BIRDING PUERTO RICO General Terms and Conditions

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1 Please read carefully these TERMS & CONDITIONS before booking your birding trip with BIRDING PUERTO RICO. STEP 1 REQUEST You have received this document, General Terms and Conditions, if you have requested information for an allinclusive birding trip or because you have completed the Inquiry Form provided in our website. If so, please go directly to STEP 2. Always confirm prices since they may vary from quotation day to the confirmation day due to changes in the market (gasoline prices, changes in tickets fee, etc.) that are out of our control. Please verify your , phone number, and country of origin before submitting the request. If you do not receive an or call from our staff in 48 hours, please resend information. STEP 2 AVAILABILITY Upon receipt of your request, we will verify if selected date(s) are available. If the date is available, we will notify you through and assign a number to your request. Please refer to this number when contacting us. We will hold the selected date(s) for two (2) days. You should contact us via confirming your decision, selected dates, method of payment, and any other pertinent information related to your birding trip. Although our birding trips are offered on a private basis, if you are willing to share the selected date(s) with other birders, please let us know. We will not guarantee dates or book any half/full/multi-day or all-inclusive birding package unless we receive a nonrefundable deposit or full payment within the next seven (7) days. The receipt of your non-refundable deposit shall be deemed to be consent on all steps included in these General Terms and Conditions. STEP 3 RESERVATIONS Reservations and a non-refundable deposit are always required in order to guarantee selected date(s) on half, full or multi-day birding trips and all-inclusive birding packages. Special Terms and Conditions apply for groups (travel agents, tour wholesalers, tour operators, clubs, etc.), please contact our Group Department. Reservations are confirmed when we receive your nonrefundable deposit. Always confirm prices since it may vary from quotation day to the confirmation day due to changes in the market. STEP 4 PAYMENT On basic birding trips (half, full or multi-days), a nonrefundable deposit is always required to guarantee the date. A non-refundable deposit will be requested as follows. HALF AND FULL BIRDING TRIPS 25% pp upon reservation 50% pp two weeks in advance 100% pp less than 7 days before trip MULTI-DAY BIRDING TRIPS When you book more than one birding day (half or full, or a combination of both) payment in full is required for the first day to guarantee selected date(s). Terms and balance will vary depending on the total number of selected activities/days. ALL-INCLUSIVE BIRDING PACKAGES For all-inclusive birding packages, non-refundable deposit is required as follows: $500 per person, double room $800 per person, single room Balance due on all birding trips or packages should be paid and received by us at least four weeks before selected date(s).

2 CUSTOMIZED ITINERARIES On customized itineraries there is a non-refundable fee of $125 per proposal (up to 2 itineraries), which will be deducted from the land cost once a birding trip is selected and the nonrefundable deposit per person is received. Upon receipt of your full payment you will receive your travel documents consisting of final itineraries, hotel, mailing list (if applicable), and any other pertinent information. GROUPS Groups organized and/or coordinated by travel agents, tour wholesalers, tour operators, clubs, schools or extended families booking a birding trip (half/full/multi day or allinclusive birding packages) should follow these General Terms and Conditions and any additional conditions established by our Group Division. Itineraries and designed routes are copyrighted to Birding Puerto Rico and AdvenTours Puerto Rico. METHOD OF PAYMENT Non-refundable deposit or full-payment methods: Money orders: only US Post Office, Certified Mail Transfers: Western Union or Money Gram Direct Deposit to our bank Western Union, Money Gram or Direct Deposit funds should be available immediately. Payments should be made on behalf of Hilda Morales. Bank transfers should not be made without our written approval. Client is responsible for any charge from client s bank and/or our bank and should cover any differences due to currency conversion. Please remember that once we book a private birding trip for you, we will not sell other birding trip for the same day and time for the assigned Birder Guide. No birding trip or all-inclusive birding package will be honored if the balance due has not been received; henceforth, late payment will result in automatic cancellation of requested services. CONFIRMATION OF PAYMENT For half, full or multi day birding trips, we will proceed to send you an with confirmation of selected date(s) with all necessary information for pick-up or meeting point instructions on selected activity, including the Bird Checklist. Please acknowledge receipt of this information. PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE Prices on our brochures are subject to change without notice. Please confirm price by written before booking a birding trip. A price list is updated every four months this allows us to offer discounts directly to our clients and not through third parties or discount coupons companies. Prices are effective on January 1 of each year. We will keep our prices competitive, but there could be a surcharge due to fluctuation on gasoline or diesel costs, if necessary. STEP 5 CANCELLATION POLICIES All deposits are non-refundable, unless we are unable to offer the tour due to reasons out of our control, such as a hurricane, earthquake or critical political issues in our territory. If we need to end the trip because our non-smoking policy is not followed, no refund will be issued. Written notice is required for all cancellations before departure date. Please, do not leave voice messages or send text messages; you must contact us on the phone and send written cancellation notice via or certified mail. Do not assume that we have received the message, always confirm with our staff. Always ask for written cancellation policy for groups or allinclusive birding packages. Refunds will be made within 30 days of approval. HALF/FULL/MULTI DAY BIRDING TRIPS REFUNDS The deposit is non-refundable; refund for balance will be issued as follows: 100% 3 weeks before the birding trip 50% 2 weeks before the birding trip 0% Less than 7 days before trip

3 CANCELLATION POLICIES (Cont.) ALL-INCLUSIVE / CUSTOMIZED ITINERARIES The deposit is non-refundable; refund for balance will be issued as follows: 100% 8 weeks before the trip 75% 4 weeks before the trip 50% 3 weeks before the trip Cancellations received 7 days before departure will be subject to an additional handling charge of $125 per person and a service fee of 15% of the land birding trip rate, plus any other non-refundable expenses incurred for hotels, transportation, or other arrangements contracted for. CANCELED BIRDING TRIPS If for any reason we must withdraw an advertised departure (special offers) on which you are booked and you are unable to accept alternate date which will be offered, all monies paid to us on the canceled trips will be refunded within 45 days. CANCELLATIONS (after departure) There can be no adjustment for unused portions of a program unless arrangements have been made with our company prior to departure. Refunds will not be made for unused portions of birding trips, tours or meals. No refund for last minute cancellations or no show at meeting point, or pick-up hotel/port. If you must return home during your birding trip, you will be refunded the net funds that we can recover from contractors for the services not used. Deposits are non-refundable. If we must terminate the birding trip due to circumstances beyond our control, you will be refunded the net funds that we can recover from contractors for the services not used. Applications for any refund must be made in written to us within 5 days of birding trip termination. INSURANCE Birding Puerto Rico and/or AdvenTours are not responsible for the loss, damage, theft of luggage or personal belongings, or for personal injury, accidents or illness. For your protection, it is important and strongly recommended that you have or purchase adequate insurance, including trip cancellation and interruption of trip through your authorized travel agent. Group coordinator or travel agent is responsible for the purchase of adequate insurance plan. LOGGING AND MEALS We reserve the right to substitute hotels, if it should be necessary, from those mentioned in our itineraries. Breakfasts, luncheons, and dinners are included only as specified in the itineraries for our all-inclusive birding packages. On half, full, or multi days birding trips, breakfast, lunch, and dinner is not included in the price. If you require a special diet due to health condition, we should know it before booking your all-inclusive birding packages. ADMISSIONS AND FEES Entertainment, special events, sightseeing tours, entrance fees, local guides, tips and service charge are included only as stipulated in the itinerary. Half or full day birding trips do not include tip to the driver or Birder Guide. TRANSPORTATION Some birding trips do not include transportation since you will meet your Guide on site. Meeting point information will be including on your Invoice or Voucher. SMOKING POLICY Due to the nature of our trips and our company policy, smoking is not permitted under any circumstances during our meals, meetings, tours or birding trips.

4 SMOKING POLICY (Cont.) Your Birder Guide is allergic to smoke, please be advised that your birding trip will end if this rule is not followed, no refund will be issued. New regulations for smokers have been established by the Government on public spaces and buildings, hotels, rooms, restaurants, offices, etc. Selected hotels/rooms and restaurants follow non-smoking policies, please follow their rules. For donations for the advancement of a cure for respiratory diseases, please contact the Puerto Rican Lung Association at or their page in Facebook. Our drivers, Tour Guides, and Birder Guides are not allowed to smoke at any moment. If one of our guides or drivers smoke during a trip, please us. If you are a smoker, please contact us to assign a Birder Guide that is not allergic to smoke. Nevertheless, you should follow our non-smoking policy. TOUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE All items of a personal nature including wine, liquor, soft drinks, mineral water, laundry, items not on regular menus, accident and baggage insurance, end-of-tour gratuity to the driver or Birder Guide, and for any personal service rendered and/or not included as part of the itinerary, and any items not specifically listed as included. RESPONSIBILITY Birding Puerto Rico and AdvenTours act only as agents of the hotels, bus, and boat companies, restaurants or owner or contractors, or by persons in their employ, providing accommodations, transportation or other services. We are not responsible or liable for any act, injury, loss, death, accident, damage, delay, omission, irregularity or nonperformance occurring in connection with these arrangements. Birding Puerto Rico and AdvenTours reserve the right to decline or retain any person(s) as member of the birding trip at any time. IMPORTANT NOTES We reserve the right to decline or retain any person(s) as member of the tour at any time. Upon arrival to Puerto Rico, give us a call at (787) We need to have a cell phone and hotel number where we can contact you Avoid sending us last minute s or text messages for instructions or arrival confirmation, all communication should be via telephone at (787) Maps or GPS are not allowed during any of our birding trips. We do not use nor allow, playback during our birding trips. Our birders are trained in birding by hearing. Playbacks will be used to confirm the sound of a bird, or to allow our clients to listen to the sound and know which bird we are looking for. When looking for the Screech Owl or Nightjar, we use LED or lower intensity lights. We use our own spotlights. We love photography, but we also love our birds. Please do not use flash when taking pictures of your favorite birds. Weather is unpredictable. If you travel after a tropical disturbance (heavy rains, tropical depression, storm or hurricane) the behavior, location, and total number of birds to be seeing could be affected. Your Birder Guide will serve you in all matter pertaining to the trip and will ensure that you have a carefree and enjoyable trip. This does not apply to self-guided tours or packages where you travel on your own. A comprehensive birding program is included as indicated in each itinerary. Please note that when see or view are specified in the itineraries, it denotes an outside view; visit or short stop at usually includes entry. The only way we promote our birding trips is through our websites and brochures, Cornell, the Puerto Rico Tourism Board, Tweeter, and Facebook, plus reciprocal links in a several sites related to birds. All the information in our websites is updated constantly.

5 IMPORTANT NOTES (Cont.) Any special offer or discount, if applicable, is sold directly by us, not by third parties. The discount goes directly to the client, not through a discount or coupon company. For maximum enjoyment of your birding trip, you should be in a good physical and mental health, able and willing to actively participate in solo or group events, and to walk and move about when we visit places of interest which can be reached only on foot, and able to participate in van, boat, kayak or bike trips. Trip participants who require any form of assistance must be accompanied by a travel companion who is capable of, and totally responsible for, providing assistance. CRUISE SHIPS Cruise ships should confirm and prepay minimum of passengers on requested tours at least 7 days before selected date. If additional passengers have been added to the list to reach a maximum of capacity per trip, payment should be made cash on site after the tour and before departure of cruise ship from the port. We cannot guarantee tours without written commitment of cruise ship line with the minimum of passengers per selected trip. Because our programs require walking and due to space restrictions, customized birding trips for the handicapped can be made. It should also be noted that there are attractions which require walking to observe and enjoy. Birding trips are available any day during the year; nevertheless, birds are more active from October through April. Our birding trips are offered on a private basis, we do not mix clients. During the Winter Season, we promote all-inclusive birding packages on specific dates which require a minimum of people to guarantee the birding trip. These packages are open to anyone who wants to come to Puerto Rico. For people with allergies or extreme breathing conditions, air quality is not the best during the Hurricane Season due to the Dust of the Sahara, ashes of Monserrat Volcano combined with possible high concentration of mold and humidity. These conditions could happen a few times and the frequency could vary from one year to the other. Through the Puerto Rican Association of Interpretation and Education, Inc. (APIE), we coordinate CBC in Mayagüez, Maricao, and Vieques Island; plus we participate as volunteers at El Yunque. If you are planning to visit Puerto Rico during December, please book your birding trip not later than October. Revised December 19, 2012.