top of page

POLICIES

Booking Policies

Reservations must be requested and confirmed in advance through Caribe Shuttle or through an authorized agent. An official confirmation will be sent to you after submission of your request.
Reservations are only confirmed if payment has been made in advance. If Caribe Shuttle has not received payment and no other arrangement has been approved, the reservation is not confirmed.

Itinerary Changes

  • Changes made to itineraries more than 48 hours prior to departure date will be accepted free of charge.

  • A 20% fee will be charged on changes made to itineraries less than 48 hours but more than 24 hours prior to departure date.

  • NO REFUND will be given for changes to itineraries made less than 24 hours prior to departure date. In other words, the client will have to purchase a new ticket.

  • All itinerary changes are subject to availability.

Cancellation Policies

  • Caribe Shuttle will retain a 10% administration fee or US$15 per order (not per ticket), whichever is higher on all cancellations requested more than 48 hours before departure.

  • NO REFUND will be given on cancellations made less than 48 hours prior to departure.

  • “No Shows” will not receive a refund. The shuttle vehicle will only wait 5 minutes in the assigned pick up places. If a passenger fails to show up five minutes past the assigned pick-up time, this will result in a No Show status and the passenger will not receive a refund.

  • Passengers beginning their trip in Bocas del Toro must check in with the Caribe Shuttle agent at the assigned meeting place 30 minutes prior to the scheduled boat departure. The “Meeting Time” or “Pick Up Time” on passenger confirmation vouchers is 30 minutes prior to scheduled boat departure. If passengers fail to check in within 15 minutes after the time indicated in the confirmation voucher, the boat company may reassign your seat to another person, and you will NOT receive a refund. The boat may depart without a call or warning 15 minutes before or after scheduled departure times. Passengers are responsible to be on board. If the boat leaves without a passenger, the passenger will miss the shuttle and will NOT receive a refund. MAKE SURE YOU ARE ON THE CORRECT BOAT AT THE CORRECT TIME.

  • Caribe Shuttle reserves the right to alter prices, itineraries, arrange alternative transportation, accommodation or services, or to cancel bookings.

  • Caribe Shuttle may change or cancel any service for reasons of force majeure, such as: strikes, weather conditions, war or local guerrillas, popular demonstrations, natural disasters, acts of terrorism, etc.

  • If Caribe Shuttle begins a shuttle service but fails to deliver clients to their destinations for reasons of force majeure such as strikes, weather conditions, war or local guerrillas, popular demonstrations, natural disasters, acts of terrorism, etc, Caribe Shuttle will try to return clients to the point of deparure, but as force majeure is out of the control of Caribe Shuttle, no guarantee can be made that Caribe Shuttle will be able to deliver clients safely to their origin or destination. In this case clients may need to continue independently and should keep emergency cash. Caribe Shuttle cannot be held liable for in this type of scenario and is under no obligation to issue a refund.

  • If Caribe Shuttle cancels service before service begins for reasons of force majeure, Caribe Shuttle will reschedule service or approve a full refund at the client’s option.

  • If Caribe Shuttle begins service and then fails to deliver clients to the destination and/or the origin for reasons of force majeure, the contract between client and Caribe Shuttle will be considered fulfilled because Caribe Shuttle will have acted in good faith to complete the contract and encountered significant, normal and possibly extra-normal expenses to do so, and Caribe Shuttle assumes no liability for direct or indirect financial or physical damages to clients as a result of not being able to reach their origin or destination, and clients will not receive a refund.

Service Refusal

Caribe Shuttle reserves the right to refuse service to anybody for any reason, with or without cause, at our sole discretion. If service is denied with cause, which cause we decide at our sole discretion, at any time prior to or during the service, NO REFUND will be granted. Some reasons we may deny service include, but are not limited to the following:

​

  • Action necessary or advisable due to weather, floods, war, strikes or other conditions beyond Caribe Shuttle’s control commonly referred to as “acts of God,” and “force majeure.”

  • Refusal to permit a search of person or property for explosives or for deadly, controlled, or dangerous weapons, articles or substances.

  • Refusal to produce positive identification upon request.

  • A physical or mental condition such that in Caribe Shuttle’s sole opinion, a passenger is rendered or likely to be rendered incapable of comprehending or complying with safety instructions without the assistance of a driver or captain.

  • Passenger conduct is disorderly, abusive or violent, or passenger appears to be intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.

  • Attempt to interfere with any member of the trip or the driver or captain, have a communicable disease that has been determined by a health authority to be transmissible to other persons in the normal course of service, refuse to obey instructions from any driver or captain, have an offensive odor not caused by a disability or illness, are clothed in a manner that would cause discomfort or offense to other passengers, are barefoot, or engage in any action, voluntary or involuntary, that might jeopardize the safety of the vehicle or any of its occupants.

Baggage Policies

  • “Baggage” means such articles, effects and other personal property as are necessary or appropriate for your wear, use, comfort or convenience in connection with your trip, whether checked in the cargo compartment or carried in the passenger compartment of the bus.

  • Passengers may not bring with them anything other than their personal baggage. Caribe Shuttle will not act as a cargo carrier.

  • Included Baggage: Each passenger is allowed one suitcase and one carry-on. The carry on must stay with the passenger at all times.

  • Extra Baggage: Transport of extra baggage is not included in the price and must be arranged in advance. There is an additional charge for each extra piece of baggage.

  • Sports Equipment: Surfboards and other sports equipment are considered extra baggage and therefore there will be an additional charge for each piece and must be arranged in advance. We accept surf boards up to 6 ft. 5 in. or 195 cm in length. 

  • General Acceptance of Baggage: Only baggage as defined in this section above, item number 1, will be accepted for transportation. All baggage is subject to inspection. Checked baggage will be accepted for transportation only on shuttle service on which you are traveling. Caribe Shuttle will not accept baggage whose size, weight, or character makes it unsuitable for transportation on the minivan or boat as determined by Caribe Shuttle. Other than exceptions for certain special items, no article will be accepted as baggage if it weighs more than 70pounds/32kgs or has a total out side linear dimension (length plus width plus height) of more than 62inches/157cm. Your name must appear on all baggage.

  • Fragile, Perishable and Hazardous Items: Fragile and perishable items will be accepted only if the passenger agrees to release Caribe Shuttle from liability for damage due to spoilage or delay. Hazardous materials will not be accepted as baggage.

  • Firearms: Firearms and ammunition will not be accepted.

Accepted Forms of Payment

  • Deposit or transfer full amount to these Banco de Costa Rica accounts:                                  Dollars,  Coriente, Banco de Costa Rica account # 399-138-4, Aventuras Bravas SA                        Colones, Coriente, Banco de Costa Rica account # 399-148-1, Aventuras Bravas SA                          Please email or fax proof of payment to Caribe Shuttle at info@caribeshuttle.com, or Fax:  (506) 2750-0626

  • Deposit full amount for the shuttle at a Caribe Shuttle office.

  • Credit card authorization.

Crossing International Borders

  • Immigration Customs, etc: On itineraries that cross international borders, the passenger is responsible for complying with applicable immigration and customs laws and rules including possessing a valid passport and any required visas, etc.

  • Problems with Immigration: If a passenger encounters unusual problems and delays at immigration, Caribe Shuttle will not be able to wait. In that case the passenger will need to find alternative transportation from the border and the passenger will receive NO REFUND. We encourage passengers to make sure they have proper papers in order and enough cash on hand to pay for any visas, tourist cards, onward flight interneraries, etc., plus emergency cash in case they are left at the border.

  • Proof of Departure: Both Panama and Costa Rica require proof that passengers entering their countries have made transportation arrangements to depart the country being entered, or the need to be in another nearby country at a future date for a flight. This means a ticket for an international flight. This ticket can be from any country in Central America to another destination. Costa Rican and Panamanian officials at this border crossing DO NOT consider a reservation with Caribe Shuttle as proof. However, Caribe Shuttle vouchers are fine for proof of departure with airlines and immigration officials at Costa Rica and Panama airports.

Liability

  • Caribe Shuttle acts as an agent for third party transportation and tour operators. Caribe Shuttle cannot take responsibility and cannot be held liable for the actions or negligence of third party carriers and tour operators.

  • Caribe Shuttle will not be liable for loss or damage of baggage, carry-ons, extra baggage and ports equipment. Caribe Shuttle is not responsible or liable for items lost or left in vehicles, boats, etc.

  • Caribe Shuttle will not be held responsible for schedule changes in ferry or water taxi services, nor for accidents and/or loss of baggage during the trip on the ferry or water taxi.

  • Caribe Shuttle will endeavor to carry you and your baggage with reasonable dispatch, but times shown in itinerary or elsewhere are not guaranteed and form no part of any contract. Caribe Shuttle may, without notice, substitute alternate contractors, change routs and, if necessary, may alter or omit stopping places shown on the ticket. Schedules are subject to change without notice. Caribe Shuttle is not responsible for or liable for failure to make connections or to operate any shuttle according to schedule or for a change to the schedule of any shuttle service. Under no circumstances shall Caribe Shuttle be liable for any special, incidental or consequential damages arising from the foregoing.

  • Caribe Shuttle may, in the event of a force majeure event or events commonly referred to as “acts of God,” without notice, cancel, terminate, divert, postpone or delay any shuttle service without liability except to issue an involuntary refund. The involuntary refund will be made in the original form of payment in accordance with involuntary refund rules for any unused portion of clients itinerary. Caribe Shuttle will also reserve the right to determine if any pick up or drop off should be made without any liability except the aforementioned involuntary refund.

  • Caribe Shuttle assumes no responsibility for loss, damage of transferred baggage not acceptable for transportation by Caribe Shuttle as checked baggage, items damaged as a result of items contained in checked or transferred baggage, and items accepted by Caribe Shuttle pursuant to the execution of a release form.

  • Caribe Shuttle assumes no liability for articles carried in the passenger cabin.

  • Caribe Shuttle assumes no liability for minor damage such as scratches, scuffs, stains, dents, cuts and dirt resulting from normal wear and tear.

  • Caribe Shuttle is not responsible for damage to contents if the outside of the hard-sided case is not damaged.

  • Caribe Shuttle assumes no responsibility for damage to or loss of protruding baggage parts such as wheels, straps, pockets, pull handles, hanger hooks or other items attached to the baggage.

  • Caribe Shuttle assumes no liability for any indirect, consequential, incidental, punitive or special damages resulting from loss, damages for lost revenue or profits, loss of use or business interruption.

  • Passengers agree that any dispute about liability will be decided in a court of law in Costa Rica. In any case, Caribe Shuttle’sliability for loss, damage or delayed delivery of checked or transferred baggage is limited to the actual value of the baggage or $100.00, whichever is less. Even if the passenger declares a higher value, Caribe Shuttle will not cover more than the sum of $100.00.

  • Adventure Activities: When practicing in adventure activities, and/or visiting wilderness areas or other places where a tour enters or takes place, tour participant attests and assumes the risks and dangers inherent to these areas and activities.

  • Accidents: Liability for death or personal injuries to passengers is limited to contract conditions with suppliers and insurance coverage subscribe by the company, according to the laws of Costa Rica, in effect at the moment of the accident.

Involuntary Refunds

In the event the refund is required because of Caribe Shuttle’s failure to operate on schedule or refusal to transport, the following refund will be made directly to you, If the ticket is totally unused, the full amount paid (with no service charge, administration fee or refund penalty), or If the ticket is partially used, the applicable fare for the unused segment(s). Children

​

  • Rate: Caribe Shuttle may offer special rates for children YOUNGER than 12 years. An approved child seat required (not provided) for children between 6 months and 3 years or as provided by local laws.

  • Accompanied: Children under 12 years of age will be accepted for transportation when accompanied by a passenger at least 18 years of age.

  • Unaccompanied: Unaccompanied children under 12 years of age will not be accepted under any circumstances. Unaccompanied teenager over 12 years of age will be accepted and consider as an adult, they will travel by their parents responsibility and Caribe Shuttle assumes no liability.

Special Needs Passengers

Caribe Shuttle endeavors to provide passengers with disabilities dignified, professional, and courteous service at all times. Customer Support representative who responds to the customer’s initial email passes pertinent information to our operations personnel once customer has made the reservation.

​

  • Pre-Reserved Seats: Caribe Shuttle will block seats on each minivan to accommodate customers who identify themselves as having a qualified disability. Adjacent seats are provided, under certain circumstances, for customers with disabilities who must travel with a companion for assistance.

  • Assistive Devices: Unfortunately, Caribe Shuttle is not able to accept motorized and non-motorized assistive devices for transport. We are able to a accept manual wheelchair. We will disassemble and reassemble wheelchairs for customers when they travel. We do not provide wheelchair to our customers.

  • Boarding Assistance: If you have special needs, upon request, pre-boarding assistance will be provided to you, allowing you the opportunity to be seated prior to general boarding or pre-reserved a special located seat.

  • Therapeutic Oxygen: Caribe Shuttle does not provides on-board therapeutic oxygen.

  • Service Animals: Caribe Shuttle has adopted a NO PETS policy. As much as we love them, unfortunately we are unable to accommodate service animals in our vans.

Pets

Caribe Shuttle has adopted a NO PETS policy. As much as we love them, unfortunately we are unable to accommodate pets or service animals in our vans.

bottom of page