These terms apply to every trip Andes Adventure Visuals runs: Guided Photography expeditions and workshops, and Trekking & Mountaineering. Most of them apply to all trips. The last two sections add terms for each kind of trip.
About These Terms
Who We Are
Andes Adventure Visuals (AAV) is Andes Adventure Visuals E.I.R.L., a company registered in Peru with RUC 20614900700. In these terms, "AAV," "we" and "us" mean that business, and "you" means every traveler named in a booking.
Acceptance
Paying the deposit confirms that every traveler in the booking has read and accepts these terms. The person who books is responsible for sharing them with the rest of the group.
Updates
We may update these terms. Changes are posted on this page with a new date and apply only to bookings made after that date.
Booking & Payment
Deposit
A 50% deposit confirms your booking and secures your dates, guides, permits and tickets. Your booking is confirmed once we receive the deposit and confirm it in writing.
Balance
The remaining 50% is due 60 days before departure. If you book within 60 days of departure, the full trip price is due at booking.
Late Balance
If the balance hasn't arrived by the due date, we may release your spots and treat the booking as cancelled on that date. The cancellation schedule then applies.
Payment Methods & Fees
All prices are in US dollars. We accept bank transfer and Visa or Mastercard. Card payments carry a 3% processing fee on any card. This fee is non-refundable and is charged on top of, never as part of, the amounts in the cancellation schedule. Bank transfer fees are paid by the sender.
Traveler Details
Machu Picchu tickets and some park permits are issued by name. Please send each traveler's full name, passport number, nationality and date of birth with the deposit, exactly as they appear on the passport.
If You Cancel
Notice before departure | What we keep | What happens to the rest |
|---|---|---|
| 61 days or more | 30% of the trip price | The rest of your deposit is refunded, minus transfer costs and card fees |
| 31–60 days | 75% of the trip price | The rest is refunded, minus transfer costs and card fees |
| 30 days or less, no-show, or leaving the trip early | 100% of the trip price | No refund |
Written Notice
Cancellations must be made in writing by email. The date we receive your notice sets which tier in the table applies.
Why Part of the Deposit Is Kept
From the day you book, we pay for name-specific tickets and permits and commit to guides, horsemen, cooks, host families and lodging. Those costs can't be recovered if you cancel.
Refunds
Refunds are sent within 30 business days of your notice, by the method you paid with. Bank transfer costs and card fees are deducted and not refunded.
Changes to Your Booking
Name Changes
Name changes are free until tickets and permits are issued. After that, you pay the cost of new tickets or permits, subject to availability.
Date Changes
You can change your dates once, free of charge, if you ask more than 90 days before departure. This is subject to availability and the cost of reissuing any tickets or permits. Requests made 90 days or less before departure are treated as a cancellation.
Group Size
Every trip is private and priced for the number of travelers in your quote. Guides, horses, cooks and transport cost the same with fewer people. If a traveler cancels, their charges follow the cancellation schedule, and we'll re-quote the per-person price for the rest of the group.
If We Cancel
Events Beyond Our Control
Sometimes a trip can't go ahead because of things outside our control, such as severe weather, natural disasters, road, trail or park closures, strikes, civil unrest, government action or epidemics. If we have to cancel before departure for one of these reasons, the cancellation schedule applies, based on the date we cancel. Where we can, we'll offer you another date instead.
Cancellation for Any Other Reason
If we cancel your trip for any other reason, you get a full refund of everything you've paid us.
Costs Booked Separately
We can't refund flights, hotels or other costs you booked separately, so we recommend flexible tickets and travel insurance. We aren't liable for delays, changes or extra costs caused by events outside our control.
On the Trip
Your Guide's Decisions
Your guide may change the route, the schedule or the campsites, or turn the group around, because of weather, trail conditions or a traveler's health. Their decision is final. Services missed for these reasons are not refunded.
Leaving Early
Services missed because a traveler leaves early are not refunded. Any extra transport, lodging or evacuation costs are paid by the traveler or their insurer.
Conduct
You agree to follow your guide's instructions, respect local communities and the environment, and avoid behavior that puts yourself or others at risk. Alcohol abuse and leaving the group without permission are not allowed.
Removal From a Trip
We may remove a traveler without a refund if they break these terms, put themselves or others at risk, hid a medical condition, ignore their guide's instructions or disrupt the trip.
Travel Insurance
Strongly Recommended
We strongly recommend travel insurance for every traveler. A good policy covers trip cancellation and interruption, medical treatment, and emergency evacuation including helicopter rescue, up to the highest point of your trip. Climbs need a policy that covers mountaineering.
Traveling Without Insurance
If you travel without insurance, you are responsible for all medical, rescue and evacuation costs, and for any money kept under the cancellation schedule.
Health, Fitness & Altitude
Medical Disclosure
You must tell us about any medical conditions, allergies, medications or anything else that may affect your safety or the group's before departure. Not doing so may lead to removal from the trip without a refund.
Fitness & Experience
Each trip page lists the fitness and experience it needs, and you're responsible for meeting them. If your guide judges that you can't continue safely, they may stop you from going on.
Altitude
Every trip reaches high altitude in remote terrain, far from medical care. We recommend arriving at least two nights early to acclimatize before any trip starts, and longer before a climb.
Risk & Liability
Inherent Risks
By taking part, you accept the risks that come with high-altitude trekking, mountaineering and adventure photography. These include altitude sickness, falls, rockfall, avalanches, crevasses, landslides, sudden weather changes, wildlife, equipment failure, limited medical care, delayed rescue or evacuation, foodborne illness, and political or civil disruption.
Liability Waiver
Every traveler must sign our liability waiver before the trip. Travelers who don't sign it can't take part, and no refund is given.
Third-Party Providers
Some services, such as horses and mules, transport, lodging and assistant guides, are run by local providers. We choose them carefully but aren't liable for their acts or omissions.
Transport
Travel by vehicle, horse or mule carries its own risks. We aren't liable for injuries or losses during transport run by third parties.
Personal Belongings
We aren't responsible for personal belongings that are lost, stolen or damaged.
Guided Photography
Camera Gear
You're responsible for your own camera gear. We aren't liable for equipment that is lost, stolen or damaged by weather, dust, water or falls, so we recommend insuring it.
Shooting Plans
Shoots are planned around light and weather. Moving or changing a shoot because of conditions is not grounds for a refund.
Drones
Drones may only be flown where Peruvian law and park rules allow it, and with your guide's approval.
Photos of You
Photos or videos taken by our guides may include you, and we may use them for marketing. If you'd rather not appear, tell us in writing before the trip.
Trekking & Mountaineering
Summits Aren't Guaranteed
Reaching a summit or pass depends on weather, snow and route conditions, and on every climber's pace and health. A summit is never guaranteed, and turning back is not grounds for a refund.
Turnaround Times
Climbs have a turnaround time. If the summit hasn't been reached by then, the guide will turn back. If one climber on a rope team has to turn back, the whole rope team may have to turn back too.
Skills & Experience
Each climb lists the skills and experience it needs. Your guide may check your skills before or during the climb and may stop you from going higher if you can't move safely on the terrain.
Technical Gear
Gear we provide or rent to you stays our property, and you pay for any of it that is lost or damaged through misuse. Your own gear must be in good condition and suited to the route. Your guide may refuse gear that isn't safe.
Your Content
Reviews, Photos & Testimonials
If you share reviews, photos or testimonials with us, you keep ownership and give AAV a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use them for marketing.
Governing Law & Complaints
Governing Law
These terms are governed by the laws of Peru.
Complaints
If something goes wrong, please tell us first so we can put it right. You can also file a complaint in our Libro de Reclamaciones (complaints book), available on request, or with INDECOPI, Peru's consumer protection agency.
Full Agreement
These terms, your quote, our Privacy Policy and the liability waiver make up the full agreement between you and AAV. Where your quote says something different, the quote applies.