Terms & Conditions

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE

Due to our remote and pristine location, we need to use our resources wisely to limit waste and minimise our environmental impact. The same applies to our boat, which we aim to operate according to these same principles.

CHECK-IN: On the day of arrival, the boat pick-up from Golfito or Puerto Jiménez takes place from 2:00pm (but no later than 4:30 pm), and your suite will be ready by 3:30 pm. Subject to availability, we can arrange an earlier pick-up from 9:30 am onwards, including lunch at the Retreat, for an additional charge of USD 85 per suite. Your suite will then be ready immediately after lunch. Please note that we are unable to pick up guests from Golfito or Puerto Jiménez before 9:30 am.

CHECK-OUT: Our standard departure is after breakfast at 10:00 am, when we will take you by boat back to Golfito or Puerto Jiménez. Subject to availability, we can arrange an earlier departure. If you require a boat departure before 7:00 am, there is an additional charge of USD 55 per suite, which includes a packed breakfast. We can also arrange, subject to availability, an afternoon boat departure combined with an additional lunch at the Retreat for USD 95 per suite. For afternoon departures, we cannot guarantee use of your suite after 10:00 am; however, shower and changing facilities are available at the Retreat.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Due to our small size and remote location, guests typically book well in advance, on average around seven months before their stay and, during the most popular times of year, 12 to 15 months ahead. Conversely, our off-the-beaten-path location means that bookings made close to the arrival date are relatively rare, making it particularly difficult for us to replace a late cancellation. As we are accessible only by boat and have a very small number of suites, we also need to plan carefully for each stay. For these reasons, we apply a strict cancellation policy and are unable to make exceptions unless explicitly stated otherwise below. We strongly recommend that guests purchase travel insurance covering cancellation and other unforeseen circumstances. If your travel plans are uncertain, please consider booking closer to your intended arrival date.

All cancellations must be made by replying to the booking confirmation email received from Golfo Dulce Retreat. A cancellation will only be considered valid once its receipt has been confirmed by us.

Emergency Cancellations: In the event of an emergency where a reservation has become non-refundable under the terms below, we can offer to make the cancelled suite(s) available for rebooking. If we are able to rebook any of the cancelled nights, we will refund the amount recovered from the replacement booking for those nights, up to the amount originally paid.

The following conditions apply to reservations made for High Season, Low Season, Holiday Season, Group bookings, and Promotional rates:

HIGH SEASON (1 November - 30 April but excluding Holiday Season): An advance deposit equal to 30% of the total amount of your stay is required to confirm your reservation. If a cancellation is received more than 8 weeks prior to the arrival date, we will refund your deposit minus $150 administration fee per suite and minus any charges such as credit card commissions or PayPal fees that we may be unable to recover. Payment of the balance will be due 8 weeks before the arrival date after which the reservation becomes non-refundable. In the event of a ‘no-show’, 100% of the total of the reservation will be charged. If a reservation is cancelled 8 weeks or less prior to the arrival date, 100% of the reservation will be charged. This cancellation policy also applies if a reservation is modified 8 weeks or less prior to the arrival date.

LOW SEASON (1 May - 30 September): An advance deposit equal to 30% of the total amount of your stay is required to confirm your reservation. If a cancellation is received more than 4 weeks prior to the arrival date, we will refund your deposit minus $150 administration fee per suite and minus any charges such as credit card commissions or PayPal fees that we may be unable to recover. Payment of the balance will be due 4 weeks before the arrival date after which the reservation becomes non-refundable. In the event of a ‘no-show’, 100% of the total of the reservation will be charged. If a reservation is cancelled 4 weeks or less prior to the arrival date, 100% of the reservation will be charged. This cancellation policy also applies if a reservation is modified 4 weeks or less prior to the arrival date.

HOLIDAY SEASON (any portion of the stay occurring between December 22nd and January 10th): An advance deposit equal to 30% of the total amount of your stay is required to confirm your reservation. If a cancellation is received more than 12 weeks prior to the arrival date, we will refund your deposit minus $150 administration fee per suite and minus any charges such as credit card commissions or PayPal fees that we may be unable to recover. Payment of the balance will be due 12 weeks before the arrival date after which the reservation becomes non-refundable. In the event of a ‘no-show’, 100% of the total of the reservation will be charged. If a reservation is cancelled 12 weeks or less prior to the arrival date, 100% of the reservation will be charged. This cancellation policy also applies if a reservation is modified 12 weeks or less prior to the arrival date.

GROUP BOOKINGS (3 or more Suites booked concurrently): An advance deposit equal to 30% of the total amount of your stay is required to confirm your reservation. If a cancellation is received more than 16 weeks prior to the arrival date, we will refund your deposit minus $150 administration fee per suite and minus any charges such as credit card commissions or PayPal fees that we may be unable to recover. Payment of the balance will be due 16 weeks before the arrival date after which the reservation becomes non-refundable. In the event of a ‘no-show’, 100% of the total of the reservation will be charged. If a reservation is cancelled 16 weeks or less prior to the arrival date, 100% of the reservation will be charged. This cancellation policy also applies if a reservation is modified 16 weeks or less prior to the arrival date.

PROMOTIONS: We occasionally offer promotional rates, which are clearly identified as such. Some promotional rates require full payment at the time of booking and are strictly non-refundable. Where a promotional rate is identified as non-refundable, the full payment will be retained in the event of a cancellation, modification or no-show, subject only to the Emergency Cancellations provision above.

PAYMENTS POLICY

Because of our small size and remote location, cancellations affect us greatly and, for this reason, we require a 30% deposit to confirm and hold your reservation. The balance of the reservation, which is payable by credit card or bank transfer, is due 4 weeks before arrival for Low Season bookings (1 May to 30 September), 8 weeks before arrival for High Season bookings (1 November to 30 April, excluding Holiday Season), and 12 weeks before arrival for Holiday Season bookings (22 December to 10 January). For Group Bookings (3 or more suites booked concurrently), the balance is due 16 weeks before arrival, regardless of the season.

RISKS AND LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY

Golfo Dulce Retreat is a small, remote ecolodge accessible only by boat and situated within a natural rainforest and marine environment. Staying with us and participating in activities in these environments involves inherent risks that cannot be entirely eliminated. By proceeding with a reservation, guests acknowledge and accept these inherent risks and agree that Golfo Dulce Retreat, its related companies, owners, representatives and employees shall not be liable for loss, damage, injury, costs or expenses arising from circumstances outside our reasonable control or from the inherent risks described below.

1) TRAVEL DISRUPTIONS: We accept no responsibility for disruptions to your travel itinerary caused by circumstances outside our control, including adverse weather, flight cancellations or delays, strikes, diversions or road disruptions. This applies to international and domestic flights and road transportation, whether arranged by us on your behalf or independently by you. Travelling later in the day may carry a greater risk of disruption, particularly due to adverse weather. We cannot offer a full or partial refund for nights missed as a result of travel disruption. We therefore strongly recommend that guests purchase travel insurance covering delays, cancellations and missed accommodation.

2) BOAT ACCESS ONLY: Golfo Dulce Retreat is accessible only by boat, and our scheduled arrival transfers operate during daylight hours. We therefore cannot accommodate guest arrivals after dark. Our latest scheduled pick-up from Golfito or Puerto Jiménez is typically around 4:30 pm. If your arrival is delayed beyond the time at which we can safely provide boat transportation, you will be responsible for arranging and paying for accommodation for that night. We cannot offer a full or partial refund for a night missed at the Retreat as a result of a delayed arrival.

3) LIMITED MEANS OF COMMUNICATION: There is no cellular signal at the Retreat. Communication with us is therefore primarily by email or internet-based messaging services such as WhatsApp. Guests should ensure that they have access to Wi-Fi or mobile data while travelling to the Retreat. We cannot accept responsibility for disruption resulting from attempts to communicate with us through channels that we do not receive or monitor.

4) MARINE RISKS: Activities in and around the ocean involve inherent risks. These include, but are not limited to, swimming, snorkelling, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, boating, boarding and disembarking vessels, equipment failure, changing sea and weather conditions, and encounters with marine wildlife. These risks may be greater during activities undertaken after dark, including our Bioluminescence Boat Outing. Guests participating in marine activities are responsible for following the safety instructions provided by us, our guides and boat crews.

5) RAINFOREST RISKS: A natural tropical rainforest contains inherent risks, including uneven or slippery terrain, falling trees or branches, streams, rocks, wildlife and harm such as bites caused by forest creatures such as snakes or spiders. These risks exist while hiking, exploring our trails, walking around our property and the beach or residing in any of our structures including our Suites, the Restaurant and Living areas and the beach Cabanas. Trails may include steep, uneven, wet or unstable terrain. Guests should exercise appropriate care, wear suitable footwear and follow any safety instructions provided.

6) LIMITED MEDICAL FACILITIES: Guests should understand that Golfo Dulce Retreat is in a remote location and does not have on-site medical facilities. Although we maintain basic first-aid provisions, access to professional medical care may be delayed while a guest is transported to an appropriate medical facility. Any costs associated with medical treatment, evacuation, additional boat transportation, road or air transportation, or repatriation are the responsibility of the guest. We strongly recommend travel insurance that provides appropriate medical and evacuation coverage.

7) FORCE MAJEURE: We accept no liability for loss, damage, delay, cancellation or disruption caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control. These may include natural disasters, severe weather, fire, flood, earthquake, storm, epidemic or other public-health emergency, war, terrorism, civil disturbance, strikes, interruption of essential services, and government actions, restrictions or regulations.

8) OPERATIONAL CHANGES: Golfo Dulce Retreat reserves the right to cancel, amend, or reschedule any confirmed reservation in the event of any material change to the operation, management, or structure of the business, including (without limitation) the sale of the property or a change of ownership or control. In such circumstances, the Retreat’s liability shall be strictly limited to the refund of any payments received in respect of the affected reservation. No further compensation, damages, costs, or obligation to provide alternative accommodation shall arise

9) LOSS OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY: Guests are responsible for taking reasonable care of their personal belongings. We accept no responsibility for the theft, loss or damage of personal property at the Retreat, during excursions or while travelling to or from the property. Safes are provided in our suites, and guests are encouraged to use them for valuables.

10) HEALTH AND FITNESS: Guests are responsible for considering their own health, fitness, mobility, allergies and other personal circumstances when deciding whether to participate in an activity. The rainforest, marine environment and some excursions may involve heat, humidity, uneven terrain, physical exertion, wildlife and other conditions different from those guests encounter in their everyday lives. Guests should inform us or the relevant activity provider of any circumstances that may materially affect their safe participation in an activity.

11) THIRD PARTIES: Certain excursions, transportation and other services may be provided by independent third parties rather than by Golfo Dulce Retreat or its employees. Where we arrange such services on a guest’s behalf, the third-party provider remains responsible for the operation and provision of its service. Golfo Dulce Retreat accepts no liability for acts, omissions, delays, cancellations, injuries, losses or damage arising from services independently provided by such third parties.

12) CHILDREN: Parents and guardians are responsible for the supervision and safety of children in their care throughout their stay. Children must remain within line of sight of a responsible adult where appropriate and must follow all safety instructions provided by Golfo Dulce Retreat, our guides and activity providers. The natural rainforest and marine environment requires a particularly high level of supervision, including around the ocean, swimming pool, boats, trails, wildlife and other areas where inherent risks may be present.

13) SMOKING: Smoking is not permitted in guest rooms, social areas, the pool area, on boats or trails, or within the National Park. This policy reflects Costa Rican smoking regulations as well as our commitment to protecting the surrounding natural environment.

GENERAL PROVISIONS: By completing a reservation, guests agree to these Terms and Conditions, which form part of the reservation agreement with Golfo Dulce Retreat. We reserve the right to refuse or cancel a reservation where materially false, misleading or incomplete information has been provided. Any cancellation by Golfo Dulce Retreat will be handled in accordance with these Terms and Conditions and applicable law.