Please read the following conditions carefully. 

1.  Booking Conditions & Project Approval

When approved to conduct a research project at Las Cuevas, you ("You" "Your" etc is taken in these booking conditions to mean the person booking and all those if any, travelling with the group) enter into an agreement with Las Cuevas Research Station and appreciated that projects are only accepted if in accordance with the terms and conditions set out below:

 

All research and conservation projects undertaken at Las Cuevas must first obtain prior approval from the Government of Belize.  Therefore the following forms must be submitted at least 31 days before your arrival:

 

• Government of Belize Research Application Form 
• Research Booking Form
• Research Risk Assessment Form

 

All forms are downloadable from www.mayaforest.com/research and can be sent electronically to chris@mayaforest.com or by mailing to:

 

Las Cuevas Director

P.O.Box 410

Belmopan

Belize

Central America

 

Submission of forms in electronic format is not obligatory, but such submission will speed review of the proposal.  Each proposal is considered on its own merit, taking into account the scientific quality of the project and its appropriateness to the mission of Las Cuevas, which is too support research, conservation, and exploration in the Chiquibul Rainforest.

2.  Booking

A provisional reservation should be made as soon as possible by telephone or email to confirm that the required places at Las Cuevas are available for the time you wish to visit.  Early booking is strongly advised due to the relatively small number of rooms at Las Cuevas.  We will then send you a booking form and a copy of these booking conditions for research and conservation projects.

 

Rooms will be held for you pending receipt of your completed booking form and a deposit of 10% of your invoice total.  On receipt of your deposit and completed booking form, we will send you a confirmation of your booking and details of any outstanding balance on your account.  When you receive our confirmation invoice it is important you check all the details carefully and inform us if anything appears incorrect as soon as possible.

 

If you are making the booking on behalf of others, we will take it that you have the authority of those people to enter into a contract on their behalf and that you and they agree to be jointly and severally liable for it. 

3.  Insurance

It is a condition of visiting Las Cuevas that you are covered by a comprehensive insurance policy.  You are responsible for arranging such insurance which must cover you fully against the cost of any medical care and expenses, injury, death, cancellation and curtailment, air evacuation and repatriation to your own country if needed.  You must ensure also that it will cover any specific activities you plan to undertake during your visit, without exclusion clauses, for the entire duration of your visit. By signing the booking form you are agreeing to provide this insurance for yourself or accept liability in the event you do not do so.  You may be asked to produce evidence of your insurance cover to us at the time of booking or on arrival at Las Cuevas.

 

It is a condition of visiting and working at Las Cuevas that you accept full personal liability during your visit.  We do not accept any liability for your personal safety or any injury you may suffer as a result of your visit or research project.

4.  Health

By signing the booking form you are declaring that you (and those in your party) are physically and mentally fit for working at Las Cuevas.  You must not travel against medical advice or with conditions that may affect your ability to participate fully in your planned visit.  If you believe this may be the case, please check with us before booking your visit.

 

Whilst we can advise you on medical requirements for living in an isolated rainforest environment, it remains your responsibility to ensure you receive the necessary and appropriate professional medical advice and vaccinations before arrival.  Information on these subjects and related matters (climate, clothing, local conditions, equipment etc) is given in good faith on our web site (www.mayaforest.com) but without any liability on our behalf.

5.  Passports and Visas

You are responsible for ensuring you have a passport valid for travel and any visas needed.

6.  Complaints

Should you have any complaint whilst at Las Cuevas, you must immediately inform the Las Cuevas Director, Research Station Manager or senior member of staff present who will do his/her best to remedy the situation.

7.  Environmental Impact

The collecting, disturbance or removal of any archaeological, botanical, or ecological specimen or species from Belize without the relevant documentation from the appropriate Belizean Authority is illegal.  MFE Staff have the right to dismiss from Las Cuevas and report any visitor should they break the law.  A person dismissed shall have no cause for complaint or refund, and shall bear all the extra expenses of his/her return home.

It is MFE's policy to have a minimal impact on the natural environment and we therefore request all visitors to Las Cuevas to:

• Refrain from using any biocides, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, (with the exception of personal insect repellents) nematocides or fungicides.
• Minimise the use of atmospheric pollutants (e.g. CFCs)
• Ensure that your personal cleansing products are biodegradable and do not contain phosphates or nitrates.
• Confine vehicles to primary, designated roads unless specifically agreed with the Belize Forest Department.
• Minimise trampling on vegetation and disturbance to soil.
• Ensure that litter is not discarded in the forest.
• Recycle materials wherever possible.
• Compost as much wet waste as practical.
• Minimise disturbance of breeding sites, particularly along waterways.

• Do Not hunt wildlife
• Do Not feed any wildlife

• Do Not introduce any exotic species

8.  Special Requests

If you have any special requests, for example, special dietary requirements, please inform us of these at the time of booking.  Whilst we will do what we can to satisfy these requests we cannot guarantee they will be met, nor do we accept liability if such requirements are not met.

9.  Participation

You agree to accept whilst at Las Cuevas the authority and decisions of the Las Cuevas Director and other members of staff. We reserve the right to dismiss or exclude anyone from Las Cuevas for all or part of their planned visit without compensation or refund if, in our opinion, their conduct or health is potentially disruptive to the safety, work or enjoyment of others there, or prejudicial to themselves or to the good reputation of Las Cuevas Research Station or Maya Forest Enterprises Ltd. 

 

In the event of ill-health we will make every reasonable effort to assist with the provision of medical help, making such arrangements as we see fit and recovering the costs thereof from you.

 

No refund will be given for any unused services or costs incurred by you in leaving Las Cuevas or your planned project in any circumstances.

10. Transport Delays

There is no guarantee that any transfers will depart at the time specified and we do not have any liability to you for any such delay or failure to meet connections.  In some circumstances your insurance may offer you compensation for such delays/cancellations.

11. Surcharges

We reserve the right to increase the charges for staying, working or travelling at Las Cuevas to take into account any significant changes in costs arising from: government action, tax changes, currency fluctuations, or transportation costs (including fuel). A surcharge will not normally be raised if the change in cost is less than 5% of the total.

 

We reserve the right to change any of the prices, services or other particulars contained in our price listings at any time before we accept your booking.  If there is any change, we will notify you as soon as possible.

12. Liability

Bookings are made and accepted on the understanding that you appreciate the possible risks involved in visiting Las Cuevas and it is at your own volition.  It is a condition of the contract between us that you accept full personal liability for your visit to Las Cuevas and actions whilst you are there  We do not accept any liability for your personal safety or any injury you may suffer during any part of your visit to Las Cuevas or the Chiquibul Forest. Our obligation is to provide travel and accommodation arrangements with reasonable care and skill. 

13. Cancellation  for Research Projects

If you or any member of your project has to cancel a booking, please inform us by letter/fax signed by the person making the original booking as soon as possible.  The cancellation only takes effect from the date written notification reaches our office.  Whatever the reason for cancellation, your deposit will be forfeit and the following cancellation charges may be applied:

 

60-41 days before departure:  No cancellation charge

 

40-21 days before departure:  30% of total cost

 

21 or less   before departure:  50% of total cost

 

We reserve the right to cancel your trip if we are unable to operate at Las Cuevas due to force majeure or under booking.

Force Majeure is unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which neither our suppliers nor we could avoid, including but not limited to: war or threat of war, riots, civil strife, terrorist activity, national security issues, industrial disputes, natural disaster, hurricanes, forest fires, adverse weather conditions, high river level, or other similar events beyond our control.

 

Under booking is the situation in which the minimum number of occupants required to run the research station is not met - this is a situation that seldom occurs and if it looks likely we will inform you as soon as possible.

14. Copyright

Any images or likeness of you taken whilst at Las Cuevas may be used by us without charge in any future media for promotional or marketing purposes.

15. Alterations

By signing our Booking Form, you are agreeing to accept all the above conditions. 

No employee or agent of Las Cuevas or Maya Forest Enterprises Ltd may alter these conditions or offer alternative arrangement without the written consent of a Director.