Health & Safety Protocols
We’re examining every aspect of every trip, to ensure that we meet or exceed the appropriate guidelines, requirements, and recommendations of the U.S. State Department, the CDC, and the Portuguese Ministry of Health.
Any changes to trip itineraries or activities will be communicated to travelers as soon as we make those decisions. Read on for details about specific changes we’re making to every trip.
Health assessment
All travelers and guides will participate in pre-trip health assessments as well as ongoing health assessments while traveling. If a person needs to cancel their trip due to illness or potential exposure prior to departure, they can do so without financial penalty.
Accommodations
For lodge-based trips, we will closely assess all accommodations for appropriate sanitation.
Dining and food preparation
Prepared meals will follow food-handling guidelines and be served by the guides, rather than self-serve or family style. When dining at our accommodations or dining at public restaurants, we will ensure adherence to local requirements, and accommodate travelers’ seating preferences and level of personal comfort to the best of our ability.
Sanitized vehicles and equipment
In our vehicles, high-touch surfaces are sanitized frequently during the trip, and the entire vehicle gets thoroughly cleaned between groups. Gear and equipment intended to be used by one person for the duration of the trip will be issued on an individual basis. Everything gets cleaned and sanitized after each trip, or is regularly cleaned throughout, depending on its use. Guests should also bring their own personal hand sanitizer and use it regularly while on the trip.
Contact tracing
If Winding Road Tours is notified that a member of a trip tested positive for COVID-19 , we will follow CDC guidelines and the Portuguese Ministry of Health protocols and contact all participants. We will not share the identity of the individual.
Social Distancing
Small group sizes
Because of the pandemic, we are reducing group sizes even further to comply with local guidelines. Small groups also create more space in vehicles, and let us spread out more during meals and activities.
Appropriate spacing during activities
Whether on the water, on the trail, on bikes or on foot, guests must maintain adequate spacing during activities, in accordance with their vaccination status, even while wearing face coverings. The bright side: more space between people makes it easier to bask in the beauty of the surroundings.
More spacious vehicles
Small group sizes ensure more space between travelers during vehicle transfers. If needed, we’ll also use larger vehicles (or more of them). Face coverings will be required for guests and guides during any provided transportation.
Protecting Local Communities
We’ll closely assess the risk to every community we visit, and avoid traveling to the most vulnerable communities until it is appropriate to do so.