TERMS & CONDITIONS

Lava Hike Adventures

Effective Date: April 17, 2026

1. Overview and Acceptance

These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) govern your use of the website Lavahikeadventures.com (the “Site”) and all guided tour services (the “Tours”) provided by Lava Hike Adventures (“we, ” “our, ” or “us”), operating on Acatenango Volcano and surrounding areas in Guatemala.

By booking a Tour, using the Site, or participating in a Tour, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you are booking on behalf of others, you represent that you have authority to accept these Terms on their behalf, and you agree that each participant is also bound by these Terms.

You must be at least 18 years of age to make a booking. Minors may participate only with the consent of, and under the responsibility of, a parent or legal guardian who is part of the booking.

2. Bookings & Payment

  • A booking is confirmed only once a deposit or full payment is received and we issue a written confirmation
  • Deposits secure your spot on a specific date
  • Remaining balances must be paid prior to Tour departure
  • All prices are listed in U.S. Dollars (USD) unless otherwise stated
  • You are responsible for any currency conversion fees or bank charges imposed by your bank or card issuer
  • Bookings are non-transferable to another person without our written approval

3. Cancellations, Date Changes & Refund Policy

Cancellation and date change requests must be submitted in writing by email to lavahikeadventures@Gmail.com and are effective from the time we receive them. All timeframes are calculated relative to your scheduled tour start time as stated in your booking confirmation.

3.1 Cancellation by You

  • 72+ hours before tour start: 90% refund (less any non-refundable payment processing fees)
  • 48–72 hours before tour start: 40% refund
  • Less than 48 hours before tour start: Non-refundable
  • No refunds for no-shows or late arrivals

3.2 Date Changes by You

  • More than 48 hours before tour start: Date changes may be made without penalty, subject to availability
  • Less than 48 hours before tour start: Date changes are not permitted, and the original booking is non-refundable

3.3 Cancellation by Us Before Departure

If we cancel a Tour before departure due to unsafe conditions, insufficient bookings, or other operational reasons, you will be offered:

  • A full refund; or
  • The option to reschedule to an available date

3.4 Weather-Related Cancellation During the Hike

Acatenango weather can change rapidly. If adverse weather, volcanic activity, or other safety concerns require the Tour to be cut short after it has already begun:

  • All participants will walk back with the group, accompanied by their guide, to ensure group safety
  • Participants are responsible for carrying their own backpacks and personal gear during the descent
  • No refunds will be issued for Tours cut short once underway, due to the unpredictability of weather conditions and our commitment to the safety of all participants

4. Weather, Volcanic Activity & External Conditions

Acatenango is an active volcanic environment. Conditions can change rapidly and are outside our control. We do not guarantee:

  • Clear skies or specific visibility
  • Views of Volcán de Fuego or volcanic activity
  • Summiting Acatenango

Reaching the summit depends on weather, group pace, altitude effects, and guide safety judgment. All final route and safety decisions rest with your lead guide and are binding on all participants.

5. Assumption of Risk and Release

5.1 Inherent Risks

Hiking Acatenango is a strenuous, high-altitude activity that involves significant inherent risks, including but not limited to:

  • Physical injury (sprains, fractures, falls, cuts, burns)
  • Altitude sickness, including acute mountain sickness (AMS), high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), and high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE)
  • Fatigue, dehydration, and hypothermia
  • Exposure to cold, wind, rain, sun, ash, and volcanic gases
  • Uneven, steep, or slippery terrain
  • Volcanic activity, including ash fall, rockfall, projectiles, and lava
  • Wildlife encountersRemote location with limited access to emergency medical care
  • Acts of other participants, guides, porters, or third parties

5.2 Voluntary Assumption of Risk

By booking and participating in a Tour, you voluntarily accept and assume all such risks, whether known or unknown, foreseen or unforeseen. Y ou acknowledge that the activity carries the possibility of serious injury, permanent disability, or death.

5.3 Release of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, you release Lava Hike Adventures, its owners, employees, guides, contractors, and affiliates from any and all claims, demands, causes of action, damages, or losses arising out of or related to your participation in a Tour, except where caused by our gross negligence or willful misconduct.

We strongly recommend all participants carry travel insurance that includes medical evacuation and high-altitude trekking coverage (see Section 17).

6. Health, Fitness & Medical Considerations

By booking a Tour, you confirm that:

  • You are in good physical and mental health
  • You are capable of completing a strenuous, high-altitude hike
  • You have disclosed any relevant medical conditions, injuries, pregnancy, or medications at the time of booking
  • You understand altitude affects individuals differently, with symptoms that may include fatigue, shortness of breath, headache, nausea, and in severe cases acute mountain sickness

We are not responsible for issues arising from:

  • Altitude-related conditions
  • Pre-existing medical conditions, whether disclosed or undisclosed
  • Medications taken or not taken
  • Inadequate preparation, hydration, or acclimatization

We reserve the right to refuse participation to anyone we reasonably believe is medically unfit to safely complete the Tour.

If you are pregnant, have a serious heart, lung, or circulatory condition, or are recovering from recent surgery or injury, you must consult your physician before booking. We strongly advise such individuals not to participate.

7. Participant Conduct & Guide Authority

You agree to:

  • Follow all guide instructions at all times
  • Stay with the group at all times
  • Not consume alcohol or non-prescribed drugs during the Tour
  • Treat other participants, guides, porters, and staff with respect
  • Respect the environment and local communities, including “Leave No Trace”principles

Respect local laws, customs, and protected natural areas

We reserve the right to remove any participant from a Tour, without refund, who:

  • Fails to follow guide instructions
  • Leaves the group without permission
  • Endangers themselves, others, or staff
  • Behaves in a disruptive, aggressive, or disrespectful manner
  • Is under the influence of alcohol or drugs

8. Group Pace & Individual Pace

Tours operate at a group pace for safety and logistical reasons. If a participant falls significantly behind:

  • Additional guide support may be required, which may incur additional costs
  • A participant unable to continue may be required to descend

All costs associated with additional guides, transport, porters, or other support to accommodate individual pace are the responsibility of the participant requiring them.

9. Emergency & Early Descent

If you are unable to continue and require assistance:

  • Our guides will assess the situation and take appropriate safety action
  • Emergency transport, porter services, or additional support may be arranged
  • All associated costs are the responsibility of the participant
  • In a medical emergency, we will coordinate with local emergency services to the extent possible, but medical evacuation from remote volcanic terrain can be slow, limited, and costly

You are responsible for any and all medical, rescue, and evacuation costs. Travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage is strongly recommended.

10. Equipment & Gear Responsibility

Participants are responsible for all equipment provided or rented by us.

  • Lost or damaged equipment may result in additional charges
  • A valid ID or deposit may be required for gear use
  • You must return gear in the condition received, accounting for normal wear

11. Food & Dietary Requirements

We can accommodate most dietary needs (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc.) if requested at the time of booking. Last-minute requests may not be possible.

We are not responsible for:

  • Undisclosed allergies or intolerances
  • Cross-contamination in shared kitchen or camp environments
  • Food prepared by third-party providers

If you have a severe allergy, you must inform us at booking and carry your own emergency medication (such as an epinephrine auto-injector).

12. Children and Minors

  • Children under 5 years old are not permitted on Tours
  • Minors under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian participating on the same Tour
  • The parent or guardian accepts full responsibility for the minor and agrees to these Terms on the minor’s behalf
  • We reserve the right to set additional age or fitness requirements for specific Tours

13. Third-Party Services

Some components of your Tour (food, porters, transportation, accommodation) may be delivered by independent third-party providers. We carefully select our partners, but we are not responsible for:

  • Acts or omissions of third-party providers
  • Delays, cancellations, or service issues outside our direct control

14. Photography and Media

By participating in a Tour, you consent to being photographed or filmed during the Tour, and grant Lava Hike Adventures a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual license to use such images and video for promotional purposes (website, social media, marketing materials). If you do not wish to appear in photographs or video, you must notify your guide in writing at the start of the Tour, and we will make reasonable efforts to exclude you.

15. Late Arrival / No Show

  • Participants must arrive on time for departure as communicated in booking confirmations
  • Late arrivals may not be accommodated
  • No refunds will be issued for missed departures

16. Force Majeure

We are not liable for any failure or delay in performing our obligations caused by events outside our reasonable control, including but not limited to:

  • Volcanic activity or eruption
  • Earthquakes, landslides, or other natural disasters
  • Severe weather
  • Pandemic or epidemic
  • Government action, travel restrictions, or road closures
  • Strikes, civil unrest, war, or acts of terrorism

In such cases we will work with you in good faith to reschedule or provide a credit where reasonably possible, but refunds are not guaranteed.

17. Insurance

Travel insurance is strongly recommended and should include, at minimum:

  • Medical expenses, including treatment at altitude
  • Emergency medical evacuation
  • Trip cancellation and interruption
  • Loss of personal belongings
  • Coverage for high-altitude trekking or adventure activities

We are not responsible for participant losses that could have been covered by travel insurance.

18. Intellectual Property

All content on the Site, including text, graphics, logos, photos, and videos, is owned by Lava Hike Adventures or used with permission. You may not reproduce, distribute, or use this content without our prior written consent, except for personal, non-commercial viewing.

19. Governing Law & Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of Guatemala, without regard to conflict-of-law principles. Any disputes arising out of or related to these Terms or your Tour shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Guatemala, unless otherwise required by mandatory applicable law.

20. Dispute Resolution

Before initiating any formal legal action, you agree to first contact us at lavahikeadventures@Gmail.com and attempt in good faith to resolve the dispute informally within 30 days of written notice.

21. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, our total liability to you arising out of or related to a Tour shall not exceed the amount you paid for that Tour. We are not liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages, including lost profits, lost enjoyment, or loss of opportunity.

22. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

23. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any booking confirmation, constitute the entire agreement between you and Lava Hike Adventures regarding your Tour and supersede any prior communications or representations.

24. Language

These Terms are published in English. If translated into another language, the English version will prevail in case of any inconsistency.

25. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms at any time. Updates will be posted to this page with a revised “Effective Date.” The version of the Terms in effect at the time of your booking governs that booking.

26. Contact

For any questions regarding these Terms:

Lava Hike Adventures

Email: info@lavahikeadventures.com

La Soledad, Zona 0, Aldea Soledad, Zona 0 Acatenango OCC Tecpan