There is no small print in this brochure. The booking conditions and general information set out below are designed to outline our obligations to you and your commitments to us as clearly as possible. Please read them carefully before booking. We want you to have an enjoyable Madeira Wind Birds tour/trip and the avoidance of any misunderstanding is to our mutual advantage. You should be prepared to cope with unusual situations, local inadequacies and unpredictable events as and when they occur.

Although we are expert guides in the nature, we can’t guarantee that you will observe certain desired species. We will assist you to the best of our knowledge and capabilities.

If hazard weather conditions occur, we can try to reschedule your tour to the nearest date possible, though not changing other tours previously booked to other costumers. If the tour does not happen we will refund you on 100%.

Our land tours are always subject to availability, minimums and maximuns per tour:
minimum: 1 person
maximum: 8 persons

Safety: Madeira Wind Birds tours require good health. Any medical problems and/or related dietary restrictions must be informed to us on reservation. It is extremely important to our staff and guides to have this knowledge in case of any arising problems.

Our prices include a personal accident insurance, provided by “Zurich”, with the following coverage:

• Death or permanent disability: 20 000 €
• Hospitality expenses and repatriation: 3 500 €

CANCELLING OR TRANSFERING A BOOKING

Subsequent Cancellation: Any cancellation by you of a definite booking must be notified to us in writing (fax or email are acceptable) or personaly and will take effect on the day that this is received by us. The following scale of cancellation charges will normally be applied, based on our estimated expenses and losses suffered as a result of your cancellation:

* Over 3 days before the land tour: no costs to you
* 2 to 1 day before the tour: 100% of our relevant costs
* On the day of the tour or later: 100% of final tour price

Transfers: If you wish to transfer your booking to another holiday this will normally be treated as a cancellation and rebooking, and the relevant cancellation charges will apply.

To guarantee your booking we need a deposit of 20% the trip price, per person.

If weather conditions are not good for a sea trip we will postpone the trip for another day or, if you have no availability to postpone it we will refund what you have paid for that trip. Please be aware that you tell us which hotel you will be staying in or your mobile number if you will be using it in Madeira so we can reach you previously the trip day in case of postponement.

Be aware that sea trips to Desertas can be a bit rough as we sail in open sea.

If by any case you have to quit from a booked sea trip you have to do it 48 hours advanced to the departure time of the trip to be refunded of deposit of full-payment if you have done it previously.
If any sea trip is cancelled within 47 and 12 hours before the departing time of the trip we will not refund the deposit.

In case of no show, less than 12 hours of departing time, there will be no refund at all.

What the Price Includes: The tour price includes transport and accommodation in the sailing yacht, meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner), service charges, tour materials and guide and skipper services. We also provide bottled water, some snacks and a limited quantity of soft and alcoholic drinks on the boat trips.

What the Price Excludes: The tour price excludes all expenses incurred before departure from Quinta do Lorde marina and after return to Madeira. In addition, should you decide not to accompany the group for some reason, you are responsible for the cost of any meals taken.
Accommodation/ Transport: We use a comfortable, high quality Beneteau First class sailing yacht, made in France, with 47.7 feet long. We do not provide any bed clothes, so you should bring a sleeping bag with you.

Sharing Rooms: If you are traveling alone you will have to share a room with another party member of the same sex. Important: Please note that your booking is only accepted on the understanding that, you will accept this rules for accommodation. Please be aware that we will be 8 or 9 persons in a small space and so we ask you not to take to many bags with you. Smokers should kindly note that smoking is not possible in the boat.

Hotel Bookings: We will be pleased to arrange hotel accommodation at Madeira for those whishing to extend their stay in Madeira. For anyone needing this, please contact our office.

BOOKING AND PAYING FOR A TRIP

Sea trips are always subject to availability, minimums and maximuns per tour.

Provisional Bookings: We will be happy to hold open space for you for up to 7 days in order to give you sufficient time to send in your booking form and deposit.

Definite Bookings: Reservations for tours require a deposit of €350 per person for Selvagens Expeditions and a €150 deposit for the Islands Triangle Trip, of which €100 is non-refundable upon receipt. Reservations with deposits are accepted in order of their receipt. Telephoned reservations are accepted provided they are followed by the appropriate deposit within 7 days. Reservations can be made on-line.

* Our telephone numbers are: +351 917 777 441
* Our E-mail address is: info@madeirabirds.com
* Our mailing address is:
Madeira Wind Birds
Rua da Pena nº 10J
9050-099 FUNCHAL

To make a definite booking you must either complete and sign our standard booking form which you can print off the booking form from our website www.madeirabirds.com and post or fax it to us (or complete the on-line booking form and transmit it to us electronically). On receipt of your booking form and deposit our official confirmation will be sent to you.

The person signing the booking form warrants that he/she has the authority to make the booking on behalf of all other persons included on the booking form. (On-line booking forms are deemed to have been signed by the persons submitting them.)

For your own protection we strongly recommend that when you make a booking you hold travel insurance that will cover you for medical/repatriation expenses and for cancellation/curtailment charges in the event you have to cancel due to the illness of yourself, a traveling companion or a close relative.

Advice note requesting payment: This will be sent approximately three months before departure and payment must be received by us within 21 days of the date of issue of this invoice. We reserve the right to treat the holiday as cancelled and levy appropriate cancellation charges if the balance is not received by the due date.

Final Invoice: After receiving total payment a final invoice will be sent to you immediately.

Payments: You may elect to pay by either of the following methods:

1. Send us a personal cheque made out in Euros. This should be sent to our office by airmail or courier service. Important: as personal cheques can take up to a month or more to clear internationally, it is essential that final payment is mailed to us immediately following receipt of our advice note should you wish to take advantage of this payment method. For this same reason personal cheques cannot be used when a booking is made within 2 months of departure.

2. Have your bank make a wire transfer of the required amount direct to the Madeira Wind Birds account at the Banco Português do Investimento (BPI) at Funchal - Madeira. The international bank identifier code (SWIFT/BIC) for our bank is BBPIPTPL and the international bank account number (IBAN) for our account is PT50 0010 0000 3330 8630 0016 1. Important: When you send the transfer you must instruct your bank that all bank charges (at both ends of the transaction) are charged to you.
Cash can also be accepted, but please be sure to send this by registered post.
We are unable to take payment from a credit or debit card.

CANCELLING OR TRANSFERING A BOOKING

Subsequent Cancellation: Any cancellation by you of a definite booking must be notified to us in writing (fax or email are acceptable) and will take effect on the day that this is received by us. The following scale of cancellation charges will normally be applied, based on our estimated expenses and losses suffered as a result of your cancellation:

* Over 60 days before departure: 100% of deposit paid
* 1-60 days before departure: 100% of final tour price
* Day of departure or later: 100% of final tour price

Transfers: If you wish to transfer your booking to another holiday this will normally be treated as a cancellation and rebooking, and the relevant cancellation charges will apply.

Substitution: Should you be prevented by reasonable cause (such as illness) from proceeding with your holiday you are free to find a substitute, provided we receive written notification. We reserve the right to reject any substitute should we have reasonable grounds for doing so.

Unused Services: No refund can be given for any unused accommodation, meal, flight or other service provided as part of the holiday.

TRIP CANCELLATIONS AND ALTERATIONS

Small Party Supplements: In order to maintain the prices advertised we are dependent on reaching a certain level of support for each holiday; typically the minimum is 5 participants. In the event that the specified minimum has not been reached around 3 months prior to departure we will still go ahead and operate the holiday if we possibly can. We very much appreciate that it is deeply frustrating to have a long-anticipated holiday cancelled, so although this is sometimes unavoidable Madeira Wind Birds policy is to do everything possible to ensure that our tours operate wherever practicable. In the event the minimum number is not reached, we will still go ahead with the tour on a small party supplement basis if there are sufficient bookings (typically 3-4) and the tour economics allow. The sole purpose of the supplement is to ensure that the tour can still cover its costs (or largely so), including a respectable, if reduced, fee for the guide and skipper, and so still operate. Where the small party supplement is not in excess of 8% of the tour price, acceptance of the supplement will not be optional and bookings are only accepted on the basis that you will agree to pay a small party supplement if required. In situations where the tour can operate only if the small party supplement exceeds 8%, acceptance will be optional. If you decide not to accept this arrangement (in cases where the supplement exceeds 8%), you can transfer your booking or receive a full refund. In the event that additional bookings are received after a small party supplement is imposed there will be a partial or full refund. (A full refund will be made if final numbers reach the specified minimum for the tour concerned.)

Trip Cancellation: We reserve the right to cancel any trip for which there are insufficient reservations 10 weeks (70 days) before the departure date. In case of this type cancellation, all deposits and other payments for the tour or tour extension will be refunded.
We may have to cancel your holiday in the event of unusual or unforeseen circumstances outside our control: for example, technical problems with the boat, government action, war or threat of war, civil strife, terrorist activity, riot, natural or man-made disaster, or severe weather conditions. In the event that we have to cancel a holiday due to circumstances outside our control we shall be entitled to deduct all reasonable expenses incurred by us in connection with your holiday from the money refunded to you (although naturally we shall endeavour to keep any such charges to a minimum). Important: We cannot take responsibility for any airline charges you may face, in connection with getting to the trip starting point, if a holiday is cancelled. Consequently we suggest you do not make any air travel commitments that could result in significant cancellation fees until you have checked with the office that the required number of participants has been reached.

OTHER INFORMATION

Group Size Limits and Number of Leaders: The group size limit for each is 6 participants plus leader and skipper. Should, however, a couple or two people traveling together apply for the last place on a trip, or if we have someone affected by a late tour cancellation or other exceptional circumstances, we may, at our discretion, increase the group size limit by one.

Birds and Mammals: The species mentioned in the trip itineraries are meant as a guide to what you might see. You should not expect to see everything mentioned, although you should see a good proportion if you participate fully in the tour and have good eyesight.

Computerized Mailing List: All names and addresses on the Madeira Wind Birds mailing list are stored on computer files. These files will most definitely not be passed to any other party, for advertising purposes or for any other reason, but should you object to having your name and address stored in this way please inform our office and we will remove your entry.

Complaints: In the unlikely event that you have cause for complaint you should notify the guide as soon as possible so that we may do our best to assist you. If a problem remains unresolved in spite of prompt notification then you should make a complaint in writing to our office within 28 days of the completion of the holiday.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Birders often carry a lot of expensive optical and photographic equipment. Our trip insurance does not provide sufficient cover and so, if you are not already covered under your household policy, we recommend you take out specialist insurance cover for your equipment.

RESTRICTIONS ON PARTICIPATION

Restrictions on participation are a matter of common sense and we have no absolute ones. If you have a health problem or any physical limitation which may hamper or restrict your full involvement in any aspect of the tour, or about which we should be aware for your safety (e.g. walking difficulties, diabetes, asthma, angina, etc.), please advise us in detail and in writing at the time you reserve space. We may provide any information that you or your doctor may need to judge your capacity to participate fully in the tour. Participants should be able to complete gentle walks of 3 to 5 hours duration, swim and meet the simple schedule of the tour.

Please note that we do not allow the collecting of plants or animals during the course of any tour.

TRIP MATERIAL

Past or prospective bird lists and general information sheets will be sent to each registrant on receipt of a deposit. Final tour information, meeting instructions, participant list and additional material, if any, will be mailed about three weeks before tour departure. A final tour report will be mailed to all participants upon the completion of each tour.