Terms & Conditions

1. Who we are

These Terms apply to all services sold under the name IONAKA Travel by Leos Wolny, a sole trader registered in Costa Rica (“IONAKA Travel”, “we”, “us”). We work from Vázquez de Coronado (San José) and Drake Bay, Costa Rica. Contact: info@ionaka.com, phone +506 8806 8816.

“You” means the person who requests or books services and everyone travelling in your party.

We plan to move the business to a company in the future. If this happens, we will tell you in writing, and your confirmed bookings will continue under the same conditions.

2. What we sell

We arrange accommodation, tours, transfers (road, boat and domestic flights), guides and combined itineraries in Costa Rica, Panama and other Central American countries, on your behalf and with independent suppliers.

Hotels, tour and boat operators, airlines and other suppliers are independent businesses. Their own conditions apply to the service they provide. We tell you the key conditions (cancellation, payment dates, special rules) in your proposal before you pay.

3. Requests, proposals and booking

1. Sending a request is free and without obligation. We reply within 24 hours.
2. We prepare a proposal with the plan, prices and conditions. You can adjust it with us.
3. A booking is confirmed when you accept the proposal in writing and we receive the deposit described in section 4. We then send you a written confirmation and, later, vouchers.
4. The person who books confirms that they are authorised to book for everyone in the party and will share these Terms with them.
5. Planning deposit. For fully custom, multi-stop itineraries we may ask for a planning deposit of USD 150 before we prepare a detailed proposal. If you book with us, it is credited in full to the final price of your trip. If you do not book, it is not refunded, because it pays for the work of designing and pricing your itinerary. We tell you in advance whether it applies.

4. Prices and payment

1. All prices and payments are in US dollars (USD). If your bank or card converts another currency, the exchange rate and any fee are set by your bank.
2. Prices shown as “from” are indicative. The final price is the one in your proposal. Hotel rates published on this website are public rates for the season stated; the final amount depends on dates, room type and availability.
3. Deposit: to confirm a booking you pay 40 % of the amount handled by IONAKA Travel.
4. Balance: the balance is due before arrival. The due date follows the strictest payment deadline among the hotels in your itinerary, and we state it in your proposal. A few hotels have different terms, for example full payment at the time of the reservation. We always point these out before you confirm.
5. Prepaid tours: some tours (for example Corcovado / Sirena day tours and combinations with Caño Island) are paid in full in advance, directly to the operator. We tell you which ones in the proposal.
6. Tours booked on the spot: tours booked after you arrive in Costa Rica, for the same or the next day, are paid at once.
7. Payment methods: card (through a secure payment link) or bank transfer. We do not store your full card details. We confirm every payment in writing.
8. Late payment can lead to cancellation of the booking and the charges in our Refund & Cancellation Policy.

5. Changes and cancellations

Cancellations, changes, refunds and no-shows are governed by our Refund & Cancellation Policy, which forms part of these Terms.

6. Changes by us

We may change or replace a service if necessary for safety, weather, road or sea conditions, strikes, park closures or other reasons we do not control. In that case we will offer a suitable alternative or a refund for the part that is not provided, as described in the Refund & Cancellation Policy.

Itineraries, times and routes are planned in good faith but can change because of weather, tides, traffic or the instructions of guides and park authorities.

7. Your responsibilities

• Documents: a valid passport (we recommend at least six months of validity after your planned return) and the visas, entry forms and health documents required for each country. Check the requirements of the authorities of the countries you visit.
• Health: tell us before booking about medical conditions, allergies, mobility limits or pregnancy that may affect your trip. Some activities have age, weight or fitness limits.
• Conduct: follow the instructions of guides, drivers and boat crews. We may refuse or remove anyone who endangers the safety of others, without refund.
• Punctuality: be at the meeting point on time. Fixed departure times (boats, flights, park entries) cannot wait.
• Children: children travel with a responsible adult. Child rates and age limits differ by hotel and tour and are stated in the proposal.

8. Travel insurance

We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical expenses, medical evacuation, trip cancellation and interruption, and luggage. You are responsible for buying it. Check that your policy covers the activities you book (for example diving, zip-lining, canyoning, rafting, horse riding, boat and sea tours).

9. Risk, nature, wildlife and adventure activities

1. Inherent risks. Travel in Costa Rica and Central America involves risks that cannot be removed completely: weather, rivers and sea, rough terrain, wildlife, insects and plants, heat and humidity, remote areas far from hospitals, and road and boat travel. You travel and take part voluntarily and at your own risk.
2. Adventure activities. Activities such as zip-lining, canyoning, white-water rafting, kayaking, snorkelling, scuba diving, horse riding, hiking, boat and sea tours, and tours in national parks carry additional risks of injury, illness and, in rare cases, death, even when carried out with care by licensed operators. By booking any tour, activity or package through us, you confirm that you have read these Terms, understand these risks, and accept them on your own responsibility.
3. Independent operators. These activities are provided by independent operators, guides and boat crews. Their safety rules, waivers and instructions apply, and you must follow them. You may be asked to sign the operator’s own waiver or release form on the spot.
4. Fitness and health. You are responsible for judging whether an activity is suitable for your health, age, fitness and abilities, and for telling us and the operator about any condition that may matter. Diving requires a valid certification or a briefing, and no diving or flying in the periods recommended by your doctor or dive organisation. Operators may refuse anyone who is unfit, unsafe or under the influence of alcohol or drugs, without refund.
5. Wildlife and weather. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed. Wild animals are unpredictable, so keep the distance and follow your guide. Tours may be shortened, changed or cancelled for safety (see section 6 and the Refund & Cancellation Policy).
6. Third-party services. Services of third parties such as domestic airlines (for example SANSA), car rental companies, shuttles and boats are governed by the terms and conditions of those providers. These providers are responsible for their services, including baggage, delays, vehicle condition, insurance and damage. When you rent a car, you accept the rental company’s contract, deposit and insurance rules, and you are responsible for the vehicle, traffic fines and damage during the rental. We pass on their conditions to you when we know them, but we do not control them.
7. Parks. Corcovado National Park and other protected areas require a licensed guide and follow the rules of the authority (SINAC). Access can be limited or closed without notice.

10. Liability

To the extent allowed by law:

1. We are responsible for arranging the services we agreed to arrange with reasonable care and skill.
2. We are not liable for acts or omissions of independent suppliers, or for delays, loss, injury or damage caused by events outside our control (see section 11), except where the law makes us responsible.
3. Our total liability for a claim is limited to the amount you paid us for the affected service, except for death or personal injury caused by our negligence and any liability that cannot be limited by law.
4. We are not liable for indirect or consequential losses.
5. Nothing in these Terms removes mandatory consumer rights that apply to you in your country of residence.

11. Force majeure

Neither side is liable for failure to perform because of events beyond reasonable control, such as natural disasters, severe weather, volcanic activity, epidemics, government decisions, border or road closures, strikes, war or terrorism. We will work with you to find an alternative or a refund as described in the Refund & Cancellation Policy.

12. Complaints

Tell your guide, driver or hotel immediately if something is wrong, so that it can be fixed on the spot. If it is not resolved, write to info@ionaka.com within 14 days after the end of the service, with your booking reference. We reply within 10 working days.

13. Website and intellectual property

Text, photos, maps and design on this website belong to IONAKA Travel or are used with permission. You may not copy them without written permission. Links to third-party websites are provided for convenience, and we are not responsible for their content.

14. Privacy

How we handle personal data is described in our Privacy Policy.

15. Governing law and disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of Costa Rica, where IONAKA Travel is established, and disputes are decided by the courts of Costa Rica. If you are a consumer in the EU or another country with mandatory consumer protection, you keep the rights that those laws give you and are not deprived of them by this clause.

16. Language and changes

The English version of these Terms prevails over translations. We may update these Terms. The version in force when you book applies to your booking.

Last updated: October 2026