At Birding Tours CR we specialize in offering birdwatching and nature photography experiences at the top destinations in Costa Rica. Our commitment is to provide a professional, safe and responsible service, promoting the conservation of biodiversity and respect for the ecosystems we visit.
These Terms and Conditions establish the rights and obligations between Birding Tours CR and its clients, governing the booking, operation and participation in our tours.
By making a reservation and completing any payment, the client declares to have read, understood and fully accepted these Terms and Conditions, as well as the current Payment, Cancellation and Refund Policy.
We appreciate your trust and look forward to providing you with an unforgettable birdwatching and nature photography experience in Costa Rica.
1Reservations and Booking Confirmation
Any tour organized by Birding Tours CR will be confirmed only once the corresponding deposit is received and written confirmation is sent by the company.
The reservation implies acceptance of these General Terms and Conditions.
Birding Tours CR may request additional information necessary for the correct organization of the trip, including personal data, dietary requirements, relevant medical information and any other information necessary for the adequate provision of services.
2Payment Policy
A deposit equivalent to 30% of the total tour value is required to confirm the reservation.
This deposit guarantees the availability of hotels, transportation, specialized guides and other services included in the itinerary.
The remaining 70% must be paid no later than 60 days before the start of the tour.
Reservations made within 60 days prior to the start of the trip must be paid in full at the time of confirmation.
Birding Tours CR reserves the right to cancel the reservation if the final payment is not received within the established deadline.
All payments must be made through methods authorized by Birding Tours CR.
Bank charges, international transfer fees or card processing charges will be assumed by the client, unless otherwise indicated.
3Cancellation and Refund Policy
All cancellations must be notified in writing to Birding Tours CR's official email address.
Because the company makes advance reservations with hotels, transportation, specialized guides and other providers, the following policy applies:
Time before tour start
Refund
More than 90 days before
70% of amount paid
Between 90 and 60 days before
50% of amount paid
Between 59 and 30 days before
25% of amount paid, subject to recovery of previously contracted services
29 days or less before
No refund
No refunds will be given for:
No-show.
Late arrivals.
Early departures.
Voluntarily unused services.
Abandonment of the tour once started.
Approved refunds will be processed within approximately 15 to 30 business days, minus bank fees and any non-recoverable financial costs.
If Birding Tours CR cancels a tour for operational reasons or force majeure, the client may choose to: reschedule the tour, use the amount paid as credit for a future tour within the next 24 months, or request a refund for services not rendered.
Birding Tours CR will not be responsible for expenses arising from airline tickets, travel insurance, hotels or other services contracted directly by the client.
4Prices
All prices published by Birding Tours CR are expressed in US dollars (USD), unless another currency is expressly indicated.
Prices include only the services specified in each itinerary.
Birding Tours CR may modify prices before confirming a reservation due to extraordinary increases in hotel, transportation, fuel rates, government taxes or any other cost beyond the company's control.
Once the reservation is confirmed and the corresponding deposit is received, the agreed price will remain guaranteed, unless there is a change requested by the client.
5Included Services
Unless otherwise indicated in the contracted itinerary, the tour includes:
Accommodation as per the program.
Private ground transportation.
Specialized birdwatching guide.
Meals as indicated in the itinerary.
Entrance fees to nature reserves and specified sites.
Drinking water during transfers.
6Services Not Included
Unless expressly indicated, the tour does not include:
Domestic or international airfare.
Travel insurance.
Alcoholic beverages.
Personal expenses.
Laundry.
Gratuities.
Optional activities.
Services not specified in the itinerary.
Passports, Visas and Entry Requirements
The client is solely responsible for verifying and complying with entry requirements for the destination country, including valid passport, visas, permits, health certificates, vaccinations or other documents required by the competent authorities. Birding Tours CR will not be responsible for denial of entry or boarding due to non-compliance with such requirements.
Flight Delays
Birding Tours CR will not be responsible for loss of services caused by delays, cancellations or changes to flight itineraries, ground transportation or any other service contracted with third parties. When possible, the company will provide assistance in reorganizing the itinerary; however, additional costs will be the client's responsibility.
Rooms
Prices are calculated on double occupancy, unless otherwise indicated. Clients requesting single rooms must pay the corresponding supplement. Birding Tours CR will make every effort to assign roommates when requested, but cannot guarantee such availability.
Special Diets
Special dietary requests (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, food allergies or other) must be communicated at the time of booking. Birding Tours CR will make reasonable efforts to accommodate such requests, although availability cannot be guaranteed at all destinations.
Personal Belongings
Birding Tours CR will not be responsible for items left behind in vehicles, hotels, restaurants or any other establishment used during the tour.
Drone Use
The use of drones during the tour will only be permitted when current legislation, protected area regulations and prior authorization from Birding Tours CR allow it. The client will be responsible for obtaining the required permits and for any sanctions arising from their use.
Personal Data Protection
Personal information provided by the client will be used exclusively for the management of reservations, tour operations and communications related to contracted services. Birding Tours CR will treat such information confidentially and in accordance with applicable data protection legislation.
Information Collected Through the Website
When using the Birding Tours CR website, data is collected through the following mechanisms:
Contact Form: full name, email address, phone number, country of origin, preferred contact method (email, WhatsApp or phone), estimated travel dates, party size, interests and a message. The client must provide explicit consent before submission.
Review Form: visitor name, country of origin (optional), rating (1 to 5 stars) and review text.
Technical data collected automatically: an irreversible cryptographic hash (SHA-256) of the visitor's IP address (the original IP address is never stored), the browser's user agent, the language selected on the site and the submission timestamp.
The IP hash is used exclusively to limit submission frequency (rate limiting) and prevent abuse, not to track or identify users.
Birding Tours CR does not sell, rent or share clients' personal information with third parties, except when strictly necessary for the provision of contracted services (e.g., with accommodation or transportation providers) or when required by applicable law.
Public Reviews and Comments
Reviews submitted through the website are subject to a moderation and approval process before publication. By submitting a review, the client agrees that:
Their name and country (if provided) will be publicly visible alongside the review once approved.
Birding Tours CR reserves the right not to publish reviews containing offensive language, inappropriate content, spam or information unrelated to the services provided.
If the client edits a previously approved review, it will be subject to the moderation process again.
Birding Tours CR may feature selected reviews on the website for informational and promotional purposes.
Browser Local Storage
The Birding Tours CR website uses browser local storage (localStorage) in a limited manner for the following purposes:
Recording the timestamp of the last contact form submission, for the purpose of managing submission frequency and preventing accidental duplicate submissions.
This data is stored exclusively on the user's device and is not transmitted to Birding Tours CR servers.
The website does not use tracking cookies or third-party tracking technologies for advertising purposes.
