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Refund & Change Policy

Andean Pathways is committed to managing changes and cancellations with maximum transparency and in compliance with the General Tourism Law (Law N° 29408) and the specific regulations of Peruvian governmental bodies that administer tourist resources (MINCETUR, DDC Cusco). We understand that unforeseen events can occur. Therefore, this policy details the procedures and applicable penalties for itinerary changes, booking cancellations, and the fund refund process. The application of penalties responds to the non-recoverable costs the agency assumes when securing non-refundable services with third parties, such as government permits and transportation tickets.

Core Content (Financial and Operational Clauses)

1. Cancellation Management and Penalties

  • Mandatory Communication: All cancellation requests must be notified in writing to Andean Pathways via the official contact email. The cancellation will take effect from the date of receipt of said communication.
  • Non-Refundable Costs (Special Permits): Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu and permits for the Inca Trail (and other limited-capacity routes) are issued by the DDC Cusco in the Traveler’s name. By government regulation, these are NON-REFUNDABLE, NON-TRANSFERABLE, and NON-MODIFIABLE in date. In case of cancellation, the total cost of these permits will be retained at 100% from the moment of their issuance.
  • Penalty Scale (Excluding Permits): For the rest of the services (accommodation, guides, transportation, meals), the following penalty scale will apply to the total contracted package amount:
Period Before Tour StartApplicable Penalty
More than 60 daysRetention of the initial deposit (Administrative fee and reservation costs).
Between 59 and 30 days30% of the total package cost (plus non-recoverable costs).
Between 29 and 15 days60% of the total package cost.
Less than 15 days100% of the total package cost (No Show).

2. Requests for Changes and Itinerary Modifications

  • Date Changes (Subject to Availability): Requests for date changes are subject to the availability of services and providers (hotels, trains, flights) on the new desired date. The Traveler must assume any tariff difference applicable due to the season or the provider.
  • Inca Trail Modification: Due to strict DDC regulation, Inca Trail permits do not allow date changes. Any attempt to modify the date is considered a cancellation of the original permit (100% loss of that value) and the need to purchase a new permit (if available), with the total cost assumed by the Traveler.
  • Minor Changes by the Agency (Force Majeure): Andean Pathways reserves the right to make minor changes to the itinerary (e.g., train schedule, change of hotel to one of equal or superior category) due to external factors (weather, blockades, strikes). These changes do not entitle the Traveler to a refund. If the change is substantial (modification of the main route), an alternative of equivalent value or a refund of the unused portion will be offered, in accordance with Peruvian Law.

3. Refund Procedure and Deadlines

  • Basis for Refund: The amount to be refunded will be calculated by taking the total cost paid by the Traveler, minus the amounts retained for penalties and the non-recoverable costs already incurred (e.g., tickets, bank fees, administrative expenses).
  • Processing Time: Approved refunds will be processed within a maximum period of 30 calendar days from the date of formal acceptance of the cancellation. This period allows Andean Pathways to obtain refund confirmations from external suppliers (e.g., hotels, airlines).
  • Method of Refund: The refund will be made by the same method used for the original payment (e.g., bank transfer, credit card credit). The Traveler is responsible for any commission or charge for international transfer that their bank may apply upon receiving the funds.