Terms and conditions

All services are operated by:

Wander Free Peru E.I.R.L.
RUC: 20612831361
Registered address: Jiron Cipreces 375, Pillco Marca, Huanuco, Peru

Operating under the commercial brand: Andes Treks

All contracts are legally entered into with Wander Free Peru E.I.R.L., regardless of branding.

2. Acceptance of terms and binding agreement

2.1. All participants must accept these Terms & Conditions prior to the start of the trek.

2.2. Acceptance is valid only through:

  • WeTravel checkbox acceptance
  • Digital signature

2.3. Each participant must individually accept these Terms & Conditions through the required booking process.

Where acceptance is completed via the booking platform (e.g. WeTravel), the participant is required to personally complete the acceptance checkbox or digital signature.

If the booking is made by a third party (e.g. one person booking for multiple participants), the person making the booking confirms that they have informed all participants of these Terms & Conditions and that each participant has accepted them.

Andes Treks is not responsible for verifying whether each participant has personally completed the acceptance process.

All participants are deemed to have accepted these Terms & Conditions once the booking is confirmed, regardless of whether the acceptance was completed directly by the participant or by the person making the booking.

If acceptance has not been completed online, each participant must complete acceptance in person during the mandatory pre-trek briefing. Failure to do so may result in denial of participation without refund.

2.4. Participation in the trek is not permitted without acceptance of:

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Liability Waiver

2.5. The company reserves the right to deny participation without refund if required documents are not completed. Digital acceptance records, booking confirmations, and waiver signatures may be used as evidence of agreement.

2.6 Participants acknowledge they have not relied on any statements outside of these Terms, the itinerary, and written confirmations provided by Andes Treks.

3. Mandatory briefing

3.1. Attendance at the pre-trek briefing is mandatory.

3.2. Failure to attend the briefing may result in denial of participation without refund.

3.3. The briefing includes safety instructions, operational procedures, and final confirmations. It is the participant’s responsibility to attend and understand this information.

3.4. Andes Treks reserves the right to refuse participation before the start of the trek, without refund, if a participant:

  • Appears physically unfit or insufficiently acclimatized
  • Shows signs of illness, intoxication, or unsafe condition
  • Has not completed required documentation
  • Is inadequately prepared or poses a risk to themselves or the group

4. Acclimatization requirement

4.1. Participants are strongly required to acclimatize before the trek.

Recommended:

  • Huayhuash Trek: minimum 4 days in Huaraz region
  • Santa Cruz Trek: minimum 3 days

4.2. Failure to properly acclimatize is at the participant’s own risk.

4.3. No refunds, compensation, or rescheduling will be granted due to altitude-related issues. This includes, but is not limited to, lack of acclimatization, improper preparation, or individual physical response to altitude.

5. Health & medical disclosure

5.1. Participants must disclose any relevant medical conditions prior to the trek, including but not limited to:

  • Heart conditions
  • Respiratory issues (e.g. asthma)
  • Neurological conditions (e.g. epilepsy)
  • Diabetes
  • Severe allergies
  • Recent surgeries
  • Psychiatric conditions
  • Relevant medication use

5.2. Participants are fully responsible for carrying and managing their own medication.

5.3. Food contamination cannot be fully prevented in remote environments. Participants with allergies accept this risk.

5.4. Failure to disclose relevant medical information may result in:

  • Immediate exclusion from the trek without refund
  • Release of Andes Treks from any related liability to the fullest extent permitted by law

5.5. Participants are solely responsible for ensuring they are adequately prepared for the trek, including physical condition, gear, acclimatization, and personal planning.

5a. Nature of the activity & risk acknowledgment

Participation in high-altitude trekking involves significant inherent risks, including but not limited to:

  • Altitudes up to approximately 5,200 meters
  • Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), HAPE, HACE
  • Cold exposure, hypothermia, snow, hail, and extreme weather
  • Rockfall, landslides, uneven terrain, and difficult trails
  • Limited access to medical care and delayed evacuation
  • Remote environments with limited communication

Participants acknowledge that:

  • These risks exist even with proper planning and guidance
  • Safety equipment and guides reduce but do not eliminate risk
  • Injury, illness, or death may occur

Participation is entirely at the participant’s own risk.

6.1. Andes Treks and its guides have full authority to make decisions for safety, including:

  • Route changes
  • Itinerary changes
  • Shortening or stopping the trek
  • Adding rest days
  • Evacuating participants
  • Arranging medical treatment

6.2. Participants authorize Andes Treks to arrange:

  • Evacuation by horse, mule, stretcher, vehicle, or other means
  • Transport to clinics, hospitals, or medical facilities
  • Assistance from local authorities or communities

6.3. All costs related to rescue, evacuation, medical treatment, transport, accommodation, and logistics are the sole responsibility of the participant.

6.4. If Andes Treks advances any such costs, the participant agrees to fully reimburse all amounts upon request, regardless of whether insurance coverage is available.

7. Minors

7.1. Minors may participate only under full responsibility of a parent or legal guardian.

7.2. The parent/guardian:

  • Accepts all risks on behalf of the minor
  • Is fully responsible for supervision at all times
  • Confirms legal authority to consent

7.3. Guides do not provide childcare or individual supervision.

7.4. Andes Treks has full authority to stop a minor’s participation for safety reasons, including against the parent’s decision.

8. Animals, campsites and local control

8.1. Trek operations may involve horses, donkeys, and mules, which can behave unpredictably.

8.2. Andes Treks is not liable for animal-related incidents except where required by law.

8.3. Campsites and routes are influenced by local communities and authorities.

8.4. Andes Treks may change:

  • Campsites
  • Routes
  • Access points

without liability.

8.5. The published itinerary is indicative only and does not constitute a guarantee that any specific route, pass, campsite, viewpoint, or trekking distance will be completed.

9. Duffel bag and equipment responsibility

9.1. Maximum duffel weight limits apply:

Standard / Backpacker:

  • 1–8 days: 5 kg
  • 9+ days: 7 kg

Premium treks:

  • 1–5 days: 6 kg
  • 6–8 days: 8 kg
  • 9+ days: 10 kg

9.2. Excess weight may be refused or charged if possible.

9.3. Luggage is transported under rough conditions and may be exposed to:

  • Rain
  • Dust
  • Animal handling
  • Trail conditions
  • Vehicle transport

9.4. Participants must protect valuables with waterproof protection.

9.5. Andes Treks is not liable for damage unless caused by willful misconduct.

9.6. Participants are responsible for their personal belongings at all times. Andes Treks is not liable for loss, theft, or damage under any circumstances.

10. Conduct, safety and removal

10.1. Immediate removal without refund may occur in case of:

  • Drug use (strictly prohibited)
  • Dangerous behavior
  • Harassment or violence
  • Disrespect toward staff or communities
  • Repeated refusal to follow instructions
  • Behavior affecting safety or operations

10.2. Alcohol consumption is permitted entirely at the participant’s own risk. Any behavior that compromises safety may result in immediate removal without refund.

10.3. The following are strictly prohibited:

  • Smoking inside tents
  • Open flame or candles in tents
  • Unauthorized use of stoves or fire

11. Cancellations & refund policy

Client cancellation

  • More than 30 days: 90% refund
  • 15–30 days: 50% refund
  • 0–14 days: No refund
  • No-show: No refund

During the trek

No refunds in case of:

  • Illness or injury
  • Lack of acclimatization
  • Voluntary withdrawal
  • Rule violations

Any partial refund granted due to early termination of a trek:

  • Applies only to unused core land services
  • Excludes all incurred costs including:
    • Staff
    • Transport
    • Muleteers
    • Campsites
    • Food
    • Permits
    • Logistics
  • Is calculated reasonably by Andes Treks

No refunds apply if a participant leaves the trek early for any reason.

Partial refunds

May apply only if:

  • The trek is stopped by the guide for safety reasons

Refund applies only to unused days, at the company’s discretion.

Full refunds

Only if the tour cannot start due to:

  • Government restrictions
  • Severe force majeure events

Alternative tours

If a trek cannot operate:

  • Andes Treks may offer an alternative tour
  • If declined, a refund will be issued

12. Complaints and claims

12.1. Participants must report any issues immediately during the trek to allow resolution.

12.2. Any formal claim must be submitted in writing within 7 calendar days after the end of the tour.

12.3. Failure to do so may reduce or invalidate the claim to the extent permitted by law.

12.4. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the total liability of Andes Treks for any claim arising from the tour is limited to the total amount paid by the participant for the specific service.

13. Independent contractors and third parties

13.1. Andes Treks may engage guides, cooks, muleteers, drivers, and other personnel as independent contractors or local service providers.

13.2. Andes Treks is not liable for acts or omissions of third-party providers, except where required by law.

13.3. Andes Treks is not responsible for delays, accidents, or issues arising from third-party transport providers.

14. Media & image rights

Participants grant Andes Treks:

  • Irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free rights
  • To use photo, video, and audio content
  • For marketing, advertising, website, and promotional purposes

This includes the right to:

  • Edit
  • Crop
  • Combine
  • Reuse indefinitely

No compensation or approval is required.

Severability

If any provision is invalid, the remaining provisions remain in full force.

Non-waiver

Failure to enforce any provision does not waive the right to enforce it later.

Survival

Clauses relating to liability, payment obligations, reimbursement of costs, indemnity, jurisdiction, and media rights remain in force after completion or cancellation of the tour.

Entire agreement

These Terms, together with the waiver and booking confirmation, constitute the entire agreement.

Non-transferability

Bookings are personal and may not be transferred without written approval.

Assignment

Andes Treks may assign or subcontract operational elements while retaining contractual responsibility.

16. Payment terms

  • Deposit: 30% at booking
  • Remaining balance: 15 days before trek start

Failure to complete payment may result in cancellation without refund.

17. Governing law & jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by Peruvian law.

All disputes shall be resolved exclusively in the courts of Huaraz, Ancash, Peru.

In case of discrepancies, the Spanish version prevails.