Mindo Bird Watching — Terms and Conditions for Tours and Activities
Last updated: October 21, 2025
These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) apply to all tours, activities, and guiding services provided by Mindo Bird Watching (“we,” “our,” “us”). By booking or participating in a tour, you agree to these Terms.
1) Booking and Payment
- Preferred booking window: Please book at least 48 hours in advance.
- Minimum booking window: All reservations must be completed and confirmed at least 24 hours before the tour start time. Requests inside 24 hours are subject to availability and may incur a late booking fee.
- Day-before bookings: Tours booked the day before must be paid in full, in advance, via Zelle or bank transfer to be confirmed.
- Payment requirement: All tours must be paid in full in advance. A booking is confirmed only upon receipt of payment and written confirmation from us.
- Preferred booking window: Please book at least 48 hours in advance.
- Minimum booking window: All reservations must be completed and confirmed at least 24 hours before the tour start time. Requests inside 24 hours are subject to availability and may incur a late booking fee.
- Day-before bookings: Tours booked the day before must be paid in full, in advance, via Zelle or bank transfer to be confirmed.
- Payment requirement: All tours must be paid in full in advance. A booking is confirmed only upon receipt of payment and written confirmation from us.
2) Pricing and Minimum Participants
- Minimum group size: Pricing is based on a minimum of two (2) paying participants.
- Single traveler policy: If only one person is booked, the single traveler must pay the equivalent of two participants unless we can accommodate you into another group. If we are able to add you to a group, we will adjust and refund any applicable difference.
- Minimum group size: Pricing is based on a minimum of two (2) paying participants.
- Single traveler policy: If only one person is booked, the single traveler must pay the equivalent of two participants unless we can accommodate you into another group. If we are able to add you to a group, we will adjust and refund any applicable difference.
3) Start Time and Meeting Point
- Standard start time: Tours begin at 5:00 AM.
- Pickup/meeting: Pickup location or meeting point will be pre-coordinated and confirmed in writing.
- Standard start time: Tours begin at 5:00 AM.
- Pickup/meeting: Pickup location or meeting point will be pre-coordinated and confirmed in writing.
4) Cancellations and Refunds (Client)
Notify us in writing to cancel your tour. Refunds are based on when we receive your written notice:
- 48 hours or more before the tour: 100% refund.
- The day before the tour: 50% refund.
- Less than 24 hours before the tour or No-Show: Non-refundable. No-Shows (failure to arrive at the designated meeting point at the scheduled time) are non-refundable.
- Refund method and timing: Approved refunds are issued to the original payment method. Processing times may vary by bank/processor.
Notify us in writing to cancel your tour. Refunds are based on when we receive your written notice:
- 48 hours or more before the tour: 100% refund.
- The day before the tour: 50% refund.
- Less than 24 hours before the tour or No-Show: Non-refundable. No-Shows (failure to arrive at the designated meeting point at the scheduled time) are non-refundable.
- Refund method and timing: Approved refunds are issued to the original payment method. Processing times may vary by bank/processor.
5) Rescheduling
- One-time reschedule is permitted if requested at least 48 hours before the start time, subject to availability.
- Requests inside 48 hours are treated as cancellations under Section 4.
- One-time reschedule is permitted if requested at least 48 hours before the start time, subject to availability.
- Requests inside 48 hours are treated as cancellations under Section 4.
6) Changes and Cancellations (Operator)
- We may modify, delay, or cancel a tour due to severe weather, safety concerns, guide illness, road closures, park restrictions, or other operational reasons.
- If we cancel before the tour begins, you may choose:
- A full refund of all payments made; or
- A reschedule to an alternative date (subject to availability).
- Tours canceled by the guide/operator are 100% refundable.
- We may modify, delay, or cancel a tour due to severe weather, safety concerns, guide illness, road closures, park restrictions, or other operational reasons.
- If we cancel before the tour begins, you may choose:
- A full refund of all payments made; or
- A reschedule to an alternative date (subject to availability).
- Tours canceled by the guide/operator are 100% refundable.
7) Participant Responsibilities and Assumption of Risk
- Fitness and readiness: You are responsible for assessing your fitness and informing us in advance of any medical conditions, allergies, or special requirements.
- Safety: Follow guide instructions at all times. Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.
- Gear: Wear appropriate clothing and footwear for early morning birding in cloud forest conditions (rain, mud, uneven terrain).
- Fitness and readiness: You are responsible for assessing your fitness and informing us in advance of any medical conditions, allergies, or special requirements.
- Safety: Follow guide instructions at all times. Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.
- Gear: Wear appropriate clothing and footwear for early morning birding in cloud forest conditions (rain, mud, uneven terrain).
8) Children/Minors
- Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent/legal guardian or provide a signed consent/waiver. Age limits or ratios may apply depending on route and conditions.
- Participants under 18 must be accompanied by a parent/legal guardian or provide a signed consent/waiver. Age limits or ratios may apply depending on route and conditions.
9) Third-Party Services
- Some tours may involve third-party providers (e.g., transport, lodges, reserves). Their terms may apply and can affect scheduling and refunds.
- Some tours may involve third-party providers (e.g., transport, lodges, reserves). Their terms may apply and can affect scheduling and refunds.
10) Force Majeure
- We are not responsible for delays, changes, or cancellations caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including extreme weather, natural disasters, strikes, epidemics, government actions, or transportation interruptions. However, we will treat this as a case by case scenario and will work with client to reschedule or refund.
- We are not responsible for delays, changes, or cancellations caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including extreme weather, natural disasters, strikes, epidemics, government actions, or transportation interruptions. However, we will treat this as a case by case scenario and will work with client to reschedule or refund.
11) Liability
- To the fullest extent permitted by law, our liability is limited to the amounts you paid for the applicable tour. We are not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages.
- To the fullest extent permitted by law, our liability is limited to the amounts you paid for the applicable tour. We are not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages.
12) Booking & Payment Methods
- We accept the following payment methods to confirm your booking:
- Zelle (USA)
- Banco Pichincha (local bank transfer within Ecuador)
- PayPal (Europe)
- All tours must be paid in full in advance. Your reservation is confirmed only upon receipt of payment and our written confirmation.
- We accept the following payment methods to confirm your booking:
- Zelle (USA)
- Banco Pichincha (local bank transfer within Ecuador)
- PayPal (Europe)
- All tours must be paid in full in advance. Your reservation is confirmed only upon receipt of payment and our written confirmation.
13) Contact
- For bookings, changes, or cancellations, please contact: tours@mindobirdwatching.com
- For bookings, changes, or cancellations, please contact: tours@mindobirdwatching.com
Notes:
- Currency: All prices are in USD unless otherwise stated.
- Taxes/fees: Park/entrance fees, government taxes, or third-party charges may change; if they increase prior to your tour, you agree to pay the difference where applicable.
- Currency: All prices are in USD unless otherwise stated.
- Taxes/fees: Park/entrance fees, government taxes, or third-party charges may change; if they increase prior to your tour, you agree to pay the difference where applicable.