Travel Information

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS

Typically tours begin at a hotel in the city of tour origination though in a few cases participants will be met at the airport by a representative of Exotic Birding LLC. Participants will be advised of specific arrangements for their tour well in advance of departure.

On rare occasions Exotic Birding may be forced to cancel a tour due to insufficient participation. Participants should therefore verify that the tour will take place before purchasing airline tickets.

Exotic Birding recommends that participants arrive a day early if possible in case unexpected flight delays or cancellations occur. It's difficult and potentially expensive to catch up with a tour group that has already left the city of origin. Exotic Birding can arrange accommodations for early arrivals upon request. In some cases Exotic Birding may organize an optional day trip for early arrivals if there is sufficient interest.

Exotic Birding LLC is not a travel agency and cannot make your airline reservations for you. However, we'll be happy to consult with you regarding what arrangements and arrival times would be appropriate.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

Make sure your documentation is in order before departure. A passport valid for 6 months after your return is required for US citizens traveling to any Latin American country. Visas are not required for US citizens entering Belize, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guyana, or Panama. Visas ARE required for US citizens entering Brazil. These must be obtained prior to departure. Persons without valid visas are not allowed to enter Brazil and are not allowed to purchase them upon arrival. If you are not a US citizen, check visa requirements of the destination country as soon as possible. Participants are solely responsible for ensuring all necessary travel documents are in order.

BAGGAGE RESTRICTIONS

Tours involving in-country air or boat travel typically have a strict baggage limit of 25-40 lbs. In those cases, participants will be responsible for any excess baggage charges they incur. Participants are expected to carry no more than a single suitcase with size (obtained by adding length, width, and height) less than 45 linear inches plus a single day pack or equivalent item such as camera bag. We realize that participants interested in photography may have an additional bag for camera equipment, which is perfectly acceptable. Unfortunately, weight limits enforced by carriers are often inflexible, so photographers should consult with Exotic Birding prior to departure if weight limits appear to be an issue on their tour.

Please avoid bringing oversized bags, steamer trunks, or multiple suitcases on tour as space with vehicles may be insufficient to transport excessive luggage during the tour. Because we bring fast-drying clothes and do laundry while on tour, we carry about the same amount of luggage whether the tour is 4 days or 4 months. Participants who bring excess baggage may be required to store some of their luggage at their expense for the duration. Please refer to our packing tips for further information on what to bring on tour.

HEALTH PRECAUTIONS

To find out about health precautions and injections that may be necessary for the areas you are visiting, contact the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta (800-311-3435 or 404-639-3534; http://www.cdc.gov/travel). In addition, you may wish to consult your doctor regarding travel to these areas along with any health conditions you may have that could potentially be of concern during your tour.