Cancellation and Refund Policy

At Venture Outdoors, we’ve built our cancellation and refund policy based on time-tested industry standards and a commitment to fairness—for both our guests and our team. As a small adventure company operating on public lands, every tour matters, and each reservation directly impacts our ability to serve others and stay sustainable.

We kindly ask that you read this policy thoroughly and understand what you are agreeing to when you book with us. Exceptions will not be made outside of the terms below, regardless of personal circumstances. For added peace of mind, we strongly recommend purchasing trip insurance or opting into our Trip Protection at the time of booking.

We’re always happy to answer questions—and we truly can’t wait to help you experience Florida’s unforgettable natural wonders.

General Cancellations by Venture Outdoors

Venture Outdoors reserves the right to cancel any activity for internal reasons, including but not limited to low enrollment, guide illness or injury, or loss of essential equipment. If we cancel an activity for these reasons, you will receive a full refund, including any deposit paid.

We are not responsible for additional expenses incurred in preparation for your trip (such as non-refundable airfare, hotel bookings, car rentals, visa or medical costs). Please consider travel insurance to help safeguard those expenses.

Circumstances Beyond Our Control

If an activity must be canceled or modified due to circumstances outside of our control—including but not limited to public land closures, natural disasters, public health emergencies, or civil unrest—we will issue a full activity credit, minus any nonrefundable expenses we’ve incurred on your behalf. Refunds will not be issued in these situations.

We do not issue refunds for arriving late or leaving an activity early. Exceptions to this policy cannot be made for any reason, including personal emergencies, illness, flight delays, or weather conditions.

Language Requests for Guides

We are proud to have a diverse team of guides, including some who speak multiple languages. While we do our best to accommodate requests for a guide who speaks your preferred language, we cannot guarantee guide availability in any specific language. Our multilingual guides are limited in number and may become unavailable due to unforeseen circumstances such as illness or injury.

No refunds or activity credit will be provided in the event that we are unable to fulfill a language request. We appreciate your understanding that activity quality and safety remain our top priorities, regardless of language spoken.

DAY ACTIVITY CANCELLATIONS

Due to high demand and limited group sizes, we require at least 72 hours’ notice via phone or email for cancellations of day activities. With proper notice, we will issue a full refund. Cancellations made within 72 hours of your scheduled activity are not eligible for a refund, and tickets are non-transferable.

Each reservation will receive a confirmation that includes the name of the lead guest, contact information (email and/or phone) of the lead guest, number of participants, and activity details. Please ensure this information is accurate when booking.

Venture Outdoors is not responsible for being unable to contact you regarding time, location, or weather-related changes if incorrect or incomplete contact information was provided at the time of booking. No refunds or activity credits will be issued in such cases. If you miss an activity because we were unable to reach you, we will try to rebook you on another activity, subject to availability, but cannot guarantee a spot.

Trip Protection (Optional Add-On)

To offer maximum flexibility, we provide an optional Trip Protection add-on at checkout. This allows you to cancel or reschedule your activity for any reason, up to 8 hours before departure, and receive a full refund of your ticket price (minus the cost of Trip Protection and processing fees).

You can opt in or out during online or phone booking. We highly recommend this option if your plans are subject to change.

Late Arrivals & No-Shows

Please arrive at your designated meeting location at least 30 minutes before the activity start time. If you arrive late and miss your departure, we reserve the right to release your spot to other guests. No refunds or reschedules will be provided for late arrivals or no-shows, regardless of the reason.

Weather, Cancellations & Changes Due to Conditions

Florida’s subtropical climate means that light rain, passing storms, and sudden shifts in weather are common. Most of our activities can safely run in light rain, and many guests find that wildlife activity is even more exciting during these moments.

Please remember that an afternoon or evening thunder and lightning storm is absolutely normal every day of summer in Florida. These storms usually pass within 30–60 minutes. We monitor weather conditions very closely at the activity site and will assess if that day’s regular storm is temporary and safe to wait out.

That said, safety always comes first. If prolonged or hazardous weather (e.g., lightning, high winds, unsafe water conditions) prevents us from launching as scheduled, the following applies:

We do our best to run our activities as promised, but there are times when we must delay or cancel for safety. Weather is beyond the control of Venture Outdoors, and we do not issue refunds for weather-related cancellations.
If we must change your activity’s time or location due to weather, your reservation will remain valid. If you cannot participate, you will be eligible for credit toward a future activity or rescheduling, but not a refund.

Here’s what to expect if there is inclement weather when you arrive for your activity:

We will wait 30 minutes past a lightning strike within 10 miles.
Activities may be delayed past initial launch time. Please be prepared to wait.
Many guests have driven a long way or are catching a flight later the same day. We will do our best to launch as soon as it is safe.
If there are available spots, you may rebook on a later activity the same day or evening.
Guests who leave before the first 1-hour weather hold has passed will not be eligible for an activity credit or rebooking. This means, if your activity was scheduled to depart at 8:30, you must be willing to wait until at least 9:30 due to weather.
Guests who stay through the first 1-hour weather hold, but choose not to wait longer, will be eligible for an activity credit or rescheduling.

In the rare case that we cancel an activity entirely for weather or unsafe conditions, we will offer you the option to reschedule or receive a credit toward a future experience. Please email us via our Contact Us form or call 407-267-9950 to arrange.

MULTI-DAY TRIP CANCELLATIONS

Non-Refundable Deposit

A non-refundable deposit of $500 per person is required to secure your spot on any multi-day trip. This deposit is applied toward the total trip cost but is not refundable under any circumstances, including cancellations.

Guest Cancellations

All cancellations must be made in writing by email and acknowledged by a Venture Outdoors team member.

60+ days before trip start: Refund of all payments made minus the $500 non-refundable deposit and a 5% processing fee on the refunded balance, or option for 100% credit (including deposit) toward a future trip.
31 to 59 days before trip start: No refund. 50% credit may be issued at our discretion if we are able to rebook your spot.
30 days or fewer before trip start / No-shows: No refund or credit will be issued.

Travel Insurance Recommendation

We highly recommend purchasing short-term travel insurance, such as those offered by Seven Corners or Allianz Travel Insurance. This type of coverage can help protect you in case of:

Trip cancellation, interruption, or delay
Emergency medical needs
Baggage and airline ticket reimbursement

In the event that you find it necessary to cancel due to a personal or family emergency, illness, or other unforeseen circumstances, travel insurance may reimburse non-refundable costs, including your deposit and any prepaid expenses. We are not able to refund for these events unless covered under our policy above.

Changes by Guest

We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate date or participant changes requested more than 30 days in advance. Changes within 30 days may not be possible and may incur administrative or rescheduling fees.
Substitutions (transferring your spot to another person) may be allowed if requested more than 7 days in advance and approved by us in writing.

Weather, Delays & Itinerary Changes

Multi-day trips are planned carefully around seasonal weather, but outdoor conditions are inherently unpredictable. Rain or inclement weather is not considered valid grounds for cancellation unless we determine it to be unsafe.
Venture Outdoors may adjust itineraries, departure times, or activities for safety or logistical reasons. Such changes do not qualify for refunds.

Minimum Participant Requirement

Trips may require a minimum number of participants. If a trip is canceled due to insufficient enrollment, you will be notified at least 14 days in advance and issued a full refund or offered alternative options.

Medical Considerations & Liability

All of our guides are trained and certified in wilderness first aid. We carry radios and cell phones to summon emergency assistance when needed; however, please note that trip locations are remote and response times may be delayed.

Participants are strongly encouraged to obtain medical and evacuation insurance appropriate for remote, outdoor adventure travel.
Venture Outdoors assumes no responsibility for the provision or cost of emergency medical care, treatment, or evacuation.
Certain medical conditions may require written permission from your doctor prior to participation.
Guests age 70 or older are required to provide a doctor’s written authorization to participate in our sea kayak or physically demanding multi-day tours.