11 Day Natural History Trip from April 5 – 15 Optional 6-day Post-trip Extension to bird the Caribbean Lowlands

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  Round-trip airfare from your home cities to Managua, Nicaragua (please see paragraph above for details)
  
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  All ground and boat transportation within Nicaragua and, if participating on the extension to the Caribbean Lowlands, your airline tickets between Managua and San Carlos and return are included
  
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  All accommodations – based upon double occupancy (single supplement is available at an additional expense)
  
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  All tours within the scheduled itinerary
  
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  Most meals are included throughout the trip (see itinerary for details)
  
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  Permits, entrance fees and guides
  
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  The leadership services of EcoQuest Travel professionals
  

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  Gifts and items of a personal nature
  
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  Some meals (a couple lunches are on our own)
  
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  Gratuities (for Nicaraguan guides)
  
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  Fees associated with obtaining a passport
  
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  Arrival tax ($10.00 payable upon arrival at immigration)
  
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  Airport taxes for our domestic flights (approximately $2.00/person each way)
  
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  Travel insurance (please see the Travel Insurance Section below)
  
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  Costs associated with pre-trip medical planning (such as vaccines)
  

A passport valid for at least 6 months after our arrival is required for travel in Nicaragua. No visa is required for US citizens.

The trip cost is based on a minimum number of participants – 8 people. Although 8 people are required in order to make this trip a reality; we are able to accommodate up to a maximum of 12 people. The cost for the optional post-trip extension to the Caribbean Lowlands is based on a minimum of 6 participants. Although 6 participants are required in order to make the extension happen, we are able to accommodate a maximum of 10 participants. The plane that flies to and from San Carlos has a capacity of 12 passengers so we are limited to a maximum of ten participants plus the two leaders.

These include Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and Hepatitis B. One should also check to make sure that vaccines against Tetanus/Diphtheria and Polio are up to date. Malaria is present in Nicaragua and anti-malarial medications should be considered mandatory for this trip. Information on travel- related diseases and vaccines to prevent them can be found on the Centers for Disease Control website at: www.cdc.gov/travel

We highly recommend discussing all medical issues related to travel with your doctor well in advance of the proposed travel date.
Payments and Reservations:

A deposit of $1,000.00 per person is required along with your reservation form in order to reserve space on the trip. This ensures airline seating space and necessary early deposits. The reservation form is available on our website: www.ecoquesttravel.net. We encourage you to pay the deposit well in advance of the due date, as paying the deposit is the only way to secure your spot. Personal checks, money orders and credit cards are accepted. If paying by personal check it should be made payable to EcoQuest Travel, Inc. and on the memo line please indicate: For Nicaragua Trip 2014. If paying by credit card please phone your credit card information in to EcoQuest Travel at: (919) 963-3038. EcoQuest Travel accepts Visa, MasterCard and most bank debit cards. After your initial deposit, the remaining balance will be invoiced in two payments according to the schedule below:

If you are participating on the main trip only:

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  A payment of at least $1,418.00 is required no later than January 14, 2014
  
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  The remainder of the trip expense ($1,418.00) will be due on or before March 1, 2014
  

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  A payment of at least $2,253.00 is required no later than January 14, 2014
  
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  The remainder of the trip expense ($2,253.00) will be due on or before March 1, 2014
  

The initial deposit, as well as subsequent payments, will be used to purchase airline tickets and pay deposits for accommodations, travel arrangements, etc. in Nicaragua. Therefore, if you must withdraw from the trip, irrespective of reason, a refund will not be possible. We strongly suggest that you protect yourself with the purchase of trip cancellation insurance. We will try to retain a wait list for this trip and if you end up not being able to participate we will attempt to find a replacement for you, however, it is your responsibility to find a replacement or to have insurance.

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  Please note that in the event EcoQuest Travel, Inc. does not have enough participants for this trip a refund of the initial deposit of $1,000.00, and any subsequent payments, will be issued.
  

EcoQuest Travel, Inc. partners with Allianz Global Assistance (formerly – Access America) to provide the best possible travel insurance for our clients. They offer trip cancellation and worldwide emergency services (such as emergency evacuation and emergency medical services) as well as a host of other benefits. You can find more information on Allianz’s website (www.allianzassistance.com) including how to get quotes and sign up. You do not have to use Allianz Global Assistance and may choose to use another company. In either case, EcoQuest Travel, Inc. strongly suggests the purchase of trip cancellation/medical insurance. If you do decide to purchase travel insurance from Allianz Global Assistance please give them the following EcoQuest Travel vendor (or ACCAM) number: F031120. This number identifies that you are working with an Allianz Global Assistance partner.

Note: Pre-existing conditions will be waived by Allianz Global Assistance if you purchase travel insurance within 14 calendar days of your initial trip deposit. For more information please see our website. To locate the travel insurance section of our website look on the destination page in the “click to go to” section on the right hand side of the screen under “purchase insurance”.
General Information

Upon receiving your deposit and reservation form you will be sent an information packet containing flight information, baggage requirements, trip cancellation insurance information, hints on what to bring and other useful information. The climate will vary from potentially hot and humid in the highlands to hot and dry in the lowland areas. It may cool considerably at night in the highlands. It will be hot and humid on the extension to the Caribbean Lowlands. You will want to bring a camera, film and binoculars. Again, a more exhaustive list will be provided after you are registered for the trip.

David Davenport: Zoologist and President – EcoQuest Travel, Inc.