be prolonged, difficult, and expensive. Learn more about the plan we recommend.
Please note: To be eligible for coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, you must purchase the plan within 21 days of your initial trip payment and you must be medically fit to travel at the time you pay for the plan.
In order to take part in this trip, each participant must have a minimum of Emergency Medical Evacuation coverage in place for the dates of the trip. This can be purchased as stand-alone coverage, independent of a comprehensive travel protection plan. You can get a quote for this type of policy by entering a Trip Cost amount of $0 when getting a quote.
Please note: By entering a Trip Cost amount of $0, the plan will not include Trip Cancellation coverage and you may not be eligible for Emergency Medical Expense benefits relating to any pre-existing conditions.
Liability Release / Assumption of Risk
Everyone is required to sign a standard liability release/assumption of risk form before the trip, confirming awareness that there are inherent risks associated with the trip. Due to the nature of the activities, a condition of your participation is that you will sign this form and return it to our office before the trip begins. Anyone who refuses to sign the form will not be allowed to participate, and consistent with OARS International’s cancellation policy, there will be no refund of the trip fees at that time.
Responsibility – An Important Notice
O.A.R.S. International, Inc., Tropical Rivers and Adventures Tours, and cooperating agencies act only in the capacity of agent for the participants in all matters relating to transportation and/or all other related travel services and assume no responsibility however caused for injury, loss, or damage to person or property in connection with any service, including but not limited to that resulting directly or indirectly from acts of God, detention, annoyance, delays and expenses arising from quarantine, pandemics, strikes, theft, pilferage, force majeure, failure of any means of conveyance to arrive or depart as scheduled, civil disturbances, government restrictions or regulations, and discrepancies or change in transit over which it has no control. Reasonable changes in the itinerary may be made where deemed advisable for the comfort and well-being of the participants, including cancellation due to water fluctuation, insufficient bookings (this trip requires a minimum of 4 guests), and other factors. There is risk in whitewater rafting, particularly during high-water conditions. Rafts, dories, and kayaks do capsize. You could be swept overboard. Your guide will make every attempt to assist, but you must be strong and agile enough to “self-help” and “float-it-out” without further endangering yourself or others. We reserve the right not to accept passengers weighing more than 260 pounds or with a waist/chest size exceeding 56 inches. We may decide, at any time, to exclude any person or group for any reason we feel is related to the safety of our trips. We are experienced at accommodating people with various disabilities. Please give us an opportunity to make you feel welcome. We need to discuss any special requirements ahead of time.
OARS trips occur in areas where unpredictable environmental conditions are to be expected. To moderate dangerous situations for our guests and guides, all travelers must obey the rules and regulations as determined by the managing agencies and the Trip Leader and demonstrate reasonable consideration for other guests and OARS employees. We reserve the right to remove any guest from a trip if, in our opinion, that guest’s actions or behaviors pose a threat to the safety of her/himself or others, or if those actions or behaviors compromise the enjoyment of the trip for others. Should a guest be asked to leave a trip, there will be no refund for the unused portion, nor will OARS be responsible for additional expenses incurred by the guest for accommodations, return transport, change fees, etc. Prices subject to change without notice. OARS is an equal opportunity provider.
Tropical Rivers & Adventures Tours
Tropical Rivers & Adventure Tours, travel partner of OARS International, is the operator of this adventure. Their staff members are the very best and will strive to ensure your complete satisfaction.