Philippines – conditions of participation
BaltiCCycle (BC) is not a commercial tour, all organizers are volunteers, and the collected registration fee goes only to cover organizational expenses. Each route is different; therefore, it is impossible to work out all details in advance. By joining BC you become a part of the team, and we expect from you goodwill and a right understanding of our principles and rules. Your assistance organizing the daily program and solving all difficulties is highly appreciated.
Notes. The ride will happen on the conditions we offer below if enough participants – at least 10 covering all parts of the route – register for the tour. We need to know this in advance (for booking car, ferries, accommodation, flights, etc.); therefore, the deadline for registration is set for November 21, 2024, three months before the start date. If we do not gather enough participants, the membership fee will be refunded to you, and you can go on the ride yourself, sharing all expenses with the other participants. After registering you will be regularly informed by email about the registration progress. The ride is open to everybody but before signing you should think about your mental and physical capability to complete it not making problems for yourself and the group.
BC participants gather for the ride from different countries. We recommend bringing on your bike a national flag or another symbol so that local people can see us as an international-friendly cycling community.
Organizational rules. We try to keep our organizational principles similar to the previous BC tours.
- Usually the daily cycling distance does not exceed 80-90 km, in exceptional cases, it will overrun 100 km.
- The rest days are planned once a week or even day by day if there are interesting places to visit.
- We will sleep exclusively indoors: in hostels, guesthouses, bungalows, etc. Campgrounds are almost unavailable along our route.
- The maps with a marked day’s route will be available for printing in advance. GPS tracks and descriptions of the daily plan will also be available for download. Every morning during a map meeting, the day program will be explained.
- From one sleeping to the next sleeping place you can travel individually or in small groups. When according to the program some common event is planned we will cycle in a group wearing T-shirts and other BC symbols.
- Though we will have the support car, you should be ready to carry all your necessary stuff on the bike. It could happen that the car will be in service or we cannot use it because of another reason. The service of luggage transportation is limited to 20 kg.
- In case of injury, sickness or other reasons when the participant is not able to continue cycling the organizers can offer to transport the cyclist and the bike, but not longer than 2-3 days.
- The Philippines is a country where lots of people live on a small land, so the traffic is very heavy. When planning the route, we try to avoid busy roads. You should be very careful. The longer part of the route will go on paved roads but sometimes unpaved dirt roads will be available too.
Membership fee. We fixed a membership fee of 35 € per diem. You have to indicate the number of days you plan to travel in the table of the Registration Form, and your membership fee will be counted automatically. To organize the whole event with less trouble we ask everybody who has the intention to take part in the expedition to fill out the Registration Form and transfer the half of membership fee by November 21, 2024. If not, the fee will increase by 10% automatically as well as all discounts will be cancelled. The second half of the participation fee must be paid at least 10 days before your start; otherwise, it increases by 10% as well.
The membership fee includes:
- sleeping places indoor (hostels, guesthouses, bungalows, etc.)
- car following the group with all luggage (20 kg per person), first-aid kit and basic bicycle repair instruments and tools; possibility to call the car in case of emergency;
- GPS tracks for downloading, copies of maps with the marked route for printing; a list of recommended sights as well as a short description, daily consultation regarding the route and cultural program;
- T-shirt, flag, and sticker with BC2025 ride symbols;
- cozy surprises prepared by organizers or local authorities.
Discounts. The discounts are applicable only if the Registration Form and at least the half of membership fee is received no later than November 21, 2024. Discounts don’t accumulate.
- 10% – for students (until 26 years old), families (3 and more persons), and BC veterans who cycled more than 100 days in the previous BC tours. If a cyclist reaches 100 BC days during the ride, the discount is counted for the remaining days.
- 100% – participants who fully prepare some part of the route (maps, descriptions, camps) will NOT have to pay the membership fee for that part of the route and the same number of days in the same ride or the next BC rides or they receive other gratification agreed with organizers;
- Privilege discount – for participants who obtain potential sponsors or support organizers before or during the expedition in another way (preparing descriptions, finding sleeping places, etc.).
- possibility to use transport of organizers for arrival/departure to/from the ride in a radius of 50 km (5 € per 10 km).
Additional paid service (optional):
– booked by registration;
* transportation of additional personal luggage (not exceeding 15 kg – 2 € per diem);
* additional T-shirt with the logo of the ride – 20 €;
– booked during the ride:
* possibility to use transport of organizers for arrival/departure to/from the ride in a radius of 50 km (5 € per 10 km).
Arrival/Departure. Costs of the arrival/departure are not included in the participation fee. You can join and finish the ride at any point of the route, and you have to plan how to do it. Though the ride schedule is fixed the real dates can be slightly shifted (plus/minus 2-3 days) because of bad weather conditions or other unexpected obstacles. Have it in your mind when planning your arrival.
Visas. You have to check if you need visas at your country’s consulate (usually no need visa if you stay less than 30 days). Your passport should be valid for at least half of the year ahead from the departure from your country. You can be asked to show your back ticket and financial sources. In 72 hours (3 days) before arrival to the Philippines, you must fill out the eArrival Card.
Ferries. The ticket prices are not included in the membership fee, and you will need to pay for them during the ride. We will try to book tickets for the group in advance. We will use the following interisland ferries:
- from Cebu to Bohol
- from Bohol to Siquijor
- from Siquijor to Negros
- from Negros to Panay
- from Panay to Guimaras and return
- from Panay to Boracay
Flight. We will take the interisland flight on March 10 Caticlan to El Nido or 11 from Kalibo to El Nido. The ticket price is not included in the membership fee. You can purchase the ticket yourself or ask the organizers to do it for you.
Catering. Food is great and cheap in the Philippines. It is up to you where to eat. There will be restaurants, grocery shops, supermarkets as well as street food on the route.
Vaccination. No obligatory vaccinations to enter the Philippines, but there are some recommended: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, typhoid, rabies.
Necessary equipment and documents:
- bicycle prepared for long travel (carriers with panniers or saddlebags, safe brakes, reflectors, and light);
- good bike wear for different weather conditions and sun protection creams;
- cyclist first-aid kit;
- first-aid kit;
- mosquito net and insect repellents;
- valid passport (at least half of the year ahead);
- INDIVIDUAL MEDICAL and TRAVEL INSURANCE is obligatory, no group insurance is provided;
- money for personal expenses, i.e. bicycle repair, food, museums, excursions, ferries, entrance to national parks, and others);
- mobile phone;
- GPS navigation device.
Children until 18. Children can take part in the ride only together with parents (one or both) or another adult who is authorized by the notary to take care of and is fully responsible for the juvenile.
Luggage transport. We strongly recommend carrying all necessary personal stuff in the panniers on your bike. The service of luggage transportation by the support car is limited to 20 kg. If you plan to transport more kilograms (not more than 15 kg) in the support car you have to indicate when registering and pay in advance (2 € per diem). Neither organizers nor drivers are responsible for the safety of your luggage.
Resignation rules. The date of resignation is fixed up when the resignation letter is received by organizers: before the ride by email sigitas@bicycl.lt or bc2025@bicycle.pl, during the ride, it should be delivered to the leaders of the expedition and confirmed by them. The date is important because it determines the amount of the refund. The membership fee is returned in the following manner:
- up to 30 days before the start – 80%;
- less than 30 days before the start – no money repaid, however, 50% is deposited in the participant’s account for the next year’s BC tour;
- during the ride, after 10 days of participation – 80% unused fee (for first 10 days no refund);
- money is paid back under the above-mentioned circumstances within 30 days after the end of the expedition;
- money is not paid back to the excluded tour participants;
- if you decide to change the sleeping place provided by the organizers to another, you will cover the cost of it, the organizers don’t give money back if you don’t sleep with a group;
- if due for some reason the participant separates from the group for one or more days (nights) no refund for this lost time is applicable.
Organizer. CROTOS – The Travellers’ Association: +48 604 255 722, bc2025@bicycle.pl, Maryla Zielińska; +37068659375, sigitas@bicycle.lt, Sigitas Kučas.