Fair & Transparent

Booking & Refunds

1. Booking Process & Payments

To guarantee the highest quality of service and secure logistics such as transport, specialized guides, and national park entries, our booking process requires upfront confirmation.

1.1 Confirming Your Reservation

Day Tours (San Pedro de Atacama): Require 100% full payment at the time of booking to secure your spots.
Expeditions (Salar de Uyuni): Require a [e.g., 50%] minimum deposit. The remaining balance must be paid at our office in San Pedro de Atacama before departure.

1.2 Administrative Fee

Important: All processed refunds are subject to a [e.g., 10%] administrative fee. This strictly covers unrecoverable transaction costs, gateway processing fees, and operational planning expenses.

Prices do not include entrance fees to national parks or indigenous communities unless explicitly stated in the tour inclusions.

2. Standard Cancellations

If you need to alter or cancel your travel plans voluntarily, the following refund structures apply based on the advance notice provided.

2.1 San Pedro de Atacama Day Tours

48+ Hours Notice: 100% refund (minus the [e.g., 10%] administrative fee) or free rescheduling subject to availability.
Less than 48 Hours Notice: 0% refund. Cancellations made within this window are fully penalized as logistics and guide rosters are locked.

2.2 Salar de Uyuni Expeditions (Multi-day)

15+ Days Notice: Full refund of deposit (minus the [e.g., 10%] administrative fee).
7 to 14 Days Notice: 50% refund of the deposit.
Less than 7 Days Notice: 0% refund. Due to the complex international logistics involving Bolivian operators, 4x4 allocations, and accommodations, late cancellations result in total loss of the deposit.

3. Weather, Climate & Force Majeure

The Altiplano is characterized by extreme and rapidly changing weather conditions. Phenomena such as the "Invierno Altiplánico" (heavy rains in summer), snowstorms, high winds, or freezing temperatures can directly impact our operations.

3.1 Cancellations by Local Authorities (CONAF)

Safety is our absolute priority. If national parks, reserves, or roads are officially closed by Chilean or Bolivian authorities (e.g., CONAF, Carabineros) due to weather or natural disasters, we will not operate the tour. In this scenario, you will be offered:

Rescheduling to the next available safe date.
An alternative tour of equal value.
A refund for the cancelled tour (minus the [e.g., 10%] administrative transaction fee).

3.2 Modifications En-Route

If weather conditions deteriorate drastically during a tour, our expert guides have the authority to alter the itinerary or return to base to guarantee passenger safety. No partial refunds are issued for itinerary truncations dictated by sudden force majeure events.

4. Cross-Border Logistics (Uyuni Expeditions)

Expeditions to the Salar de Uyuni involve crossing the Chile-Bolivia border (Hito Cajón), subjecting the tour to international regulations and geopolitical realities.

4.1 Border Closures & Social Unrest

If the border is unexpectedly closed, or if strikes, road blocks, or social protests in Bolivia prevent the expedition from commencing safely, [Company Name] will attempt to reschedule your expedition. If rescheduling is impossible, a refund (minus administrative fees) will be provided.

4.2 Itinerary Modifications in Bolivia

Due to the rugged nature of the Bolivian Altiplano, specific stops or accommodations may be altered due to flooded salt flats, snow, or road closures. We reserve the right to modify the route to guarantee passenger safety without this constituting grounds for a refund.

4.3 Passenger Documentation

It is the sole responsibility of the passenger to carry a valid passport, required visas, migration papers (PDI ticket), and necessary vaccines. If a passenger is denied entry to Bolivia by border authorities due to missing or invalid documents, the tour is automatically canceled for that individual with a 0% refund.

5. No-Shows & Health Emergencies

5.1 No-Shows and Punctuality

Many of our tours (such as Geyser del Tatio) depart in the early hours of the morning. Passengers must be ready at their hotel lobby or the designated meeting point at the stipulated time. If you miss the transport due to oversleeping or tardiness, it is classified as a "No-Show."

No-Shows are strictly non-refundable and cannot be rescheduled.

5.2 Altitude and Health

San Pedro de Atacama and the surrounding Altiplano reach altitudes exceeding 4,000 meters. If a passenger feels ill or suffers from severe altitude sickness prior to a tour and decides not to participate, standard cancellation policies apply. We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance that covers medical cancellations.

If our guides determine that a passenger is not in a suitable physical state to safely undertake a high-altitude expedition (e.g., severe symptoms of hypoxia), the guide reserves the right to deny boarding for the passenger's safety. This scenario is non-refundable.