Terms & Conditions

Wild Focus Expeditions LLC is an adventure travel company and tour operator specializing in photographic, cultural, wildlife and landscape adventure tours. These terms and conditions (the “Agreement”) describe what you are legally entitled to expect from us when you book your trip through us, in addition to the important obligation you make as a customer that effects your legal rights.  The terms “we”, “us”, “our” and “WFE” refer to Wild Focus Expeditions LLC. The term “you”, “participant” and “client” refers to the customer visiting our website, and/or booking a trip with us.

Your Acceptance Of These Terms And Conditions

By booking with Wild Focus Expeditions LLC, you are agreeing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and any additional terms and conditions of any Supplier that are applicable to your booking, travel arrangements. The lead participant in a group traveling with WFE assumes the responsibility of sharing these Terms and Conditions with each trip participant, including the payment of all amounts when due. It is the responsibility of each participant to read our Terms and Conditions in its entirety. WFE is not responsible for any participant’s unawareness of the Terms and Condition due to the failure of the lead participant to share this information with all other participants/clients on that trip. If you do not agree with our terms and conditions then you must not make a booking with us.

You acknowledge and agree that we may change the terms and conditions from time to time and that those changes become effective immediately. You agree to be bound by the terms and conditions that are in effect at the time of your travel or cancellation, whichever applies.

You represent and warrant that (a) you are of sufficient age to use our services for travel and our website and can create binding legal obligations in connection with your use, (b) you are legally authorized to act on behalf of those you represent and accept these terms and conditions on their behalf, (c) the information supplied to you or members of your group is true and correct. You are responsible for informing such other persons of all terms and conditions applicable to their travel arrangements. You understand that you are financially responsible for any use of our services or website by you and those for whom you make bookings.

You agree that any violation of any such terms and conditions may result in  (a) the cancellation of your reservation or purchase, (b) your forfeiture of any monies paid for your reservation or purchase, (c) you being denied access to the applicable travel related product or service, and (d) our right to debit your account for any costs we incur as a result of such violation.

Payment Policies

  • A non-refundable 25% deposit is due upon booking and calculated on the cost of the expedition.
  • A second deposit of 25% of the trip price is due no later than 180 days prior to departure for most trips. If a participant is booking a trip within the 180 days prior to departure, then the first (25%) deposit and the second (25%) payment are due at time of booking (50%). For trips to the Antarctic, second payment is due 10 months prior to departure.
  • The remaining balance is due and must be paid prior to 120 days prior to departure for most trips. Antarctic trips final payment is due 180 days prior to departure. For most of our trips with the exception of Antarctica, if a participant is booking within 120 days prior to departure, then the full cost of the trip is due (100%) at time of booking. The final payment for all of our Antarctic trips is due 6 month prior to trip departure.
  • An email invoice should be sent at each installment alerting the clients who have not paid that payment is due.
  • A client that has not paid in full will not be eligible to join a Wild Focus Expedition.
  • WFE prices are quoted on our website in US dollars and are subject to change without notice. Wild Focus Expeditions LLC reserves the right to implement a surcharge or price change without prior notice in the event of changes occurring in currency exchange rates, air fares, surcharges, lodging rate changes or any other charges applicable to the trip.

Client Expedition Cancellation and Refund Policies

  • WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT ALL CLIENTS PURCHASE TRAVEL INSURANCE to cover unexpected cancellation reasons, sickness or inability to travel during the designated dates. A list of recommended insurance companies can be found on our website: https://wildfocusexpeditions.com/travel-insurance/.
  • In order for a client to cancel their participation on a trip, we must be notified via email (at info@wildfocusexpeditions.com). The below-mentioned penalties will be applied and computed as of the date of receipt of the written cancellation. If a participant needs to cancel via email, it is their responsibility to follow up and confirm that we received their cancellation request.
  • The 25% deposit is non-refundable on all trips, EXCEPT in extreme circumstances (such as death).
  • If the second payment (25% of trip price) has been received, it is fully refundable less the first deposit and any prepaid expenses until 150 days prior to departure. Antarctic trips are fully refundable less the first deposit and prepaid expenses until 8 months prior to departure (thereafter it becomes nonrefundable).
  • If the remaining balance (final payment) has been paid in full, it is refundable less the first deposit and any prepaid expenses until 119 days prior to departure. Thereafter it becomes nonrefundable. Antarctic trips become non-refundable six months prior to trip departure.
  • No refunds are given within 119 days (180 days for the Antarctic) or less of the departure date.

Tipping

On safaris and expeditions, tips for guides, drivers, porters and servers in restaurants will not be included unless otherwise stated.

Single Supplements and Double Occupancy

All prices quoted are based on double occupancy. A single supplement (detailed in each individual itinerary) will be charged to participants who specifically request a single accommodation subject to availability. Single travelers who are willing to share with another single traveler (of the same gender) will not be charged a single supplement, subject to the availability of a roommate. However if a roommate is unavailable to share accommodations, then the full single supplement fee will be charged.

Defaulting on a Scheduled Payment

If a scheduled payment is not able to be met by a client or not paid on time then the reservation will be at risk of being forfeited. A client that has missed a payment or is unable to make a future payment is responsible for contacting Wild Focus Expeditions and requesting a payment extension. Each case will be evaluated independently and a solution will be determined at the discretion of the Wild Focus Expeditions leader.

Changes of Itinerary, Pricing and Cancellations

Wild Focus Expeditions reserves the right to change published expedition itineraries, dates, accommodations and or trip leaders which we deem insignificant and are due to reasons beyond our control. If an itinerary must be changed or delayed for reasons outside of the control of Wild Focus Expeditions (e.g. political unrest, strikes, severe weather, government intervention, pandemic diseases, acts of God, war, earthquakes, flooding etc.) then the cost of delays or changes is not included. Wild Focus Expeditions will not be responsible for delays prior to the departure of the trip, during this tour or at any time and will not be responsible for any additional cost or loss which may be caused as a result of these delays.

On ship-based expeditions, should bad weather prevent our vessel from departing port on schedule, no refunds or extra days will be offered. It is understood that these trips are based on nature, and WFE cannot be help responsible for extreme weather.

At Wild Focus Expeditions, in order to secure the best possible pricing and availability, we are often paying large sums of money to operators up to two years in advance.  To provide our clients with the best possible price, we do not automatically build in a pricing allowance to cover potential cost increases. While we do everything in our power to keep the prices the same as published, we are however occasionally faced with exceptional cost increases due to currency fluctuations, increased country taxes or lodging increases that we are unable to anticipate and/or accommodate. For this reason advertised prices are subject to change. All prices are quoted in United States dollars US$ and must be paid in US$.

Wild Focus Expeditions reserves the right to cancel any trip prior to departure for any reason whatsoever, including logistical problems that may impede trip operations or insufficient sign-up of participants.

If a trip is canceled due to “force majeure” (acts of God, actual or threatened, war, insurrection, riots, civil action, decisions by governments or governing authority, labor strikes, earthquakes, flooding,  technical or maintenance problems with transport, changes of schedules of air carriers, terrorist activity or threat thereof, industrial action, natural or nuclear activity, epidemic, pandemic, illness, physical injury, quarantine, medical or customs or immigration regulation, delay, or cancellation, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events outside of our control), Wild Focus Expeditions will do everything it can to refund the portion of the trip cost not already advanced to suppliers minus the first deposit and use its best efforts to recover and refund the balance as promptly as possible. However Wild Focus Expeditions do not guarantee the recovery or refund of any or all of the advanced payments made. Wild Focus Expeditions cannot accept liability, provide any refund, or pay any compensation where the performance of our contractual obligations is prevented of affected, or you otherwise suffer any loss, injury, death, inconvenience or damage as a result of circumstances amounting to “force majeure”.

In the case of a trip receiving insufficient sign-ups this will normally be canceled a minimum of two months prior to departure. In such a case Wild Focus Expeditions will make the utmost effort to refund participants in full. Wild Focus Expeditions is not responsible for expenses incurred by trip participants in preparation for the canceled trip (e.g. non-refundable advance purchases, inoculations, equipment, visa fees etc.) or for any additional arrangements the trip member may have solicited prior to the group departure date. In most cases, WFE will apply deposits already made to the same or similar trip in the future so that no monies are lost by participants.

Expedition Participant Obligations

It is the responsibility of each Wild Focus Expeditions’ trip participant to select a trip according to their physical ability and interest and to be of sufficiently good health. It is the full responsibility of each trip member to be fully prepared for the trip with reference to the Wild Focus Expeditions pre-departure information (e.g. ensure validity of passport, visas where necessary, travel insurance, inoculations, air-travel, medications, equipment, etc.). It is also the full responsibility of each trip member to make Wild Focus Expeditions aware of any medical or dietary conditions at the time of booking. We reserve the right to deny trip participation accordingly.

Photographic Model Release

Wild Focus Expeditions reserves the right to take photographic or video records throughout any of its expeditions of trip participants. Participants should be aware that Wild Focus Expeditions has the right for use of any such photographic or video records for promotional and/or commercial purposes without remuneration to the participant. Any individual who does not wish to be represented in photographic or video records should notify Wild Focus Expeditions in writing before the end of the expedition and their wishes will be respected.

Pre-Existing Medical Conditions/Persons with Disabilities

The nature of many of the destinations we travel to and the activities involved means that in some cases they may be unsuitable for those who use a wheelchair or have a lack of mobility. However, we will be delighted to discuss the feasibility of creating a tailor-made itinerary for you that takes your level of mobility into consideration.

It is essential that you advise us before your booking if you have any disability or pre-existing medical condition which may affect your trip, or if you have any special requirements as a result of any disability or medical condition (including any which affect the booking process) so that we can assist you in considering the suitability of the arrangements and/or in making the booking. Full details must be confirmed in writing at time of booking and whenever any change in the condition or disability occurs. WFE will make all reasonable effort to accommodate requests, but cannot be responsible if ADA accommodations are not available. Any accommodations provided will be at the sole expense of the guest requiring the accommodation.  Please note that accommodations outside of the USA many not be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and may not have wheelchair accessibility.

Unfortunately, our Expedition Leaders are unable to offer additional assistance to participants with limited mobility and all such assistance will need to be provided by whoever the participant is traveling with. WFE has the right to request a letter from your doctor confirming your fitness to travel.

Limitation of Liability

Wild Focus Expeditions gives notice that it does not own or operate any entity that provides services for your expedition, including but not limited to transportation providers, hotel accommodations, food service providers, local guides and porters, equipment suppliers, ground and safari operators, etc. These services are purchased from various independent suppliers who are not affiliated with Wild Focus Expeditions in any way. Wild Focus Expeditions, its owners, employees, officers, or contractors shall not be held liable for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any such person or entity, nor for any act or inaction of any other third party not under its control. Without limitation Wild Focus Expeditions is not liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damage, injury, death, loss, accident, delay, inconvenience, or irregularity of any kind which may be occasioned by reason of any act or omission beyond its control, including, without limitation, any willful or negligent act, failure to act, or breach of contract of any third party, such as an airline, train, hotel, restaurant or food supplier, bus, taxi, van, or safari operator, or local outfitter or guide, whether or not it uses the Wild Focus Expeditions name, which is expected to or does supply any goods or services for your expedition. Wild Focus Expeditions cannot be liable for any loss, injury, death, or inconvenience due to delay or changes in schedule; overbooking or downgrading of accommodations; technical problems of any aircraft, vessel, automotive vehicle or other equipment or instrumentality; strikes; war; insolvency default of any third party; acts of government; bites or attacks by animals, insects or pests; sickness; the lack of appropriate medical care; evacuation to same, if necessary; weather; strikes; acts of God; acts of terrorism or the threat thereof; quarantine; epidemics or the threat thereof; criminal activity; or any other cause beyond its control. In no event will Wild Focus Expeditions be responsible for incidental, consequential or special damage or loss suffered by any person. By confirming your participation in this program, you understand, agree with, and agree to be legally bound by the terms of the release and waiver of liability set forth herein.

Compulsory Arbitration

The parties agree to resolve any controversy or claim concerning this website, web page, the literature for a trip, or the trip itself, by binding arbitration in Santa Fé, New Mexico, USA in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then existing, and judgment on the arbitration award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction over the subject matter of the controversy. In any such arbitration the substantive but not procedural law of the State of New Mexico shall apply. This agreement to arbitrate does not waive or modify the liability release contained in this document. The arbitrator and not any federal, state or local court or agency shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability, conscionability, or formation of this contract, including but not limited to any claim that all or any part of this contract is void or voidable.