TRIP COSTS

Note: contribution guidelines can change at any time. Only full payment locks in the rate at the time.
To make a payment, see ways to do so at the PAYMENT page.

GENERAL PARTICIPANTS

General participants on Global Grand Canyons (GGC) trips are passengers/paddlers on a raft or experienced boaters in charge of paddling their own kayak or rowing a raft. General participants who wish to be in charge of a kayak or raft must have adequate prior experience, provide references, and provide a damage deposit. Those with limited river running experience usually will ride on a raft as a passenger or help paddle a raft, and may have the opportunity to be in a kayak or IK at times on easier sections of river. Full paying general participants are not required to help with camp chores, but do set up their own tents. All participants must agree to abide by the trip leader decisions and sign an assumption of risk agreement.

Our normal rates are generally lower than is typical in this industry, partly because our main goal is conservation of these rivers and we often enlist "helper guides" on our trips. Helper guides can be local residents learning more about boating who help with camp chores or security, and/or experienced guides from other rivers who wish to do the trip at a reduced rate in exchange for offering their expertise on the water. We also sometimes grant reduced rates to certain participants with limited financial means who can help with safety or publicity, such as to safety kayakers (if needed), to journalists or filmmakers who can help with publicity, to anti-dam activists who will be instrumental in protecting the river, and to citizens of the country where the river is located who will advocate for protection. Please send an inquiry if you would like to be considered for a reduced rate, but consider the basic cost to cover expenses of a trip always must be met (Outfitting Service).


CONTRIBUTION SCHEDULE FOR GENERAL PARTICIPANTS
General contribution levels are:

Mexico Expeditions:
$1600 for Usumacinta (7 days; includes Bonampak tour & bungalow first night)
$1600 for Jataté (7-8 days; rafts and kayaks)
$1200 for Lacanjá (7 days; self-support kayak/IK)
$1200 for LaVenta (7 days; self-support kayak/IK)
$2400 for Tutuaca-Aros (12 days)
$1800 for Aros only (8 days)
$2400 for Conchos (12 days)


Peru Expeditions:
$2400 for Marañon (Upper) (10-11 days; UpperGC+InnerGorge; includes flight Chagual-to-Trujillo)
$2800 for Marañon (Main) (11-13 days; CentralGC+LowerGC; includes flight Trujillo-to-Chagual)
$800 for Marañón (JunglePongos) (4-5 days: P.Malleta to Imacita)

$2200 for Cotahuasi (8-10 days)
$1800 for Colca (7-8 days)
$1200 for Tambo (6 days)
$3200 for Pampas-Apurimac trip (16 days)

Bolivia Expeditions:
$2800 for Pilcomayo (~14 days)
$4000 for Chayanta-Grande (20 days)
$2000 for Chayanta only (~9 days)
$2300 for Grande only (~11 days)

Argentina Expeditions:
$2800 for Grande-Colorado trip (12-14 days; midway entry/exit possible)
$2400 for Neuquén (12 days)

Ethiopia Expeditions:
$3600 for Upper Blue Nile (~14 days) [medium water trips; Sep-Nov]
$3400 for Lower Blue Nile (11-14 days) [medium and low water trips; Oct-Dec]
$4000 for Bashilo-BlueNile (~18 days) [high water trips: Jul-Sep]
Upper Blue Nile trip starts at Lake Tana and ends at Rennaissance Bridge- see MAP;
Lower Blue Nile begins at Rennaissance Bridge and ends at Sirba - see MAP;
For trips starting in Bahir Dar and those ending in Asosa, domestic flights are included from/to AddisAbaba.
Hotel stays are included (2 nights hotel for trips starting Bahir Dar and 1 night after trips ending in Asosa]

Zambia Expeditions:
$3000 for Zambezi (11-12 days) [low water trips; Aug-Jan]

China Expeditions:
$3200 for Yangze(Lower) (14 days)
$3200 for Yangze(Upper) (14 days)


ALL RATES assume a deposit is made at least 3 months in advance and full payment is made at least 2 weeks in advance [add 10% to Total Contribution if late on either payment].  The contribution goes toward rafts, kayaks, transport, food, guides, group gear, maps, coordination, advertising, and efforts to protect the river. See what's included in each trip below. 


ADD-ONS:
Camping gear: if you'd like to use some of our camping gear (tent, sleeping bag, PacoPad or Thermarest) or personal items for paddling (PFD, helmet, sprayskirt, drybag) they can be rented individually - see RENTALs for rates.
Alcoholic & canned beverages: You will have the option to select having up to several beers per day (not necessarily chilled), wine&cocktails, and other canned beverages on your trip, but it costs extra. Make the selection on the INFO FORM that you fill out with your personal data.
Hotels & flights: In some destinations we can arrange hotel stays, domestic flights, and other particulars for your travel. This can be queried on the INFO FORM or you can send a note about it. Extra costs often apply.
Extra excursions: Sometimes there are optional excursions that we can arrange before or after a trip. These usually will be one day to a few days. For example, after an Usumacinta trip, you can often arrange and pay in advance for a day touring the ruins at Palenque (usually after an Usumacinta trip) or a day visiting Agua Azul and/or rafting the Shumuljá. In Peru, you can arrange and pay for a visit to Chachapoyas and Kuelap or Cusco and Machu Picchu.


DISCOUNTS:
6-20%: Group discount: If some of your friends and family decide to join you on the trip, you all get rewarded with a discount. If your group of X people joining the trip is 3 or more, then take 2X% off of the trip rate (max. 20% off for group of 10+).


RESERVATION:
When ready to sign up for a trip, send an email message (reservations@sierrarios.org) stating your name, how you found out about the trip, where you live, your river-running experience, and a little more about you and who you might get to sign up for the trip as well. You'll then have to make your deposit ($500) via any of the methods outlined in: PAYMENTS .


DEPOSIT:
If you want to join a GGC river trip, you will need to provide a deposit to reserve your place on a trip ($500 for a trip up to 14 days; $1000 for trips >14 days). This will also help assure the trip continues to be scheduled. General rates assume a deposit is provided 3+ months in advance of the launch date. Full contribution must be received 2 weeks before the trip (if late on deposit or on full payment, 2% will be added per day late up to a full late fee of 10% - with late fee calculated based on total contribution amount).

Make you deposit with a credit card at the SquareUp payment center.


DAMAGE DEPOSIT:
All participants in charge of a raft or kayak must also provide a damage deposit in the amount of $300 that will cover equipment damage/loss (such as broken or lost oars or paddles) and/or a credit card data and authorization to charge. Any participant in charge of a raft or kayak takes on the responsibility for that equipment and must agree to provide replacement costs (MSRP + shipping + importation dues + tax) in the event of damage/loss. Damage deposits will be returned after the trip when a full evaluation of the trip and river is provided (such damage deposits can sometimes can be directed to be given as tip to the guides).


FULL PAYMENT & LATE FEES:
Full payment is due 2 weeks before departure date. Discounts and the damage deposit will be refunded after the trip. If full payment is provided <2 weeks in advance, 2% will be added per day late up to a full late fee of 28%. If full payment is not made by the time a trip commences, add 50% to the total contribution amount.


CANCELLATIONS:
We reserve the right to cancel the trip 60+ days in advance. This generally will occur only if there are not enough paying participants signed up (generally if <4 full-paying clients). If we cancel the trip for this reason, all deposits and payments will be refunded. We do not provide any reimbursement for cancelled airfare. If a trip is cancelled at any time for reasons out of our control (war, catastrophy, drought, flood, etc), you will not be due any refund. It is strongly recommended to have a travel insurance policy to protect against trip cancellation or other situations that may prevent you from doing the trip.  

If you must cancel, you'll get all of your money back if you find someone comparable to take your place on the trip who pays at least the same rate. Otherwise, you will not be due any money back. It is best to have a travel insurance policy to protect against situations where you may be forced to cancel for personal reasons!!!


CREDIT:
We often give credit in lieu of a refund but credit must be used toward another trip in a timely manner. See the policy at the Credit Policy page.


TRAVELER'S INSURANCE:
We strongly recommend that you get a travel insurance policy that covers trip cancellations, evacuations, medical treatment, theft, loss of equipment, missed flights, war, drought, hurricanes, or other circumstances that might arise during your travel abroad and lead to loss of equipment/travel/trip. You can find these insurance policies through World Nomads, Ripcord, Squaremouth, Travelguard, and Travelsafe. On some newer trips with more risks involved, we may require proof of such insurance. You are are not due any refund for cancelling your trip. You are responsible for your own trip cancellation, missed flights, evacuations, amd medical costs before and during the expedition. We are not responsible for refunding money if trips are cancelled or end short for reasons out of our control.

 
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE CONTRIBUTION?

Trip contribution covers:
-Transport to the river from the rendezvous city at the start of the trip (see specific trip page)
-Transport to indicated rendezvous city at the end of the trip
-All meals while on the river with sanitized bowls, plates, and utensils [see FOOD/DRINK/SANITATION]
-Guides* to captain rafts, arrange logistics, provide safety on the water, prepare meals, and interact with residents
-Rafts and group camp equipment (passengers will be on a raft with a guide; experienced oarsmen can usually row a raft)
-Kayaks/IKs/packrafts are included on self-support trips; a small fee may be required on raft-support trips
-Security and/or extra local guides where necessary (Jungle Marañón, Usumacinta, and Blue Nile)
-All permits and local permissions required to safely pass villages, bridges with military, etc.

Contribution does not cover (unless specifically stated):
-Hotel stays or restaurant meals (before departure day or after take-out day) 
-Personal camping gear (tent, Paco pad, camp chair, tent, drybag, sleeping bag) [these are available as RENTALs]
-Personal PFD, helmet, paddle jacket, and sprayskirt [these are available as RENTALs]
-Alcohol or canned beverages (you pay extra for beer, wine, cocktails, and/or canned soft drinks/juices)
-Tips**: you should budget some gratuity at the end to give to your guides (typically ~10% of full rate)

* All trips have river guides trained in swiftwater rescue and wilderness first aid; general participant raft passengers/paddlers will be on a raft captained by such a guide. Our trips also have local river guides or bilingual guides who help with resident interactions.

** Tips should be budgeted and provided to the trip leader just after the trip ends for distribution to the guide team; you may designate or provide tips to each individual guide as you wish, but the total should still be 10-15% of main trip cost; equipment such as PFDs, paddles or camping items are often appreciated by guides as well but its value should be considered that of used equipment (<50% of MSRP)