How do I book a Duende Tour?

To book the jungle tour of your choice, click on Book Now, open, fill in the form and click submit. You will receive an automatic confirmation of your booking request by email. Then wait for us to confirm availability and make your payment.

How do I pay my Duende Tour?

After we have confirmed availability for the tour of your choice, we will send you a money request through PayPal. To confirm your booking we will ask for a 25% deposit on the tour price. The whole sum should be completed at least 60 days before departure.

How fit should I be to join a Duende tour?

Duende tours include adventure travel like off road bicycling, climbing pyramids, jungle hiking and canoeing. Therefore, a good physical condition is required. If you are able to do average exercise (for instance cycling) for 4 hours, you can do any of the Duende tours. Also remember that we will be camping out in the jungle; you need to be a little bug and discomfort proof! Furthermore it is comfortable, although not necessary, if you can swim.

What’s included in the tour price?

All nights either in hotel or camping, all transport, all activities and excursions, all entrance fees, camping and sports equipment, most meals when camping, multilingual guide. Please see the jungle tour descriptions for a more detailed list.

Can I book a Duende tour as a single traveler?

Yes. Lots of single travelers take Duende jungle tours - it’s a great way to meet travel companions. You will be sharing a room or tent with a group member of the same sex. If you prefer a room and tent for yourself, you will be charged a single supplement of 15 US dollars per day. See the tour descriptions for the exact single supplement price.

What is the minimum age for taking a Duende tour? Am I allowed to bring my children?

For legal reasons the minimum age is 18. Children aged 14 and older are allowed to join the tours when they are accompanied by an adult (one adult for each child).

Do I need a special tourist visa for the borders we will be crossing?

Border fees and visas are not included in the tour price, as they differ depending on nationality. For most EU countries, USA, Canada and Australia a valid passport is enough, but for some nationalities a visa is required. Make sure you know what you need to get into Guatemala, Belize and Mexico.

Click these links for websites that can help you find information: Mexico - Belize - Guatemala

Contact us if you need any assistance finding out what you need or have other adventure travel questions.

Do the tours include international airfare?

Our adventure travel is in groups with people of different nationalities, this is why travelers arrive to the starting point of the tour from all over the world. For that reason we are not able to include international airfare in the tour price. You can book your flight with a travel agent or directly with the carrier online; just make sure you arrive on time and leave no earlier then one day after the last day on your tour program (on the last day we usually arrive late at night to the Riviera Maya). If you need help finding a well priced flight, please contact us.

Do I need a adventure travel insurance?

Yes! To be able to assist you in case of an emergency travel insurance is a mandatory requirement to come on our tours. The policy should cover medical expenses and emergency repatriation as a minimum. It is wise to have it cover personal liability and loss of luggage as well. Make sure the policy you purchase is suitable for adventure travel and camping and sports activities such as hiking, bicycling and flat water canoeing. On the first day of the tour, your Duende guide will ask you for the policy number and a 24 hour helpline telephone number provided by your insurance company.

How much money should I bring on the tour?

You should budget about 15 to 25 US dollars a day for food and drinks (meals are usually included while camping). Border fees typically add up to 40 US dollars. Then there are expenses that vary from person to person; you will probably want to buy souvenirs, but it is of course up to you how much you spend. Other expenses that you can expect on your jungle tour are laundry (average 5 US dollars per week) and tipping. Additionally, we recommend you have access to at least 1000 US dollar for cases of emergency, for example with an ATM card. It is extremely rare to need medical service or an emergency flight home, but it is a comforting feeling to be prepared. Insurance companies will usually ask you to pay in advance and reimburse you after you return home.

In which form should I bring money?

Cash US dollars are easy to change in the Mundo Maya, but it is not recommendable to carry more then 300 USD cash. Damaged bills or bills bigger then 100 USD are difficult to use. Travelers’ cheques are also quite easy to exchange and this is a safe way of carrying money. Make sure your cheques are in US dollars, and no bigger then 100 dollars each. American Express are most common and therefore easiest to exchange.

Credit cards can be very useful to access money, but while on tour you will often find yourself in remote places without cash machines. In the Riviera Maya of Mexico there are plenty ATMs. Visa cards are widely accepted, but some machines will also recognize Mastercard, Cirrus or Maestro. Before departure make sure you check with your bank that your credit card is accepted in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize.

Do I have to take any medication against tropical diseases?

It is advisable to consult your doctor if possible 6 weeks before departure. The usual vaccines recommended for adventure travel in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize are: Hepatitis A, Typhoid and - if needed - boosters for Tetanus, Diphtheria and Measles. Furthermore, healthcare providers will usually prescribe chloroquine as an antimalarial drug.

For more information see World Health Organization and US Government advice.

I am vegetarian, is that a problem on your tours?

No. Being on a vegetarian diet is not a difficulty on any of the Duende tours, but you might be limited in choice. It is good to let us know at least 3 days before departure if you are on a special diet.

What should I pack for a Duende tour?

Try to pack as light as possible, you will be carrying your backpack on and off buses and sometimes you will have to walk a few miles with your pack to a hotel, camping area or bus station. Also bring a strong daypack for adventure travel, big enough to carry a change of clothes, food and water for a day, rain clothing and other personal belongings. 25 litres is big enough for a daypack. We recommend you have a rain cover for both your regular backpack and your day backpack. If not, make sure to pack everything in plastic bags, so your belongings don’t get wet if it rains!

Other items you should bring:

- Valid passport with photocopies.
- If required, visas for Mexico, Belize and Guatemala.
- Money (cash USD, travelers’ cheques, credit card).
- Travel insurance.
- Airline tickets.
- Sleeping bag for the tropics.
- Flashlight.
- Pocket knife.
- Alarm clock.
- Towel.
- Minimal clothes: 1 pair of long pants/trousers, 1 pair of shorts, 2 T-shirts, 1 long- sleeved shirt, 1 sweater.
- Head protection (bandana, cap, hat).
- Sun block.
- Personal toiletries and medicines.*
- Insect repellent for the tropics.
- Sneakers/trainers.
- Sandals that can get wet.
- Swimming clothes.
- Rain clothing.

* Note: for legal reasons your guides are not allowed to give you any form of medication; please make sure you bring some Aspirin or other pain killers and Imodium or something similar for diarrhoea.

Will I be able to contact home once in a while?

While staying in the Mexican Riviera Maya, you will find no problem contacting home, there are plenty telephone and internet places. On tour we will often be far away from communication possibilities, but you should be able to call home or write an email about once a week. For emergencies at home, you can be reached through our office – see how to contact us . Please note that sometimes we are in areas without mobile phone coverage for 3 days or more.

If you have any other questions please contact us.

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