INFO GENERAL
1-. How to book: before booking a holiDía we advise you to read the detailed dossier description of the trip and, if you require any further information, you should Contacto our office. It is important for your enjoyment of the holiDía that you choose a trip well suited to your experience and capabilities. Once you have made your choice, post or fax to us a complete booking form with a deposit USD . You should consider paying the appropriate insurance fee at this time, as this will safeguard your deposit should you subsequently have to cancel. Andes-Vertical Expediciones highly encourages the purchasing of trip cancellation and travel insurance. This comprehensive travel insurance provides coverage for trip cancellation and interruption, travel delays, medical expenses and emergency assistance. We recommend Roundtrip Travel Benefits of Specialty Risk International for protecting your investment, however there are many companies to chose from and you may wish to do some individual research regarding which policy is right for you. Due to the nature and heavy costs of government and operator permits, Andes-Vertical Expediciones must adhere to a stringent refund policy well specified in the booking contract.
Deposits can be made by check, money order or wire transfer (Contacto us) to: Andes-Vertical Expediciones.
On receipt of your booking form, we will send you confirmation of your place, along with a "Visitor To" leaflet, which includes detailed information about your holiDía - such as; how to obtain visas, health and medical considerations, how much money to take, equipment requirements and also general information about the country, people, climate, etc.
2-. Equipment and clothing: Andes-Vertical Expediciones will provide all of the group gear for your climb or Expedición. Servicios incluidos are tents, stoves and cooking equipment, ropes, and anchor equipment. You will need to provide all of your own personal gear and clothing. Trip members will be expected to carry a share of the group gear and food. You will receive a detailed equipment list following your registration in the Expedición or climb. Our staff is happy to discuss your equipment needs with you and can recommend a wide variety of equipment that has worked well for them for many years. Please Contacto us with any questions
3-.Baggage allowance: You should make every effort to restrict your personal equipment to a maximum of 15 Kg. Many of our trips involve internal flights within the country of destination and 15 Kg is the maximum check-in baggage allowance of these flights. For our mountain bike groups, we make every effort to ensure that your cycle can be carried within the baggage allowance. Andes-Vertical Expediciones is not responsible for excess baggage charges.
4-. Camping facilities: For the majority of our trips we supply generous two-man tents with sewn-in groundsheets and these are generally Mountain V25 North Face. A mess tent, cook's tent, stools, plates, cutlery etc. are all provide. On some ESCALADA trips and EXPEDICIONES, which require the setting up of high camps, we may use lightweight mountain tents.
5-. Health and vaccinations: Your health and safety are of paramount importance to us. Our guides take extreme care to assure that you are properly acclimatized when we travel to altitude and they are well prepare to deal with potential medical challenges. It is extremely important that persons with medical problems make them known to us well before Horario de salida. While it is your own responsibility make sure that you are fit enough to join our adventure holiDía, once you have joined us we strive to make your trip as enjoyable and safe as possible. You should have a thorough medical and dental check up before the holiDía. You also need specific immunizations when visiting some countries and this is explained in the "Visitors To" leaflet, which we send to you when you book. On all of our trips, a comprehensive medical kit is carried.
6-. Pre-trip conditioning: We suggest you begin your training program at least two months prior to Horario de salida. Walking up steep hills and stair ESCALADA are both excellent ways to condition your lower body. Begin slowly, without the weight of a pack, eventually adding weight as you increase your training pace. Take a long hike (4-6 horas) several times with a weighted pack. The best training for mountaineering is to carry a loaded pack up and down hills or small mountains. Supplement with this upper-body strength conditioning, running, cycling, and/or other aerobic activities for optimum conditioning.
7-. Food: Andes-Vertical Expediciones pride themselves in preparing amazing gourmet mountain cuisine. All of the meals from the trailhead and back will be provided. Meals will consist of pastas, rice, soups, dehydrated and fresh foods. Be sure to bring along your favorite munchies, energy food, and after dinner treats.
8-. Visas: You will need to obtain a visa for most of the feriados we run. We will supply full details, and the relevant application forms, on request or when booking. Generally visas need to be applied for around 2 to 3 months in advance of the trip Horario de salida date.
9-. Value for money, small groups and surcharges: We aim to provide value for money on all of our feriados. In an attempt to offer feriados at the lowest possible price, all of our trips are costed on a minimum group size of 4 (unless otherwise stated). Should the final number of bookings be less than 4, to avoid canceling a trip with a low sign-up, a surcharge of the land only price, to cover the extra costs involved in handling a small group, will be added to the final Expedición trip.
10-. What the price includes: You should refer to individual trip dossiers for exact information about what is Servicios incluidos in a particular trip, generally the price include the following: "All internal flights, road transport and transfers as per the Itinerario. "Twin occupancy hotel accommodation. "All camping facilities sharing two person tent. "Full trek service including local guides, cooks, porters, muleteer, mules and including cost of equipment and insurance for local staff. "All meals throughout while in the ESCALADA Itinerario. "Western leader. "Comprehensive medical kit. "Park fees and permits. "Airport- Hotel transportation in the internal flights.
11-. What the price does not include: "Visas cost.”Inoculations. "Porter's, guides and other tips.”Bar bills, hotel refreshments, laundry, telephone calls, souvenirs, etc. "Entrance fees to historical sites, museums, spectacles, etc. "Travel insurance.”Personal clothing and equipment. "Foreign airport taxes.”Excess baggage charges.
12-.Minimum age requirement: We would prefer to talk with you about the trip you are interested in and whether it is a practical choice for someone under the age of 18.
13-.Booking international airline tickets: Andes-Vertical Expediciones has found that many people prefer to make their own reservations, often finding less expensive fares on their own. We suggest you Contacto your travel agent or airlines.
14-.Meeting Point: because the international time difference, most groups flying South arrive at their destination on the Día after their Horario de salida, and this is the Día on which we would advise to meet up with your group. Naturally, the hotel accommodation that is used by the group is Servicios incluidos within the price of the trip. If your flight arrangements mean that you will arrive well before the group or depart after the group has Regreso a Mendozaed home) we can book additional hotel nights for you, at very competitive rates.
15-.Personal spending money: The majority of our feriados include all food and accommodation ,and for these we suggest that USD 250 taken in cash or travelers checks should adequately cover your needs. On this, on average, USD 25 should be set aside for airport taxes and USD 50 to 100 for tips, leaving the rest for incidentals such as soft drinks, restaurant meals, and souvenir hunting. Credit cards can normally be used for buying goods in the larger shops, or for paying for food etc. in hotels, but not drawing cash.
16-.ESCALADA grades defined: "Beginner- no previous mountaineering skills required. "Advanced beginner- basic mountaineering skills recommended including self-arrest, cramponing, ice-axe use, rope and glacier travel experience. "Intermediate- - basic mountaineering skills recommended in addition to experience on technical terrain consisting of 40-50 degree snow/ ice slopes.
"Advanced intermediate- Intermediate mountaineering skills recommended and proven experience on technical rock & ice terrain.
"Advanced- Advanced intermediate mountaineering skills recommended in addition to experience on technical terrain, including rock and Escalada en Hielo. Brief ESCALADA resume needed. This low cost insurance can be purchased from Specialty Risk International and coverage includes the following: 1)All deposits and payments if you cancel your trip prior to Horario de salida because of personal or family illness. 2) In country emergency evacuation. 3)Payment in the event of termination of the trip after arrival in country due to political or natural emergency. The cost of premiums will vary depending on the length of the trip and type of coverage you obtain but you can expect to pay around 6% of the total trip cost. Any Travel Insurance questions can be answered directly by Specialty Risk International at 00-335-0611.
GENERAL CONDITIONS 2010
The following general conditions are governed by the provisions set forth in Act 18829, Decree 2182/72, and Resolution 404/72. Andes Vertical S.A., hereinafter referred to as the Company, hereby sets forth its general operation conditions for the provision of tourist Servicios incluidos:
1. KNOWLEDGE OF CONDITIONS SET FORTH: when the passenger (as well as any person who has a reservation under the passenger’s name) sends the reservation form and it is accepted by Andes-Vertical, it is understood that the passenger acknowledges and agrees to all the conditions herein and certifies that the information submitted in the reservation form is complete and true. The Company, on accepting the reservation, covenants and agrees to fulfill its obligations as herein provided……
2. RESERVATIONS: reservations received shall be confirmed once the passenger:
a) Sends the reservation form dully filled in. Each person participating in the trip shall fill in a form and provide as much information as possible. The Company must be immediately informed of any changes in the information the passenger has furnished. The passenger may send the reservation form by mail, e-mail, fax or through the Company´s web site
b) Deposits 30% of the total cost of the trip. This down payment shall be made to our international bank account or by bank transfer to our accounts with national banks or by credit card
3. RESERVATION CONFIRMATION: once points A and B hereinbefore are fulfilled, the Company shall forward confirmation of the reservation to the passenger via e-mail. A week prior to the trip, the Company shall send information about the hotel, Contacto telephone numbers, list of participants and related data to the passenger by e-mail
4. PAYMENT OF THE BALANCE DUE: the balance due must be paid prior to the beginning of the trip.
5. PRICES: all prices advertised in the Company’s publications are expressed in ARS Argentine Pesos or United States dollars and are subject to changes without prior notice. The passenger shall pay the ruling price at the moment the reservation is accepted. Prices shall not be subject to changes provided that the trip is paid cash and in full once the reservation is made. Otherwise, the company retains the right to change the final price of the program without prior notice. Said changes may derive from market fluctuations affecting the cost structure. Any price increase shall be paid prior to the Horario de salida date of the trip without exception
6. RESERVATION CHANGES: if the passenger wishes to introduce any change in a reservation that has already been confirmed, the Company shall be informed in writing of said change. The passenger shall pay a U$S 15 administrative charge per person for any change.
7. CANCELLATION OF THE RESERVATION: cancellations shall be made in writing, without exception, and the price of the trip will be refunded to the passenger after deducting cancellation charges. The cancellation date shall be the date the Company is dully served by the passenger. The sum to be refunded to the passenger shall be paid by the Company within 30 Días after notice was sent to the Company´s premises. If the cancellation notice is received 30 Días prior to Horario de salida, 15% of the down payment made for the reservation shall be deducted to cover administrative expenses. If notice is received within 30 Días prior to Horario de salida, the Company shall retain the total down payment
8. CHANGES MADE BY THE COMPANY PRIOR Horario de salida: the Company may change Itinerario, Servicios incluidos, Horario de salida dates, etc. in order to provide a better service or because of acts of God or force majeure. Force majeure reasons include: strikes, earthquakes, civil war, quarantine, revolutions, fires, adverse meteorological conditions, epidemics, bad road conditions o road breakage. These reasons are just illustrative. The Company retains the right to cancel the trip due to force majeure or because the minimum number of people required to participate in the program has not been reached. The cancellation shall be informed in writing to the passenger, who may opt for:
a) Demanding the refund of the full price paid to the Company
b) Deciding on an alternative trip and pay an additional sum of money or get a refund, whatever the case may be, if there is any price difference
9. CHANGES MADE BY THE COMPANY DURING THE TRIP: the nature of this trip requires flexibility as regards changes. Daily Itinerario and coordination details are considered as Objetivos to be achieved, not as contractual obligations. To participate in the Company´s adventure trips is essential that the passenger consents to this flexibility. Furthermore, the Company shall not be held responsible for delays or alterations in the program due to (not exclusively) baggage loss with the airline, bad weather conditions, any accidents suffered by mules, breakage of gear, flight cancellations, disease, wars, strikes, and any other act of God. Any expense deriving therefrom shall be borne by the passenger (who may get a refund from the insurance policy said passenger has taken out)
10. GUIDES: RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS. Given the nature of the service hired by the passenger, both the Objetivos of the program and the decisions taken by the guide as program leader are final. If the guide considers that the passenger’s behavior, physical condition or any other reason emanating from said passenger may be dangerous to the safety, health or well-being of said passenger or of the whole group, the passenger will be asked to abandon the journey and shall not be entitled to any refund whatsoever. In the event it is necessary, the company is entitled to resort to law enforcement personnel. The passenger acknowledges the guide’s authority concerning decisions that encompass changes in the programs or EXPEDICIONES
11. DISCOUNTS: if during an ascent the guide considers that certain conditions (bad weather, bad road conditions or impaired personal skills) make it unsafe to continue the journey and decides to cancel it, the passenger shall be entitled to receive a non-transferable voucher with a 15% discount on the cost of another ascent attempt. This discount voucher shall be valid for two successive summer seasons after the current season. In the event the passenger decides not to continue for any reason and at any point of the journey, said passenger shall not be entitled to receive a discount voucher
12. DOCUMENTATION: it is the passenger’s responsibility to obtain the necessary visa to enter the country of destination. The company shall not to be held responsible if the authorities refuse to give an entry visa to the passenger due to reasons inherent to said passenger, or if admittance to a given country is refused due to the passenger´s failure to comply with the necessary requirements or due to defects on his/her passport. Any expense deriving therefrom, or from any similar circumstance, shall be fully borne by the passenger. The conditions herein for voluntary cancellation of the service shall apply...
13. LUGGAGE: the luggage and personal effects shall be, at all times, the passenger’s responsibility. In the event of accident, loss or damage during the transfer of luggage in Aymara’s vehicles, carriers or mules, the Company shall be liable to pay up to a maximum of U$S 200.-
14. Servicios incluidos Servicios incluidos: the Company binds itself to render during the trip those Servicios incluidos that are Servicios incluidos and detailed in the information furnished for each program...
15. Servicios incluidos Servicios no incluidos: the Company is not bound to pay for extras, beverages, telephone calls, laundry, tips, food during transportation, tickets for recreational centers, national parks or natural reserves, etc., or for any other service that has not been dully specified in the advertised program
16. UNUSED Servicios incluidos: the price of the program is quoted as a package. Therefore, no refund or compensation shall be given for non-use of certain Servicios incluidos such as hotel stays, transportation, permits or any other service that is Servicios incluidos in the trip and has not been used by the passenger
17.THE COMPANY ACTING AS AN “INTERMEDIARY”: whenever the Company acts as an intermediary between the passenger and transportation companies, hotels, companies offering medical coverage, restaurants, etc., and in the event any of the aforementioned fails to comply with any of its obligations, the Company assumes the responsibility of taking the necessary steps (such as hiring new service providers, withholding payments to those who failed to meet their obligations, etc.) to insure the successful completion of the trip. The Company shall not be held responsible for Servicios incluidos rendered by any third party
18. HEALTH: the passenger must be in good health and physical condition. The passenger is responsible for having previous medical examinations. The Company does not assume responsibility in the event that said examinations are not fulfilled. The Company´s programs take place in remote areas with little or no possibility of having access to medical Servicios incluidos or hospitals. Therefore, any health condition suffered by the passenger shall be specified in the reservation form. The guides of the Company are properly trained to act in the event of emergencies and they always carry a first aid kit with medicine. Nevertheless, it is the passenger’s responsibility to carry any medicine specifically prescribed to him/her
19. EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING: it is the passenger’s responsibility to bring and wear adequate equipment and clothing. Said items are detailed in the information of the journey and will be checked by the Company´s guides on the first Día of the trip. The staff of the Company is fully capable to advise the passenger on the necessary equipment. The Company, its guides, coordinators and any other party working for the Company shall not be held responsible for any accident or inconvenience associated to the equipment or clothing
20. COMPLAINTS: neither the Company, Andes Vertical S.A., nor service providers shall deem a complaint as formal unless said complaint is submitted in writing within 15 Días after the end of the journey
21. INSURANCE: travel insurance is Servicios no incluidos in the price of the program. The Company, Andes Vertical, strongly recommends passengers to take out a travel insurance policy
22. EXPENSES DERIVING FROM ABANDONMENT OF JOURNEY: the Itinerario price is quoted on the basis of group Servicios incluidos so as to provide more and better Servicios incluidos at a low cost. Whenever the passenger abandons the group for any reason (personal reasons, sickness, among others), the Servicios incluidos hired by the passenger thereafter are on a private basis. Even though, the passenger will be allowed to use hotel stays even outside the dates scheduled for the whole group, if he is alone and does not have the possibility of sharing the room with some of his partners, he must pay an extra cost. This would be the difference between the single room and the double room. As this service, some others will have an additional cost that shall to be borne by the passenger because they are Servicios no incluidos in the price. In the event extra stays are needed, the Company recommends to settle them at its offices.
23. LEGAL RESPONSABILITY: reservations are accepted on the grounds that the passenger has acknowledged and accepted the potential risks that this type of trips may entail, that the passenger is mentally and physically capable of participating in the activities required, that his/her participation is voluntary, and that - although the Company has taken all necessary steps to provide the passenger with adequate equipment and trained guides - the passenger acknowledges that adventure activities are risky. Certainly, this risk is inherent to the activity and cannot be avoided without destroying the activity’s unique characteristic. Said inherent risks may cause equipment loss or damage or accidental injuries, sicknesses or, in extreme cases, permanent trauma or death. It is not the Company´s intention to frighten the passenger or curtail his/her enthusiasm, nevertheless, it is important that the passenger knows in advance which risks are involved. The following are some examples of said risks: avalanche, lightning, rock instability or fall, snow, ice, extreme hot or cold temperatures, dehydration, acute mountain illness, winds, mountain equipment failures, human error. The passenger acknowledges that this list is not exhaustive and that there are other unknown or unpredictable risks that may cause harm
25. LIMITATION OF THE COMPANY´S OBLIGATIONS: the Company´s liabilities and obligations in connection with any event or failure shall be limited to and shall not exceed the price of the trip
26. LAW, JURISDICTION AND COMPETENCY: these conditions and the annexes attached hereto shall be exclusively governed by the regulations in force. Any conflict shall be settled by the Ordinary Courts of the First Judicial District of Mendoza, and excludes any other court and/or jurisdiction, especially the Federal court
Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to Contacto us at our offices
EQUIPMENT LIST
Tops"1 long sleeve, light colored shirt for sun protection. "2 lightweight, long sleeve polypropylene shirts (zip-t's are great) "1 Expedición weight long underwear shirt or medium weight fleece shirt. "1 poly/fleece jacket. "1 Expedición down parka with hood.
This is probably your most important piece of clothing! It is important that your jacket is 700+ fill down, baffle construction (not sewn through seams) and has a thick insulated hood. Feathered Friends Ice Fall Parka is a great choice (10% off for Mountain Madness clients) and can be mail ordered at 206.328.0887.
"1 outer shell jacket with hood (Gore-tex is strongly recommended).
Bottoms "1 pair trekking and around camp pants (nylon, synthetic). "1 pair fleece pants- side zipper is recommended. "2 pair long underwear bottoms (1 pr. lightweight and 1 pr. med. or exp. wt). "1 pair wind/rain pants (Gore-tex or similar material with side zips are preferred)
Footwear "4 pairs liner socks. "3-4 pairs wool or poly socks (medium-heavy thickness). "1 pair trekking boots. "1 pair sandals (for hanging. around in camp and crossing rivers- optional). "1 pair down booties (optional). "1 pair plastic Expedición boots - make sure that the boot is Expedición quality and has a new or in excellent condition stock liner or alveolite liner. Koflach Arctis Expedición are recommended boots. "1 pair crampons, fit to your plastic boots (include a repair kit, "step-ins are advised), make sure they fit properly with your super-gaiters. "1 pair insulated super-gaiters. Super-gaiters will provide more warmth and are required. The Savage Gear or Wild Country gaiter by Climb high is a good choice. If the toe section of the rubber rand of the gaiter fits loosely you may want to consider glueing the toe section to the boot. The Savage gaiter by Climb High is a good choice.
Hand wear "2 pairs liner gloves (polypro). "1 pair medium weight fleece gloves. "1 pair nylon shell gloves. "1 pair wool or fleece mittens, if you tend to have cold hands down mittens are an option. "1 pair overmitts, if they do not have wrist straps consider sewing one on so that you can either attach it to your jacket or cinch the strap to your wrist so that you do not loose your mittens in high winds.
Head gear You will need to be able cover your head in its entirety. Any piece of skin exposed on a cold windy Día can become frost nipped in minutes. Wind Stopper hats or balaclavas are a great choice. Try to find one that covers your entire face with a hole for your nose and mouth or purchase a neoprene face mask.
"1 wool or fleece hat that cover your ears - "1 balaclava - "1 pair glacier glasses with side flaps - "1 sunhat - "1 neck warmer (optional) - "1 ski goggles with UV protection - Sleeping gear: "1 down or synthetic sleeping bag (rated to 0? to -20 F) - "1 full length Thermarest pad (bring repair kit) - "1 medium or full length closed cell foam pad or Crazy Creek Chair.
Pack "1 large capacity internal frame (5,000+ cubic inches) - "1 rucksack for approach hike and possible use on summit Día and carry-on bag, if you plan to use it on your summit climb it must be large enough for your down jacket, misc. clothes, food and water. The Lowe Alpine Attack Summit is an excellent , lightweight (16 oz.) choice for your summit pack - "1-2 large (7,500+cu.in.) duffel bags for gear, must be durable for use on pack animals.
ESCALADA gear: "1 ESCALADA harness - "1 ice axe (60-70cm) - "1 locking carabiner - "1 non-locking carabiner.
Misc "1 first-aid kit with ibuprofen and any other doctor recommended medications - "1 headlamp with 4.5 volt battery or double AA capacity and spare batteries - (Petzel is a good brand but we advise against the Micro version) - "3 one liter water bottles, one is a pee bottle. - "2 water bottle insulators - Camelback or other brand hydration system (optional). - This will likely freeze above camp II and cannot be considered as part of your water carrying capacity for high in the mountain. - "lip balm (spf 30) and glacier cream (spf 40) - "small padlock for duffel bag - "utensils: large insulated cup with lid, spoon, and bowl - "water purification system, either iodine tablets or crystals (Polar Pure); filters are convenient but not essential "pocket knife - "ear plugs - "2-3 large plastic garbage bags - "favorite snack foods (no more than 2 pounds) - "paperback books, cards, Walkman etc. - "adjustable ski poles - "handi-wipes - "small thermos".
ROUNDTRIP INSURANCE
The “ANDES-VERTICAL” Adventure travel insurance scheme. (available both to Us and Non-Us Residents)
You must contract your own plan of insurance. You must pay special attention to de folowing items of your trip insurance contract:
*Insurance certificate: this contains full details of the cover provided plus the conditions and exclusions which apply to it. You must read the insurance certificate carefully. *Conditions and exclusions: there are conditions and exclusions which apply to individual sections and general conditions and exclusions to the whole certificate.
*Date change exclusion: changes in dates, could see widespread failure of computer and other systems containing computer ships, which depend on date-related information in order to work properly. Other than Medical Expenses, Hospital Benefit and Personal Accident, your certificate excludes anything directly or indirectly caused by failure of any computer hardware or software or other electrical equipment to recognize or process any date as the true calendar date.
*Fraudulent claims: the making of fraudulent claims is a criminal offence. Medical Expenses: the certificate does not provide private health treatment unless specifically approved by the emergency service.
*Health: the certificate contains conditions relating to the health of the people traveling an others upon whose well being the trip may depend. It may be that you are required to disclose known medical conditions of such people prior to cover being issued and you must be aware that failure to disclose such information will prejudice your position.
*Property claims: these are settled on an indemnity basis- not on a "new for old" or replacement cost basis, unless otherwise stated in the certificate.
*Certificate limits: most sections of the certificate have limits on the amount the insurer will pay under that section. Some section also have inner limits - e.g. for one item, or for valuables in total.
*Excesses: claims under most sections of the certificate will be subject to an excess. Where there is an excess, you will be responsible for paying the first part of a claim. *Reasonable care: you are required to take all reasonable care to protect yourself and your property and to act as though you are not insured.
*Complaints: the insurance certificate includes a Complaints Procedure, which tell you what steps you can take if you wish to make a complaint. "Cooling off" period: the certificate contains a "cooling off" period which allow you to Regreso a Mendoza the certificate within 14 Días of the date of issue or prior to travel ( whichever the sooner) and obtain a full refund if you have justifiable reason to be dissatisfied with the cover provided.
*Hazardous HoliDía Activities: the certificate may not cover you when you take part in a certain hazardous activities. However, the certificate will cover you for any activities Servicios incluidos in the Itinerario for the holiDía being booked from this brochure. If you want cover for any other hazardous activities, other than those Servicios incluidos in your Itinerario, please discuss your requirement with us. American Law allows the parties to choose the law applicable to the contract. The contract will be subject to the American Law unless otherwise agreed.
PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU READ YOUR INSURANCE CERTIFICATE CAREFULLY. If you make your own insurance arrangements, documentary evidence of your own policy is required, which must contain evidence of satisfactory cover for repatriation and helicopter rescue.
PLEASE NOTE: This is Adventure travel, and most of the feriados destinations in this brochure are remote areas, within under-developed countries, where events are less predictable than is usually the case in, for example, Western Europe or North America. The unexpected is the norm in these areas, and despite painstaking planning and organization, these adventure EXPEDICIONES can never be taken for granted like a normal trip. Many of the places which we visit do not have the same quality of emergency health and safety Servicios incluidos that we are used to in the developed world. Internal flights can be cancelled, road transport is generally uncomfortable and unreliable, and hotels often do not approach the standards of the West.
IF YOU ARE NOT PREPARED FOR THIS, YOU SHOULD NOT TRAVEL WITH US.
This unpredictability also means that the Itinerario that we put forward for each of our feriados should be seen as statement of intent, rather than as contractual obligations. A variety of factors, including weather, transport difficulties and political instability, might dictate that we change of these Itinerario. The Expedición leader will make any changes which are necessary, after consultation with the group. Only rarely will such changes be considerable, and we will always do everything within our powers to minimize the effects of the enforced changes. We cannot be held responsible for the results of changes or delays, irrespective of how they are caused