EXPEDITION FAQ.

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Everything you need to know before stepping on board.

To guarantee private vessel assignment and crew scheduling, a 100% deposit is required to confirm all maritime activities. We accept secure major credit cards, PayPal, and cash settlements.
For all formal Scuba Diving certification tracks, a $250 non-refundable retainer is immediately allocated to secure your personal PADI e-learning credentials. Once registered, these digital training modules belong to you permanently and can be used to complete your certification at any verified PADI facility worldwide.
Cancellations made less than 48 hours prior to scheduled departure will be charged in full. No-shows or late arrivals exceeding 30 minutes incur immediate full-rate charging. Please note that as a boutique operation, last-minute cancellations heavily impact our logistics. Arrukö holds zero liability for tracks aborted due to guest sea-sickness, fear, or inner-ear equalization failures.

Yes. Maritime law mandates that all sports fishing anglers acquire a personal fishing license. These permits are highly affordable and issued with an initial validity of 8 days or more. You can secure your legal credentials directly via the official government portal at INCOPESCA.
We operate under strict marine conservation guidelines and absolute respect for Costa Rican wildlife regulations. Key pelagic game fish—including Sailfish, Marlin, and Roosterfish—are strictly managed under catch-and-release protocols. Furthermore, we adhere rigorously to the annual Gulf of Nicoya Fishing Ban (running from May 1 to July 31) to protect maternal marine reproduction cycles; offshore deep-sea fishing remains open and accessible year-round.
Our private charters operate rain or shine. However, the captain maintains absolute authority to postpone or cancel deployments in the event of unsafe open-ocean environments. If an expedition is safely aborted due to severe weather, immediate logistics for rescheduling or full-rate adjustments will be initiated.

Gratuities for the maritime crew and master guides are entirely optional but highly welcomed as a reflection of premium service. Within private charters, a gratuity of 10% to 20% is considered customary within international maritime standards.
Small domestic pets are welcome aboard our private routes. To ensure onboard safety and movement protocols, we strictly limit this clearance to compact, small-sized dogs.

Secure your private charter dates. High-performance seasonal slots are strictly limited due to cetacean migration patterns.