- Accepted Payment Methods: Plan to bring cash, a blank check, or a traveler’s check for gratuities. Credit cards, debit cards, and payment apps like Venmo are not available in the backcountry, so be sure to prepare ahead of time.
- Timing and Distribution: Give your total gratuity to the trip leader on the final night (or the final lunch for 3-day trips). The trip leader will distribute it evenly among the whole crew who helped guide, cook, and support your journey.
- Storage and International Tips: Keep your cash or check in a waterproof bag stored at the bottom of your duffel. International travelers should bring U.S. cash or a cashier’s check, as foreign checks are often not accepted.
After spending a few days watching your trusty river guides lift, cook, push, clean, steer and protect you through your trip in the canyon, you might be inclined to give them gratuity for their hard work.
Of course, tipping is entirely optional, but if you’re like most of our guests, you’ll be eager to show your guides your appreciation. Here are some insider tips:
– Guides are generally given a tip on the last night of the trip (or at lunch on the last day if you’re on a 3-day trip).
– Most passengers tip 8 to 10 percent of their trip cost, but you can tip whatever you feel is appropriate.
– You can either bring cash on the trip with you, a blank check, or a traveler’s check if you’re traveling internationally.
– Store the cash or check in a waterproof bag and tuck it in the bottom of your duffel bag until the final night.
– If you are an international traveler, you might want to think about either bringing cash or going to a bank and getting a cashier’s check to take with you on the trip. Foreign checks are not commonly accepted at US banks.
-Please come prepared as you will NOT be able to tip with a credit/debit card nor apps like Venmo.
Once you’ve decided how much to tip, you can give the entire amount to the trip leader. They will then divide the money evenly among the rest of the crew members.