Please read these important trip notes. By booking this trip, you are signaling that you have read, understood and agreed to these notes.
Covid-19
We will NOT be asking for a pre-trip covid test or proof of vaccination on this trip.
ID Requirements
A valid photo ID is required for the ferry to Catalina Island.
Please ensure your emergency contact information is up to date before the trip.
Catalina Island is part of California. No passport or visa required. Just bring a valid photo ID for the ferry.
Itinerary Changes
Due to conditions such as weather, transportation schedules, public holidays, availability or other factors, we may make changes to this itinerary before or during the trip. We will advise you of any such changes as soon as possible.
Roommates
You will have roommates on this trip. You will be sharing a room with at least 1 other person (sometimes more than 1). We'd recommend bringing earplugs & an eye mask in case they snore.
We'll do our best to make sure your roommates are the same sex as you and in 99% of times that will be the case, however sometimes due to logistics outside of our control, we cannot guarantee this. (On a past trip we arrived at a hotel in Paris, on the hottest day on record ever, to be told that all the rooms with 3 beds in them didn't have working AC. So we had to choose between different sleeping arrangements than planned... or no Air Conditioning.)
Accommodations
We will be staying in a wide variety of accommodation types during our trip. It's important to be aware that our accommodations may differ very significantly from what you are used to at home, as we tend to stay in local style accommodations in order to experience the local culture. This is especially true on Catalina Island, where local hotels and campsites can differ from typical mainland hotels.
Please read the below descriptions of our accommodations in detail to avoid surprises.
San Pedro, CA: Travelers meet before ferry departure and begin the Catalina Island journey from the mainland terminal.
Avalon, Catalina Island: We'll stay at an Airbnb or Hotel Pavillion (based on group size), a comfortable island base near Avalon.
Two Harbors, Catalina Island: We'll camp in provided tents near the shoreline. The setup is simple and comfortable, with a memorable outdoor experience under the stars.
Return to San Pedro: On the final day, the trip concludes after the ferry ride back to the mainland.
Traveling With Other People
Life on the road means that you may not get as much privacy as you are used to back home. You'll be sharing a room with at least 1 other traveler and will be expected to keep your sleeping area neat (ish). You'll also be expected to practice daily hygiene (brush teeth, shower, deodorant) so that you don't cause discomfort to your fellow travelers.
Downtime
On most days, our daily itinerary is split into morning/afternoon/evening periods and we aim to allow for daily downtime during one of these periods every day (excluding travel days of course). This is your time to do laundry, call home, play games with your fellow travelers, explore the area, do some shopping or whatever else suits you.
Transportation
In Catalina Island we will primarily be traveling by ferry and on foot. Some activities involve boat transfers between Avalon and Two Harbors. You should be comfortable with boat rides and walking on varied terrain.
Money
A WanderRock trip includes lodging, transportation & activities, but does not include all meals. You should bring a debit or credit card. Avalon has ATMs and most shops accept cards. Our guides will help you with any money-related needs during the trip.
Emergency Contingencies
We plan for every known contingency, but unexpected things can and do occur when traveling. If such emergencies occur, we'll do our best to resolve the situation. This may include re-routing part of our itinerary due to natural disaster or health concern, extending or shortening the length of our stay in certain locations or other remedies as the situation requires.
Whatever happens, you can be assured we'll keep everyone traveling with us (and family back at home) advised of the situation, and will communicate as much as possible. Please see "Problems & Emergency Contact Info" below for more details about personal issues such as Illness, Meltdowns or Injury.
Carry-On Backpack Required
We require all of our travelers to pack for Carry-On only, which means no checked bags are allowed. You should plan on packing 7 days worth of clothes, as there will be plenty of laundry opportunities along our itinerary. That means that we require you bring a backpack of no more than 40L in size as your main bag. You'll find it much easier to handle a backpack than a rolling suitcase and we will provide guidance on specific brands, sizing & more in our packing guide, which will be sent to you after enrollment.
Laundry
Laundry services may not be available every day of the trip. Your guides will advise you on the best days & times to do laundry, and assist as needed.
Climate Information
During summer, Catalina Island enjoys warm, sunny weather with temperatures typically between 70-85°F (21-29°C). Coastal breezes keep things comfortable, but sunscreen is essential. Evenings at Two Harbors can be cooler, around 60-65°F (15-18°C), so bring a light jacket for camping night. Rain is unlikely in June but a packable rain layer is always smart. Sunscreen is readily available to purchase on the island.
WanderRock Guides
Our WanderRock guides are here to help you have the best trip you possibly can. They come from many walks of life, from yoga instructors to outdoor adventure guides to people who have worked helping college kids be more independent, and bring their expertise with them to help guide you through the trip.
Unlike a tour guide, they are not deeply knowledgeable about specific touristic attractions & the history of an area, but are trained in things like first aid & CPR, conflict resolution, peacekeeping and basic outdoor survival.
Group Behavior
We expect all travelers to behave in a way that is respectful of the cultures, places & people that we are interacting with, and to be respectful of the other travelers and their preferences. Should issues arise, our guides are trained in conflict resolution and will do their best to diffuse and resolve the situation.
In extreme situations where a travelers behavior is a consistent and major disruption to the group, or in cases of concern for the health & safety of any of our travelers, our guides may, at their discretion, remove a traveler from the group, without a refund.
Behaviors That aren't Tolerated
Abuse & Bullying: Everyone has the right to feel safe & accepted when on our trips. For that reason, verbal abuse, physical abuse, bullying and sexual harassment focused on any person (whether thats a fellow traveler, guide or local person) will not be tolerated, and our trained guides will deal with those situations swiftly. Should a traveler be found to be in violation of this policy, they will be removed from the group.
Sexual Relations: No sexual relations are permitted between guides & travelers or travelers and other travelers.
Sex Tourism: Patronizing sex workers isn't tolerated on any WanderRock trip. Anyone who is found to be in violation of this policy will be removed from the group.
Drugs & Alcohol: Use or possession of illegal drugs (as determined by the laws of the country we are in) is not tolerated on any WanderRock trip. If you choose to drink alcohol, you must be at least the legal age to do so in that country, and we expect you to do so in a responsible manner.
Recklessness: We expect all of our travelers to maintain situational awareness and keep themselves safe. Any traveler who has consistently demonstrated an extreme lack of judgement when it comes to keeping themselves safe will be removed from the group.
Note that we are talking about "walks out into the middle of traffic repeatedly" type recklessness, not "forgets to lock the hotel room door".
Rigors of Travel
All travelers need to be ready for outdoor activities, walking, and some physical exertion. Please let us know about any health concerns before the trip.
Flexibility is a key trait that will help you have a great time. You may have to let go of some preferences you have back home, as we may not be able to accommodate your requests, and may have to change our itinerary at the last moment due to unforeseen circumstances.
Food & Dietary Requirements
When traveling with us, you'll experience the vast array of food available in the world. Some of it will be extremely foreign, and some extremely familiar. We'll do our best to work with your preferences and make sure that you always have something that you can eat, but can't make any guarantees.
If you have certain food allergies, we'll work to the best of our abilities to help you eat food that is safe for you, but can't make any guarantees for many reasons, including language barriers, lack of control of the supply, cultural differences, and lack of choices. If having a certain type of food is a life or death situation for you, this probably isn't the trip for you.
That being said, the locations we are going to are big enough to generally provide as much choice as you are used to at home.
Vaccines & Diseases
On this trip, you'll need to take the same sort of precautions you do at home. Make sure to wash your hands often, use hand sanitizer, and maintain proper hygiene. No special vaccines are required for this domestic trip.
Crime & Theft
We are traveling to areas that have little to no violent crime, and very little petty theft, but it is still important to be aware of your surroundings, especially in cities and on public transportation. We recommend carrying a safety whistle and a lock for your bag, as well as a money belt.
Drinking & Drugs
The use of illegal drugs is not permitted on any WanderRock trip, and is grounds for immediate removal from the program without a refund. If you choose to drink alcohol, we expect you to do so in a responsible manner and in line with the laws of the country we are currently in at the time. You will be expected to respect all laws of the country that we are currently in.
Problems & Emergency Contact Info
Should problems arise, whether that be an illness, injury, emotional overwhelming event, or lost baggage, the WanderRock guides accompanying you on your trip are your first place to turn to for help. If, for some reason, you don't feel safe turning to them for help, you may call our Stateside Support phone number for assistance, where someone from the WanderRock office will be standing by to help resolve your issue.
Medication
Since this is a domestic trip in California, your regular medications can be brought as normal. We recommend keeping medications in their original packaging and bringing enough for the full trip plus a few extra days. Make sure to pack them in your carry-on bag.
