Rules and Regs for Argentina - Wildbird Tours

Cost - All inclusive except for International and Internal airfare

1 - DEPOSITS: Approximately 25% of the total tour price is due six months before the first day of the trip.

2. Method of Payment :

On the first payment date you will be notified of the exchange rate with the US dollar.

We then require a cheque - in Canadian dollars - for the equivalent $US amount .

Payable to :

Wildbird Tours Canada

Send to :

Joe Crichton

1388 Marina Way

Nanoose Bay

BC, V9P 9B8

3. Final Payment : The balance owing in US dollars per person will be due 75 days before the tour start.

Payment should be made by the same method as used for the Deposit described above

4 - REFUNDS: Payment refunds are made according to the following schedule: If notice of cancellation is received more than 90 days before departure, we will refund the original deposit deducting $200US per person plus bank transfer expenses and any penalties we incur due to your cancellation (mostly due to penalty fees withheld by our service providers). If notice of cancellation is received between 89 and 45 days before departure, the deposit is not refundable but any payment covering the balance of the trip costs will be returned deducting bank transfer expenses. If notice of cancellation is received between 44 and 20 days before departure, we will refund separable costs such as room charges, insofar as monies are returned to us by the providers of these services. We will not refund inseparable costs such as those for ground transportation, leader’s expenses or other fixed-cost services. If noticed of cancellation is received less than 19 days before departure, our No Show policy is applicable and no refunds will be given.

5 - TRAVEL INSURANCE: You may wish to consider purchasing travel insurance before departure. It can give welcome protection to those for whom a health-related trip cancellation is a concern. Furthermore, we don’t provide any luggage or medical insurance of any kind and all expenses generated by health care are the participant’s responsibility.

Please ensure that you are not just buying cancellation insurance on your airline ticket. It may be possible to buy insurance for the entire trip. But no guarantee on this.

6 - WHAT THE TOUR INCLUDES: The tour price includes all that is noted in the itinerary: All transportation exclusive of air, all accommodation and meals with non-alcoholic drinks, drinking water, tour materials (checklists etc.), tips to waiters and hotel staff, programmed excursions, and the services of the leaders.

7 - NOT INCLUDED: Any kind of travel insurance (cancellation, health, luggage, etc), passport and visa costs, immunizations, excess baggage charges, optional excursions, airport taxes, alcoholic drinks, tips to drivers, local guides and leaders, personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls, room service, souvenirs, etc.

8 - TOUR ALTERATIONS: Changes in itinerary may occur even though our tours are carefully planned. Participants should be aware that occasionally, factors beyond our control may result in such changes. Therefore, the right is reserved to substitute hotels of similar category for those indicated. Should a major change of itinerary or schedule be forced upon us while the tour is in progress as, for example, by an airline strike, weather delay or political crisis, the additional costs, if any, must be covered by the participants.

Daily itineraries are often changed because to the local knowledge and diligence of our guides who are constantly monitoring changing conditions.

9 - OUR GUIDES: Our tours are led by professional naturalist guides. They are equipped with all the necessary gear for every tour specialty, i.e.: In the case of Birdwatching tours, they carry a spotting scope, recording equipment and bird call, a spotlight for nocturnal viewing. Additionally, they take wildlife identification books, checklists, etc. Generally, our guides will deal with logistics and interaction with service providers and local authorities. They will also be available to help the tour leader plan the day and assist with any of the participant’s requirements. Please note that in case of special circumstances, the leader/s assigned might have to be replaced by another one of a similar competence.

10 - CURRENCY: Local currencies are preferred over foreign ones. The US dollar is your best option to exchange at most banks, exchange houses and some hotels. Master Card and Visa are more widely accepted than American Express, but all are useful, particularly in major centres. ATM machines are available in most of the cities and even small towns. Some villages and remote lodges will only take cash in the local currency.

11 - HEALTH PRECAUTIONS: Although the areas we go on our tours are relatively safe in terms of diseases transmitted by insects of any kind, we suggest that participants consult their physician for current recommendations before the trip departure. We do not go to any areas that are particularly bad for mosquitoes but it is recommended that you take some strong insect repellent especially if you are sensitive to the bites. Please check with your doctor concerning vaccination recommendations. Hepatitis A and tetanus vaccinations are often recommended for Chile and Argentina, plus yellow fever for Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay. Although there are no reports of recent malaria cases in the areas to be visited, you should follow your physician’s advice in this regard.

The three most important things to consider are stomach upset, the sun and altitude sickness (on tours visiting higher areas). We will be eating in good quality restaurants and hotels, whose hygiene standards are generally high. Please let us know if you have any restrictions in your diet. It is recommended that you do not drink tap water (although it is often claimed to be safe) and instead use bottled water. This is partly because even clean water may contain microbes and a mineral composition that your body is not familiar with. As for problems with altitude, some people are more affected than others. You are likely to feel breathless if you do anything strenuous and everything should be taken at a slower pace than normal. Alcohol aggravates the condition so we recommend avoiding it whilst at altitude. Rest usually solves the problem and symptoms lessen after about 48 hours in most cases but you should not expect to fully adjust to functioning normally at such altitudes. We will take each day very slowly and walk as little as possible so as to avoid sudden exertion. The sun is very strong in some areas, so you should take precautions against exposure. Lip balm is also needed and a hat and sunglasses are advisable.

The leader will be carrying a small first aid kit but you should bring your own medicine as the leaders are not permitted to provide these.

12 - SMOKING POLICY: Smoking is not allowed in the private transport that we use and we politely ask that you do not smoke when with the group even whilst walking in the open air.

13 - RESTRICTIONS OF PARTICIPATION: Please note that our leaders have the right to refuse to take any member of the group on any particular excursion if they (the leaders) consider the participation of that individual a risk to the safety or welfare of him/herself or to be against the interests of the group as a whole. Under certain circumstances, alternative options to the group excursion can be more suitable for individual members and the leaders will discuss these options when appropriate. If you have any concerns about your fitness or health, please notify us or discuss them with us as soon as possible (or with the leaders during the tour if any unforeseen problems arise.)

If a member of the group persists in inappropriate behaviour that the tour leaders deem detrimental to the welfare or safety of the group the tour leaders reserve the right to exclude that individual from the remainder of the tour; refunding costs where appropriate.