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Terms of Service

v1.1 Effective Apr 23, 2026

The ground rules for using Tek a Hike — who can use the platform, what we promise, what we ask of you, and how disputes are handled.

1. Who we are

Tek a Hike (the "Platform", "we", "us") is operated by Tek a Hike Limited, a company registered in Kingston, Jamaica. The Platform is a booking marketplace that connects hikers with verified tour operators and certified guides offering hiking experiences in Jamaica.

These Terms of Service ("Terms") form a legal agreement between you and Tek a Hike Limited. By creating an account, listing services, or booking a hike, you agree to these Terms.

2. Eligibility

You may use the Platform if you are at least 18 years old and able to enter into a binding contract under Jamaican law. If you are booking on behalf of a minor, you confirm you are their legal guardian and accept these Terms on their behalf.

3. Your account

  • Provide accurate, current information when you register.
  • You are responsible for keeping your login credentials secure.
  • Notify us immediately at hello@tekahike.com if you suspect unauthorised access.
  • You are responsible for all activity under your account.

4. Hiker bookings

  • A confirmed booking creates a contract between you and the operator running the experience, not Tek a Hike.
  • Tek a Hike collects payment on the operator's behalf and remits it after a successful experience, less applicable platform fees.
  • You must complete any required digital waiver before participating. Failure to do so may forfeit your booking.
  • Cancellation, refund, and rescheduling rules are set by each operator on their listing. Read them carefully before booking.

5. Partner (operator) listings

  • Operators are independent businesses or licensed independent guides. They are responsible for the safety, accuracy, and legality of their listings, equipment, insurance, and conduct.
  • Operators must keep their tourism licence (where applicable), liability insurance, and certifications current.
  • Tek a Hike may verify documents, request updates, suspend listings, or remove operators who do not meet our standards.

6. Payments and fees

  • Payments are processed by our payment partners (currently Scotiabank Caribbean and Stripe). By paying, you also agree to their respective terms.
  • Tek a Hike may charge platform service fees disclosed at checkout. Operators may be charged commission as set out in the Partner Agreement.
  • Refunds are issued in line with the operator's refund policy. Bona fide chargebacks are handled in line with the relevant gateway's rules.

7. Acceptable use

You agree not to:

  • Use the Platform for any unlawful purpose, including breaches of the Jamaica Data Protection Act, the Cybercrimes Act, or anti-money-laundering laws.
  • Misrepresent your identity, certifications, business registration, or insurance status.
  • Post false reviews, scrape data, attempt to bypass security controls, or send spam or unsolicited marketing.
  • Interfere with the Platform's operation or another user's enjoyment of it.

8. On the trail — our house rule

Tek pictures. Mek memories. Leave only footprints.

Jamaica's trails, rivers, waterfalls, caves, beaches, and forests are part of our shared natural and cultural heritage. By booking, listing, or guiding a hike on Tek a Hike, you accept our Environmental & Cultural Heritage Pledge as a binding part of these Terms. In summary, you must:

  • Take nothing but pictures. Do not pick flowers or fruit, snap branches, peel bark, dig up roots or seedlings, or remove rocks, shells, fossils, artefacts, or wildlife from any site.
  • Leave nothing but footprints. Carry out everything you carry in — including food scraps, fruit peels, cigarette butts, tissue, sanitary products, and any pet waste. If you find litter, take it with you.
  • Do no harm to living things. Do not break, cut, carve, or set fire to trees or plants. Do not chase, feed, capture, or kill wildlife. Keep dogs leashed and away from nesting areas.
  • Respect cultural and heritage sites. Do not climb on, deface, or remove material from Taíno sites, Maroon settlements, monuments, ruins, or sacred sites. Always follow your guide's instructions.
  • Stay on the trail. Cutting switchbacks and bushwhacking causes erosion and damages habitats.
  • Respect host communities. Ask before photographing people, support local vendors fairly, and follow any community-specific rules your operator shares with you.

Material breach of the Pledge — such as deliberately damaging the environment, removing protected items, or harming wildlife — may result in immediate removal from the experience without refund, suspension or closure of your account, reporting to the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) or the Jamaica Constabulary Force where appropriate, and recovery of any rectification costs.

The full text is published at /legal/environmental-pledge and forms part of these Terms.

9. User content

You retain ownership of the content you upload (listings, photos, reviews, messages). You grant Tek a Hike a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to host, display, adapt, and promote that content for the purpose of operating and marketing the Platform.

You confirm you have the rights to the content you upload, including any necessary releases from people pictured.

10. Intellectual property

The Tek a Hike name, logo, designs, code, and software are owned by Tek a Hike Limited or its licensors. You may not copy, modify, or reverse-engineer them except as permitted by law.

11. Disclaimers

Hiking carries inherent risks including injury, illness, exposure to weather, wildlife, and remote conditions. To the maximum extent allowed by law, Tek a Hike provides the Platform "as is" and disclaims all implied warranties. Tek a Hike does not organise, supervise, or guide hikes — operators do.

12. Limitation of liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Tek a Hike Limited's total liability to you arising out of or in connection with these Terms or your use of the Platform is capped at the greater of (a) the platform fees you paid us in the twelve months before the event giving rise to the claim or (b) JMD 25,000.

We are not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages.

Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot be excluded by law (for example, fraud or death/personal injury caused by negligence).

13. Suspension and termination

We may suspend or close accounts that breach these Terms, pose a safety or fraud risk, or are required by law to be removed. You may close your account at any time; certain records may be retained where required by law (for example, tax or anti-money-laundering records).

14. Changes

We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be notified by email or in-app notice at least 14 days before they take effect. Continued use after the effective date constitutes acceptance.

15. Governing law and disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of Jamaica. The courts of Jamaica have exclusive jurisdiction, except where mandatory consumer protection laws give you the right to bring a claim in your home jurisdiction.

We encourage informal resolution first — please email hello@tekahike.com so we can try to resolve any concern quickly.

16. Contact

Tek a Hike Limited Kingston, Jamaica Email: hello@tekahike.com

Need an older version or a signed copy? Email hello@tekahike.com.