(Thus added by article 2 of executive decree No. 43759 of October 26, 2022)
1.1 SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPING THE HIGH ROPES ACTIVITY This document establishes the operation requirements for any Adventure tourism company or service provider, specifically in HIGH ROPES activities. It does not include ziplines (tirolesas) or bungee jumping.
. High ropes course (Campo de cuerdas altas): Activity consisting of one or several challenge elements such as walkways, swings, and ziplines. Generally, these elements are built at a minimum height of two (2) meters, where the participant can be assisted by their safety system or instructed in its management.
Section Bº CONSTRUCTION: The high ropes service provider must comply with the following construction requirements for the facilities necessary for the development of the activity:
i. Dendrological or forestry study of the trees used, if the anchors are in trees.
ii. Appropriate use of all materials respecting the manufacturer's recommendations for each material, such as safety factors, appropriate use, and their limitations.
iii. Have an anchor system that does not damage the bark and integrity of the trees, when the anchors are installed in trees.
Section Cº SAFETY EQUIPMENT: The high ropes activity provider must use equipment certified for the specific activity or homologues. The manufacturer's technical specifications for the protective equipment and accessories, as well as their use, must be indicated.
List all safety and protective equipment, including clothing, required by the guide and the user, as well as the verification processes for the same before, during, and at the end of the activity.
D.1 OPERATION AND SAFETY MANUAL (MANUAL DE OPERACIÓN Y SEGURIDAD):
i. Description of the course.
ii. List of equipment used according to the user's physical characteristics and circuit features.
iii. Safety protocols during operation, including verification of weather conditions.
iv. Responsibilities, tour guiding procedures, and requirements for guides and users, including physical, health, age, weight, height, and behavioral conditions.
v. Detail of the guides' functions, including organization, hierarchy, and delegation of functions within the work team.
vi. Description of rescue and first aid equipment.
vii. Procedure and instructions to the client on the use of the double lanyard safety system or continuous safety system.
viii. Process and person responsible for verifying the signature of the Mutual Responsibility Agreement (Acuerdo Mutuo de Responsabilidad) by all users.
ix. Detail of the safety instructions to users or safety talk, which includes:
. Welcome and introduction of guides and facilitators.
. Measures and recommendations for the user, such as clothing, management of long hair, management of safety equipment, etc.
. Brief description of the circuit mentioning available routes and the difficulty level of each.
. Maximum number of people per element.
. Participant behavior during the traversal of the elements.
. Procedure and behavior during a potential self-rescue or assisted rescue.
. Actions the user must take to reduce the environmental impact where the activities will be developed.
x. Communication protocol.
xi. Annual inspection report by a professional in the field, of the structures and operation. This report must be attached to the logbook (bitácora).
xii. Logbook (bitácora) of accidents and incidents which must contain a consecutive number and date.
D.2 MAINTENANCE MANUAL (MANUAL DE MANTENIMIENTO) (structures and equipment):
i. Logbooks (bitácoras) for circuit review: daily, weekly, and monthly.
ii. Procedure for review and preventive maintenance of protective equipment and accessories, indicating their useful life, review frequency, and responsible person, following the manufacturer's specifications.
iii. Logbooks (bitácoras) for daily use of equipment and review of the same: daily, weekly, and monthly, following and indicating the corrective action plan when damage exists.
D.3 EMERGENCY PLAN (PLAN DE EMERGENCIAS):
D.3.1 THREAT ANALYSIS.
i. Indicate the conditions and risk factors associated with the practice of the activity.
ii. Location of emergency response and care bodies such as firefighters, Red Cross, emergency technician; and determine reaction times.
D.3.2 ORGANIZATION FOR EMERGENCY CARE.
i. List of responsible guides with their respective certification in Basic First Aid (PAB), Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), and specific rescue for the activity, updated and valid on the day of the activity's operation.
ii. Protocol, hierarchy, and delegation of functions during emergency care.
iii. Indicate the communication means to be used: telephones, radios, and others.
D.3.3 EVACUATION AND RESCUE PLAN.
i. Evacuation routes, indicating signage and safety zones.
ii. Protocol, hierarchy, and procedure, indicating:
. How to evaluate the situation.
. How to decide and conduct the rescue considering available resources, time limitations, and safety priorities.
. How to inform and motivate users.
iii. Training schedule, such as exercises and drills, so that personnel know and are able to react according to the emergency plan, keeping the corresponding records in the logbook (bitácora).
1.2 SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPING THE ZIPLINE (TIROLESAS) ACTIVITY This document establishes the operation requirements for any adventure tourism company or service provider, specifically in ZIPLINE (TIROLESAS) activities.
. Zipline (Tirolesa): A lifeline suspended between two support points that allows a person connected to a pulley to make a crossing propelled by the force of gravity.
. Zipline Tour (Tour de Tirolesas): A guided activity over a landscape composed of ziplines (tirolesas) and platforms generally supported by artificial structures.
. Canopy Tour (Tour de Canopy): A guided activity within the forest canopy composed of ziplines (tirolesas) and aerial walkways with platforms generally in the trees.
Section Bº CONSTRUCTION: The zipline (tirolesas) service provider must comply with the following construction requirements for the facilities necessary for the development of the activity:
i. Dendrological or forestry study of the trees used, if the anchors are in trees.
ii. Structural plans and load capacity study evaluated by a civil engineer, in the case of artificial structures.
iii. Appropriate use of all materials respecting the manufacturer's recommendations for each material, such as safety factors, appropriate use, and their limitations.
iv. Have an independent safety system on aerial platforms according to the number of people on the platform and respecting the manufacturer's safety factor.
v. Have an anchor system that does not damage the bark and integrity of the trees, when the anchors are installed in trees.
vi. Every zipline (tirolesa) must have a braking system.
Section Cº SAFETY EQUIPMENT: The zipline (tirolesas) activity provider must use equipment certified for the specific activity or homologues. The manufacturer's technical specifications for the protective equipment and accessories, as well as their use, must be indicated.
List all safety and protective equipment, including clothing, required by the guide and the user, as well as the verification processes for the same before, during, and at the end of the activity.
D.1 OPERATION AND SAFETY MANUAL:
i. Description of the course.
ii. List of equipment used according to the user's physical characteristics and circuit features.
iii. Safety protocols during operation, including verification of weather conditions.
iv. Responsibilities, tour guiding procedures, and requirements for guides and users, including physical, health, age, weight, height, and behavioral conditions.
v. Detail of the guides' functions, including organization, hierarchy, and delegation of functions within the work team.
vi. Description of rescue and first aid equipment.
vii. Process and person responsible for verifying the signature of the Mutual Responsibility Agreement by all users.
viii. Detail of the safety instructions to users or safety talk, which includes:
. Welcome and introduction of guides.
. Brief description of the circuit.
. Measures and recommendations for the user, such as clothing, management of long hair, management of safety equipment, etc.
. Body position and orientation during the course, including hands and feet.
. Description of safety signals.
. Procedure and behavior during braking.
. Procedure and behavior during a potential self-rescue or assisted rescue.
. Actions the user must take to reduce the environmental impact in where the activities will be developed.
ix. Communication protocol.
x. Annual inspection report by a professional in the field, of the structures and operation. This report must be attached to the logbook (bitácora).
xi. Logbook (bitácora) of accidents and incidents which must contain a consecutive number and date.
D.2 MAINTENANCE MANUAL (structures and equipment):
i. Logbooks (bitácoras) for circuit review: daily, weekly, and monthly.
ii. Procedure for review and preventive maintenance of protective equipment and accessories, indicating their useful life, review frequency, and responsible person, following the manufacturer's specifications.
iii. Logbooks (bitácoras) for daily use of equipment and review of the same: daily, weekly, and monthly, following and indicating the corrective action plan when damage exists.
D.3 EMERGENCY PLAN:
D.3.1 THREAT ANALYSIS.
i. Indicate the conditions and risk factors associated with the practice of the activity.
ii. Location of emergency response and care bodies such as fire departments, Cruz Roja, emergency technician; and determine the reaction times.
D.3.2 ORGANIZATION FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
i. List of responsible guides with their respective certification in Basic First Aid (Primeros Auxilios Básico, PAB), Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (Resucitación Cardiopulmonar, RCP), and specific rescue for the activity, updated and valid as of the day of the activity's operation.
ii. Protocol, hierarchy, and delegation of functions during emergency response.
iii. Indicate the means of communication to be used: telephones, radios, and others.
D.3.3 EVACUATION AND RESCUE PLAN.
i. Evacuation routes, indicating signage and safety zones.
ii. Protocol, hierarchy, and procedure, indicating:
. How to evaluate the situation.
. How to decide and conduct the rescue considering available resources, time limitations, and safety priorities.
. How to inform and motivate the users.
iii. Training schedule, such as exercises and drills, so that the staff knows and is capable of reacting according to the emergency plan, keeping the corresponding records in the logbook.
1.3 SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPING THE ACTIVITY OF BUNGEE JUMPING This document establishes the operation requirements for any adventure tourism service company or provider, specifically in BUNGEE JUMPING activities.
. Bungee Jumping: Activity consisting of jumping from elevated sites such as bridges, cranes, hot air balloons, gondolas, or cable cars while tied to a system of elastic ropes that absorb the free fall gradually. The rope systems may have a combination of devices that allow for controlled descent with or without rebound.
Section B: CONSTRUCTION: The bungee jumping service provider must comply with the following construction requirements for the facilities necessary for the development of the activity:
i. Structural plans and load-bearing capacity study evaluated by a civil engineer for the anchoring structures and take-off platforms.
ii. Appropriate use of all materials respecting the manufacturer's recommendations for each material, such as safety factors, redundancy, appropriate use, and their limitations.
iii. Independent safety system on take-off platforms according to the number of people on the platform and respecting the manufacturer's safety factor.
iv. The ropes and their elements must be certified by the manufacturer.
Section C: SAFETY EQUIPMENT: The provider of bungee jumping activities must use equipment certified for the specific activity or homologated ones. The manufacturer's technical specifications for the protection equipment and accessories must be indicated, as well as their use.
List all safety and protection equipment, including clothing, required for the guide and the user, as well as the verification processes for it before, during, and at the end of the activity.
MANUAL, and EMERGENCY PLAN.
D.1 OPERATION AND SAFETY MANUAL:
i. Description of the activity.
ii. List of equipment used according to the user's physical characteristics and the features of the jump.
iii. Safety protocols during operation, including verification of weather conditions.
iv. Responsibilities, tour management procedures, and requirements for guides and users, including physical conditions, health, age, weight, height, and behavior.
v. Detail of the guides' functions, including organization, hierarchy, and delegation of functions within the work team.
vi. Description of the rescue and first aid equipment.
vii. Process and person responsible for verifying the signing of the Mutual Responsibility Agreement (Acuerdo Mutuo de Responsabilidad) by all users.
viii. Sheet of safety instructions for users or safety briefing, including:
. Welcome and introduction of the guides or jump masters.
. Brief description of the jump site.
. Measures and recommendations for the user, including clothing.
. Position and orientation of the body during the jump, including hands and feet.
. Description of safety signals.
. Procedure and behavior for the extraction of the participant after the jump.
. Procedure and behavior during a potential self-rescue or assisted rescue.
. Actions that the user must perform to reduce the environmental impact where the activities will take place.
ix. Communication protocol.
x. Annual inspection report by a professional in the field, of the structures, ropes or devices, and the operation. Said report must be attached to the logbook.
xi. Accident and incident logbook which must contain a sequential number and date.
D.2 MAINTENANCE MANUAL (structures and equipment):
i. Review logbooks for the ropes or devices and the structures: daily, weekly, and monthly.
ii. Procedure for review and preventive maintenance of protection equipment and accessories, indicating their useful life, review frequency, and person responsible, following the manufacturer's specifications.
iii. Logbooks for daily use of equipment and its review: daily, weekly, and monthly, following and indicating the corrective action plan when there is damage.
D.3 EMERGENCY PLAN D.3.1 THREAT ANALYSIS.
i. Indicate the conditions and risk factors associated with the practice of the activity.
ii. Location of emergency response and care bodies such as fire departments, Cruz Roja, emergency technician; and determine the reaction times.
D.3.2 ORGANIZATION FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
i. List of responsible guides with their respective certification in Basic First Aid (Primeros Auxilios Básico, PAB), Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (Resucitación Cardiopulmonar, RCP), and specific rescue for the activity, updated and valid as of the day of the activity's operation.
ii. Protocol, hierarchy, and delegation of functions during emergency response.
iii. Indicate the means of communication to be used (telephones, radios, and others).
D.3.3 EVACUATION AND RESCUE PLAN.
i. Evacuation routes, indicating signage and safety zones.
ii. Protocol, hierarchy, and procedure, indicating:
. How to evaluate the situation.
. How to decide and conduct the rescue considering available resources, time limitations, and safety priorities.
. How to inform and motivate the users.
iii. Training schedule, such as exercises and drills, so that the staff knows and is capable of reacting according to the emergency plan, keeping the corresponding records in the logbook.
1.4 SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPING THE ACTIVITY OF CANYONEERING (BARRANQUISMO) This document establishes the operation requirements for any adventure tourism service company or provider, specifically in CANYONEERING (BARRANQUISMO) activities.
. Canyoneering (Barranquismo): It is an adventure activity practiced in the canyons or gorges of a river, which can present a very varied route: sections with low flow or even dry ones, points with pools and other sections with waterfalls are found, also encountering terrains with vegetation or desert ones. Canyoneering consists of progressively overcoming these route changes: walking, swimming, or rappelling, if necessary. For a descent to be considered suitable for canyoneering, it is considered that it must combine at least two of these three characteristics: flow, verticality, and constricted character.
. Rappelling (Rapelando): From the French term rappel, which consists of descending vertical surfaces using ropes and special safety equipment.
Section B: CONSTRUCTION: The canyoneering service provider must comply with the following minimum construction requirements for the facilities necessary for the development of the activity:
i. Dendrological or forest study of the trees used, if the anchors are in trees.
ii. Structural plans and load-bearing capacity study evaluated by a civil engineer, in the case of artificial structures.
ii. Appropriate use of all materials respecting the manufacturer's recommendations for each material, such as safety factors, appropriate use, and their limitations.
iv. Have an anchoring system that does not damage the bark and the integrity of the trees, when anchors are installed in trees.
v. If anchors inserted into rock are used, there must be a site map specifying the location of the anchors, their technical specifications, and placement date.
Section C: SAFETY EQUIPMENT: The canyoneering activity provider must use equipment certified for the specific activity or homologated ones. The manufacturer's technical specifications for the protection equipment and accessories must be indicated, as well as their use.
List all safety and protection equipment, including clothing, required for the guide and the user, as well as the verification processes for it before, during, and at the end of the activity.
This list must include: helmet for high ropes with a chin strap, special harness for canyoneering, river footwear or athletic shoe with firm heel adjustment, and the guides, additionally, will carry a rescue whistle.
MANUAL, and EMERGENCY PLAN.
D.1 OPERATION AND SAFETY MANUAL:
i. Description of the route indicating the different sections that are operated, as well as the entrances and exits of each section.
ii. List of equipment used according to the user's physical characteristics and the features of the route.
iii. Safety protocols during operation, including verification of weather conditions. Detail the conditions under which entry into the canyon can be made. It must indicate the levels or marks established by the company in each of the sections.
iv. Responsibilities, tour management procedures, and requirements for guides and users, including physical conditions, health, age, weight, height, and behavior.
v. Detail of the guides' functions, including organization, hierarchy, and delegation of functions within the work team.
vi. Description of rescue and first aid equipment.
vii. Process and person responsible for verifying the signing of the Mutual Responsibility Agreement (Acuerdo Mutuo de Responsabilidad) by all users.
viii. Detail of the safety instructions for users or safety briefing, which includes:
. Welcome and introduction of the guides.
. Brief description of the route.
. Measures and recommendations for the user, such as clothing, management of long hair, handling of safety equipment, etc.
. Position and orientation of the body during the route, including hands and feet.
. Description of safety signals.
. Procedure and behavior during the route.
. Procedure and behavior during a potential self-rescue or assisted rescue.
. Actions that the user must perform to reduce the environmental impact where the activities take place.
ix. Communication protocol.
x. Annual inspection report by a professional in the field, of the structures and the operation. Said report must be attached to the logbook.
xi. Accident and incident logbook which must contain a sequential number and date.
D.2 MAINTENANCE MANUAL (structures and equipment):
i. Circuit review logbooks: daily, weekly, and monthly.
ii. Procedure for review and preventive maintenance of protection equipment and accessories, indicating useful life of the equipment, review frequency, and person responsible, following the manufacturer's specifications.
iii. Logbooks for daily use of equipment and its review: daily, weekly, and monthly, following and indicating the corrective action plan when there is damage.
D.3 EMERGENCY PLAN:
D.3.1 THREAT ANALYSIS.
i. Indicate the conditions and risk factors associated with the practice of the activity.
ii. Location of emergency response and care bodies such as fire departments, Cruz Roja, emergency technician; and determine the reaction times.
D.3.2 ORGANIZATION FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
i. List of responsible guides with their respective certification in Basic First Aid (Primeros Auxilios Básico, PAB), Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (Resucitación Cardiopulmonar, RCP), updated and valid as of the day of the activity's operation.
ii. Protocol, hierarchy, and delegation of functions during emergency response.
iii. Indicate the means of communication to be used: telephones, radios, and others.
31 D.3.3 EVACUATION AND RESCUE PLAN.
i. Evacuation routes, indicating signage and safety zones.
ii. Protocol, hierarchy, and procedure, indicating:
i. How to evaluate the situation.
ii. How to decide and conduct the rescue considering available resources, time limitations, and safety priorities.
iii. How to inform and motivate the users.
iii. Training schedule, such as exercises and drills, so that the staff knows and is capable of reacting according to the emergency plan, keeping the corresponding records in the logbook.
1.5 SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPING THE ACTIVITY OF WHITEWATER RAFTING (AGUAS RAPIDAS) This document establishes the operation requirements for any adventure tourism service company or provider, specifically in WHITEWATER RAFTING (AGUAS RAPIDAS) activities.
. Rafting: is a sport and recreational activity that consists of navigating the channel of a river in the direction of the current, using an inflatable boat. Rivers have some degree of turbulence generated by currents and obstacles. These turbulence zones are called "whitewater" or simply "rapids".
Section B: SAFETY EQUIPMENT: The rafting activity provider must use equipment certified for the specific activity. The manufacturer's technical specifications for the protection equipment and accessories must be indicated, as well as their use.
List all safety and protection equipment, including clothing, required for the guide and the user, as well as the verification processes for it before, during, and at the end of the activity:
The requirements that the equipment must meet are:
i. All rafting rafts must have internal air chamber separations and these separations must be in perfect condition.
ii. The raft must have a perimeter safety rope.
iii. Life jackets must have a buoyancy of 20 pounds or more.
iv. The guide's safety and protection equipment must be used at all times during the route and it must comply with the following specifications:
| EQUIPMENT | CHARACTERISTICS |
|---|
| Life Jacket | . 12 pounds of buoyancy . Class iii, certified by the United States Coast Guard |
| Helmet | Chin pressure fastener |
| Shoes | Athletic or water shoe, with safety tie |
| Pulleys and Carabiners | 6,000 pounds of ultimate force |
| Flip Line | 2 meters or more in length |
| Whistle | High decibel - rescue |
| Rescue Rope | 8 meters or more in length |
| Knife | With lock and easy to access |
v. The user's safety and protection equipment must be used at all times during the route and it must comply with the following specifications:
| EQUIPMENT | CHARACTERISTICS |
|---|
| Life Jacket | Buoyancy of 20 pounds or more, with three or more fastening points and a neck pad. |
| Helmet specific for rafting | Chin pressure fastener |
| Shoes | Lightweight and lace-up |
| Clothing | Suitable for the practice of water sports such as shorts, swimsuit, sports shirt, etc. |
The maximum permitted weight of the user on a rafting tour will be determined by 2 circumstances:
. Maximum of 135 kilograms of weight or 300 pounds.
. If the largest life jacket available at the company does not fit the user correctly.
C.1 OPERATION AND SAFETY MANUAL:
i. Brief description of the different sections of the river or rivers that are operated, indicating entrances and exits of each section.
ii. List of safety equipment used according to the user's physical characteristics and the characteristics of the route.
iii. Safety protocols during operation, including verification of weather conditions prior to the activity. Detail the conditions under which the river descent can be carried out, indicating the levels or marks established by the company in each of the sections.
iv. Responsibilities, tour management procedures, and requirements for guides and users, including physical conditions, health, age, weight, height, and behavior.
v. Detail of the guides' functions, including organization, hierarchy, and delegation of functions within the work team.
vi. Description of rescue and first aid equipment.
vii. Process and person responsible for verifying the signing of the Mutual Responsibility Agreement (Acuerdo Mutuo de Responsabilidad) by all users.
viii. Detail of the safety instructions for users or safety briefing, which includes:
. Welcome and introduction of the guides.
. Brief description of the route.
. Measures and recommendations for the user, such as clothing, handling and adjustment of safety equipment, etc.
. Correct body position during the route, when sitting on the raft.
. Detailed description and demonstration of paddling commands and emergency commands.
. Procedure and behavior during a potential self-rescue or assisted rescue.
. Behavior during the route.
. Actions that the user must perform to reduce the environmental impact where the activities take place.
ix. Communication protocol.
x. Accident and incident logbook which must contain a sequential number and date.
xi. Compliance with the following basic safety measures in the operation:
1.xi.1. All rafts involved in the descent must always maintain visual contact with each other throughout the entire route.
1.xi.2. All commercial trips must have a second boat specifically for safety.
1.xi.3. For commercial trips on class III or less sections, it is not mandatory to have a safety kayak, as long as there is a boat that fulfills the task of providing safety during the route.
1.xi.4. For commercial trips on class IV or more sections, it is absolutely mandatory to have at least one safety kayak during the route.
1.xi.5. Kayaks used for safety during commercial trips must have no less than 60 gallons of volume.
1.xi.6. Always after a rise in the water level that exceeds the maximum mark established by the company to operate said section, a reconnaissance descent must be carried out before the next tour.
C.2. MAINTENANCE MANUAL (structures and equipment):
i. Procedure for review and preventive maintenance of protection equipment and accessories, indicating their useful life, review frequency, and person responsible, according to the manufacturer's specifications.
ii. Logbook for daily use of equipment and its review: daily, weekly, and monthly, following and indicating the corrective action plan when there is damage.
C.3. EMERGENCY PLAN:
C.3.1. THREAT ANALYSIS.
i. Indicate the conditions and risk factors associated with the practice of the activity, in each of the rivers and sections.
ii. Location of emergency response and care bodies such as fire departments, Cruz Roja, emergency technician; and determine the reaction times.
C.3.2. ORGANIZATION FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
i. All company guides must have their respective certification in Basic First Aid (Primeros Auxilios Básico, PAB), Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (Resucitación Cardiopulmonar, RCP), updated and valid as of the day of the tour operation.
ii. Each of the tours must have a guide with certification in Whitewater Rescue, updated and current as of the day of performing the activity.
iii. Protocol, hierarchy, and delegation of functions during emergency response.
iv. Indicate the means of communication to be used: telephones, radios, and others.
C.3.3. EVACUATION AND RESCUE PLAN.
i. Establish and describe the evacuation route and safety zones in each section of the river to be operated.
ii. Protocol, hierarchy, and procedure, indicating:
. How to evaluate the situation.
. How to decide and conduct the rescue considering available resources, time limitations, and safety priorities.
. How to inform and motivate the users.
iii. Training schedule, such as exercises, drills, so that the staff knows and is capable of reacting according to the emergency plan, keeping the corresponding records in the logbook.
1.6 SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPING THE ACTIVITY OF MOUNTAIN BIKING This document establishes the operation requirements for any adventure tourism service company or provider, specifically in MOUNTAIN BIKING activities.
Section A: SAFETY EQUIPMENT: The mountain biking activity provider must use equipment certified for the specific activity or homologated ones. The manufacturer's technical specifications for the protection equipment and accessories must be indicated, as well as their use.
List all safety and protection equipment, including clothing, required for the guide and the user, as well as the verification processes for it before, during, and at the end of the activity.
The guide's safety and protection equipment must include: gloves, helmet with chin pressure fastener, closed-toe shoes, lycra shorts, rescue whistle, and knife. The user's safety and protection equipment must include gloves, helmet with chin pressure fastener, lightweight athletic shoes, and comfortable clothing for riding a bicycle. In both cases, bicycles with front suspension.
B.1 OPERATION AND SAFETY MANUAL:
i. Brief description of the different route options that are offered.
ii. List of equipment used according to the user's physical characteristics.
iii. Safety protocols during operation, including verification of weather conditions. Conducting routes in conditions of electrical storms and heavy rain is prohibited.
IV.Responsibilities, tour management procedures, and requirements for guides and users, including physical conditions, health, age, weight, height, and behavior.
v. Detail of the guides' functions, including organization, hierarchy, and delegation of functions within the work team.
vi. Description of first aid.
vii. Process and person responsible for verifying the signing of the Mutual Responsibility Agreement (Acuerdo Mutuo de Responsabilidad) by all users.
viii. Detail of the safety instruction for users or safety briefing, which includes:
. Welcome and introduction of the guides.
. Brief description of the route.
. Verification of proper bicycle fit with respect to the user.
. Instructions on techniques for using and operating the bicycles.
. Description of safety measures during the route, indicating user limits and responsibilities.
. Actions that the user must perform to reduce the environmental impact where the activities take place.
ix. Communication protocol.
x. Accident and incident logbook which must contain a sequential number and date.
xi. It is prohibited to conduct commercial bicycle excursions on national routes that have speed limits greater than 80 Km/h for motorized vehicles.
B.2. MAINTENANCE MANUAL (structures and equipment):
i. Route review logbooks.
ii. Procedure for review and preventive maintenance of protection equipment and accessories, indicating useful life, review frequency, and person responsible, according to the manufacturer's specifications.
iii. Logbook for use of protection equipment and accessories, as well as bicycles: daily, weekly, and monthly, indicating the corrective action plan when there is damage.
B.3. EMERGENCY PLAN:
B.3.1 THREAT ANALYSIS.
a. Indicate the conditions and risk factors associated with the practice of the activity, in each of the routes offered.
b. Location of emergency response and care bodies such as fire departments, Cruz Roja, and determine the reaction times.
B.3.2. ORGANIZATION FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
i. List of responsible guides with their respective certification in Basic First Aid (Primeros Auxilios Básico, PAB) and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (Resucitación Cardiopulmonar, RCP), updated and valid as of the day of the activity's operation.
ii. Protocol, hierarchy, and delegation of functions during emergency response.
iii. Indicate the means of communication to be used, such as telephones, radios, and others.
B.3.3. EVACUATION AND RESCUE PLAN.
i. Establish the evacuation route and safety zone in each of the routes.
ii. Protocol, hierarchy, and procedure, indicating:
. How to evaluate the situation.
. How to decide and conduct the rescue considering available resources, time limitations, and safety priorities.
. How to inform and motivate the users.
iii. Training schedule, such as exercises and drills, so that the staff knows and is capable of reacting according to the emergency plan, keeping the corresponding records in the logbook.
1.7 SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR DEVELOPING THE ACTIVITY OF HORSEBACK TOUR This document establishes the operation requirements for any adventure tourism service company or provider, specifically in HORSEBACK TOUR activities.
Section A: SAFETY EQUIPMENT: The horseback tour activity provider must use equipment for the specific activity or homologated ones.
List all safety and protection equipment, including clothing, required for the guide and the user, as well as the verification processes for it before, during, and at the end of the activity.
This list must include: the riding saddle in good condition, a clean saddle pad in good condition.
In case the route is carried out in a place with irregular topography, the saddle must have a breastplate and a crupper. In addition, a helmet with chin pressure fastener and closed-toe shoes must be included. Also, the guide must carry first aid, a rescue whistle, and a knife. On mountain routes, it is necessary to carry a machete.
B.1 OPERATION AND SAFETY MANUAL:
i. Brief description of the route with its degree of difficulty.
ii. Safety protocols during operation, including verification of weather conditions and detail of when the activity should be cancelled. Tours will not be conducted in electrical storm conditions.
iii. Responsibilities, tour management procedures, and requirements for guides and users, including physical conditions, health, age, weight, height, and behavior.
iv. Detail of the guides' functions, including organization, hierarchy, and delegation of functions within the work team.
v. Description of first aid equipment.
vi. Process and person responsible for verifying the signing of the Mutual Responsibility Agreement (Acuerdo Mutuo de Responsabilidad) by all users.
vii. Detail of the safety instructions for users or safety briefing, including:
. Welcome and introduction of the guides.
. Brief description of the route.
. Instructions on horse riding techniques.
. Description of safety measures during the route, indicating user limits and responsibilities.
. Actions that the user must perform to reduce the environmental impact where the activities take place.
vii. Communication protocol.
IX. Accident and incident logbook which must contain a sequential number and date
B.2 MAINTENANCE MANUAL (structures and equipment):
i. Procedure for review and preventive maintenance of protection equipment and accessories, indicating their useful life, review frequency, and person responsible.
ii. Logbook for daily use of equipment and its review: daily, weekly, and monthly, indicating the corrective action plan when there is damage.
B.3 EMERGENCY PLAN:
B.3.1. THREAT ANALYSIS.
i. Indicate the conditions and risk factors associated with the practice of the activity.
ii. Location of emergency response and care bodies such as fire departments, Cruz Roja, emergency technician, and determine the reaction times.
B.3.2. ORGANIZATION FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
i. List of responsible guides with their respective certification in Basic First Aid (Primeros Auxilios Básico, PAB) and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (Resucitación Cardiopulmonar, RCP), updated and valid as of the day of the activity's operation.
ii. Protocol, hierarchy, and delegation of functions during emergency response.
iii. Indicate the means of communication to be used: telephones, radios, and others.
B.3.3. EVACUATION AND RESCUE PLAN.
i. Establish the evacuation route and safety zones.
ii. Protocol, hierarchy, and procedure, indicating:
i How to assess the situation.
ii How to decide and conduct the rescue considering available resources, time limitations, and safety priorities.
iii How to inform and motivate users.
iii. Training schedule, such as drills and simulations, so that staff are familiar with and capable of reacting according to the emergency plan, keeping the corresponding records in the logbook (bitácora).
ANEX02 REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE ADVENTURE TOURISM ACTIVITIES NOT COVERED IN ANEXO 1.
This document establishes the operational requirements for any company or service provider of adventure tourism activities not covered in anexo 1.
Section A: SAFETY EQUIPMENT: The provider of these adventure tourism activities must use equipment certified for the specific activity or its equivalent. The technical specifications from the manufacturer of the protective equipment and accessories, as well as their use, must be indicated.
List all safety and protective equipment, including attire, required by the guide and the user, as well as the verification processes for this equipment before, during, and at the end of the activity.
B.1. OPERATIONS AND SAFETY MANUAL:
i. Description of the route (recorrido).
ii. List of equipment used according to the user's physical characteristics and the features of the circuit.
iii. Safety protocols during the operation, including verification of climatic conditions.
iv. Responsibilities, tour conduction procedures, and requirements for guides and users, including restrictions regarding the user's physical condition, health, age, weight, height, and behavior.
v. Detail of the guides' functions, including organization, hierarchy, and delegation of functions within the work team.
vi. Description of rescue and first aid equipment.
vii. Process and person responsible for verifying the signing of the Mutual Responsibility Agreement (Acuerdo Mutuo de Responsabilidad) by all users.
viii. Detail of the safety instructions to users or safety briefing, which includes:
. Welcome and introduction of the guides.
. Description of the route (recorrido).
. Instructions for the correct use of protective equipment and accessories.
. Behavior that the user must maintain during the activity.
. Description of safety measures during the route, indicating the user's limits and responsibilities.
. Actions the user must take to reduce environmental impact where the activities are carried out.
ix. Communication protocol.
x. Accident and incident logbook (bitácora), which must contain a consecutive number and date.
B.2. MAINTENANCE MANUAL (structures and equipment):
i. Logbooks (bitácoras) for route inspection, where applicable.
ii. Procedure for the inspection and maintenance of protective equipment and accessories, as well as structures (where applicable), indicating useful life, inspection frequency, and responsible person, following the manufacturer's specifications.
iii. Logbooks (bitácoras) for daily equipment use and inspection, indicating the corrective action plan when it is damaged.
iv. Monitoring plan for the condition of trees used in a system (where applicable), by a Forest Engineer (Ingeniero Forestal) or a dendrologist (dendrólogo), who certifies its phytosanitary condition for the required use.
B.3. EMERGENCY PLAN B.3.1 THREAT ANALYSIS.
i. Indicate the conditions and risk factors associated with the practice of the activity.
ii. Location of emergency response and assistance bodies such as the fire department (bomberos), Red Cross (Cruz Roja), emergency medical technician; and determine reaction times.
B.3.2 ORGANIZATION FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE.
i. List of responsible guides with their respective certification in Basic First Aid (Primeros Auxilios Básico, PAB), Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (Resucitación Cardiopulmonar, RCP), and specific rescue for the activity, updated and valid on the day of the activity's operation.
ii. Protocol, hierarchy, and delegation of functions during emergency response.
iii. Indicate the means of communication to be used: telephones, radios, and others.
B.3.3 EVACUATION AND RESCUE PLAN.
i. Evacuation routes, indicating signage and safety zones.
ii. Protocol, hierarchy, and procedure, indicating:
. How to assess the situation.
. How to decide and conduct the rescue considering available resources, time limitations, and safety priorities.
. How to inform and motivate users.
iii. Training schedule, such as drills and simulations, so that staff are familiar with and capable of reacting according to the emergency plan, keeping the corresponding records in the logbook (bitácora).
PROCEDURE AND REQUIREMENTS FOR VERIFICATION BY THE ICT OF DOCUMENTATION ACCREDITING THE EXPERIENCE OF QUALIFIED PERSONNEL OF TOURISM PROVIDERS IN ADVENTURE TOURISM ACTIVITIES AND OF THE APPROVAL OF FIRST AID AND CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION (RCP) COURSES.
Regulatory Basis: Articles 3 and 12 of the Reglamento para la Operación de Actividades de Turismo de Aventura, Decreto Ejecutivo N° 39703S-TUR of February 22, 2016, and its amendments.
Purpose and Result of the Procedure: The ICT will verify the documentation that applicants for the positive criterion of "Qualified Personnel" (Personal calificado) submit to accredit their experience and the approval of first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (RCP) courses, for which it will issue a technical verification criterion on the matter, either verifying the documentation submitted (positive criterion) or issuing a criterion of non-verification (negative criterion), with reasons provided.
Procedure Deadline: 1 calendar month.
Form of submitting the application and procedure requirements to the ICT: In digital format to the email address indicated on the ICT's institutional website at the electronic address www.ict.go.cr Application and requirements to fulfill before the ICT.
- 1)Application in digital format according to the form in this Anexo, which will be available at the following electronic address: www.ict.go.cr, and with the following information:
Applicant's data: The following must be indicated:
i. For natural persons (personas físicas): full name of the natural person, indicating their identification document number.
ii. For legal entities (personas jurídicas): Corporate name and legal identification number (cédula jurídica), together with the full names of their representatives, indicating their identity card (cédula de identidad) or identification document number.
- 2)Digital format image (scanned document in PDF format or a photo in digital image format) of the applicant's identification document who seeks to accredit the experience (the image of the identification document must clearly show the full name, identification number, and photo of the applicant).
- 3)Certificate or proof accrediting the applicant's approval of first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (RCP) courses (by means of a certified copy in digital format). The ICT may verify at any time with the entity that provided the cited courses the veracity, validity, and scope of the document presented.
- 4)Other requirements to provide: Any of the following requirements must be provided by the interested party, in digital format, for the ICT to verify the accreditation of their experience as qualified personnel:
4.1 Sworn declaration (declaración jurada) that the qualified personnel in question (indicate full name and identification number) have 3 years of experience in tasks specific to adventure tourism activities according to the Reglamento para la Operación de Actividades de Turismo de Aventura, Decreto Ejecutivo N° 39703-S-TUR of February 22, 2016, and its amendments (hereinafter the Reglamento) and in companies with a valid sanitary operating permit (permiso sanitario de funcionamiento) during that period of experience, under the terms of Article 7 of that same regulation. The trade name and location of the establishment where the experience was gained must be indicated so that the ICT, in coordination with the Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud), can verify the requirement of the validity of the cited sanitary permit. This sworn declaration can be granted by the qualified personnel with experience or by the owner or representative of the establishment where the experience was gained. For the submission of this sworn declaration, the format included in this Anexo will be used, which will be available in downloadable digital format on the institutional website at the address: www.ict.go.cr 4.2 Valid international licenses that accredit the qualified personnel in question to carry out the adventure tourism activity concerned. The license must be submitted as a certified copy in digital format. If the license was issued in a language other than Spanish, it must be accompanied by its translation into Spanish. The ICT may verify at any time with the entity that granted the license the veracity, validity, and scope of it.
In the event that the application is submitted incompletely, the ICT may make written observations, with reasons provided, regarding these requirements, only once and within the period of ten calendar days following the day of receipt of the procedure. In such a case, the ICT's prevention (prevención) suspends the 1-month period for resolving the procedure and grants the interested party a period of ten business days to address it, for which purpose it will indicate an institutional email address to send the relevant response.
If the ICT denies an application for verification of prior requirements with reasons provided, the applicant may resubmit it, addressing the pending aspects of the resolution; or file ordinary appeals according to Articles 343 and following of Ley N° 6227 of May 2, 1978, Ley General de la Administración Pública; the appeal for reversal (recurso de revocatoria) before the General Management (Gerencia General) of the ICT and the appeal (recurso de apelación) before the Board of Directors (Junta Directiva) of the ICT, within three business days following the date of notification of the denial. If the Board of Directors of the ICT declares the appeal groundless, this resolution will exhaust the administrative channel (vía administrativa).
APPLICATION FORM FOR VERIFICATION OF THE DOCUMENTATION ACCREDITING THE EXPERIENCE OF QUALIFIED PERSONNEL OF TOURISM PROVIDERS IN ADVENTURE TOURISM ACTIVITIES AND OF THE APPROVAL OF FIRST AID AND CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION (RCP) COURSES.
I,______________________________ of legal age, resident of___________________with identity document number__________________________in my personal capacity (if the applicant is a natural person). In my capacity as legal representative of the company named (if the applicant is a legal entity) __________________________, legal identification number (cédula jurídica)__________________________, request the verification criterion of the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT), regarding the documentation accrediting the experience of qualified personnel in adventure tourism activities, as indicated in Article 12 and Anexo 3 of the Reglamento para la Operación de Actividades de Turismo de Aventura, Decreto Ejecutivo N° 39703-S-TUR of February 22, 2016, and its amendments. For these purposes, I comply with the following:
- 1)I provide a plain copy in digital format of the identification document of the applicant seeking to accredit the experience, in which their full name and identification number are visible.
- 2)I provide a certificate or proof accrediting my approval of first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (RCP) courses by means of a certified copy in digital format. I understand that the ICT may verify at any time with the entity that provided the cited courses the veracity, validity, and scope of the document presented.
- 3)I provide one of the following documents for the ICT to verify the accreditation of experience as qualified personnel:
3.1 Sworn declaration (declaración jurada) that the qualified personnel in question (indicate full name and identification number) have 3 years of experience in tasks specific to adventure tourism activities according to the Reglamento para la Operación de Actividades de Turismo de Aventura, Decreto Ejecutivo N° 39703-S-TUR of February 22, 2016, and its amendments (hereinafter the Reglamento) and in companies with a valid sanitary operating permit (permiso sanitario de funcionamiento) during that period of experience, under the terms of Article 7 of the Reglamento. In the same sworn declaration, I indicate the trade name and location of the establishment(s) where the experience was gained, so that the ICT, in coordination with the Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud), can verify the requirement of the validity of the cited sanitary permit.
Note: This sworn declaration can be granted by the qualified personnel with experience or by the owner or representative of the establishment where the experience was gained. For the submission of this sworn declaration, the format included below in this Anexo will be used.
SWORN DECLARATION OF EXPERIENCE OF QUALIFIED PERSONNEL IN ADVENTURE TOURISM ACTIVITIES Sworn declaration in a private document I __________________________________ [full name and identification number], of legal age, [Marital status], [Profession or trade], resident of [Exact address], in my capacity as _____________________ qualified personnel with experience in adventure tourism activities/ or / as owner or representative of the establishment (indicate trade name) in which the qualified personnel gained experience in adventure tourism activities /, understanding the penalties with which Costa Rican legislation punishes the crimes of perjury, under oath, declare: /that I have three (3) years of experience/ or / that the qualified personnel I identify below (full name and identification number of the person(s) in question) have three (3) years of experience/ in tasks specific to the following adventure tourism activity/activities according to the Reglamento para la Operación de Actividades de Turismo de Aventura, Decreto Ejecutivo N° 39703-S-TUR of February 22, 2016, and its amendments /indicate the adventure tourism activities in question/ and in companies with a valid sanitary operating permit during that period of experience, under the terms of Article 7 of that same regulation, for which I indicate in this same sworn declaration the trade name (indicate it) and its location (province, canton, district, and full physical address of the establishment(s)). I declare the foregoing, warned of the value and significance of my statements, which I fully understand and accept accordingly. THAT IS ALL. [Name of city], at [Hour] hours and [Minute] minutes on the [Day] day of the month of [Month] of the year [Year].
_______________________________________ Name and signature 3.2 I provide a valid international license that accredits the qualified personnel in question to carry out the adventure tourism activity concerned. I present this license as a certified copy in digital format. If this license is issued in a language other than Spanish, I provide its translation into Spanish. I understand that the ICT may verify at any time with the entity that granted the license the veracity, validity, and scope of it.
I indicate as a means for receiving notifications the following email address ___________________________.
In agreement, given in the city of ________________at________ hours on the ________ day of the month of________of 202. ___________________________ Name and digital signature of the interested party.
(Thus added by Article 2 of Decreto Ejecutivo N° 43759 of October 26, 2022)