Our company policies and The Navajo Nation Parks & Recreation Regulations
Blackwater Tours will adhere to the Rules and Regulations set forth by these governing entities; The Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, The Navajo Nation Department of Parks & Recreation, and The Navajo Nation.
Blackwater Tours reserves the right to change policies listed on this page as long as it does not violate the Rules and Regulations set by the governing entities. Policies and Regulations listed or sited on this page may be subject to change without notice.
Fees & Our Tour Pricing
Due to the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park Rules and Regulations, any fees, including entrance fees cannot be inclusive to our rates. Applicable sales taxes; Navajo Nation, local, and booking partner fees will be calculated at checkout.
Tour Duration
Some operators include from and to travel time from outside the Monument Valley Tribal Park, like the road you have driven on your way to the Visitor Center. On other websites and ads, this makes it seem like tours are longer and you will see more, not really the case. Our tour duration starts and ends at the valley drive entrance, we do not include the time it takes to board the tour or waiting for others to arrive.
Single Persons & Booking
The Fareharbor booking system automatically rejects single person bookings. The system will open a tour date for single bookings if two or more persons has booked the same tour your are trying to request. Single persons trying to book a tour by adding a child to bypass the system will require Blackwater Tours employees to confirm your child to be present before departure. If the booked child is not present upon departure, your tour will be cancelled without a refund.
Recording Notice on The Navajo Nation
Though Monument Valley is a major tourist attraction and we are in the 21st century, many Navajo (Diné-The People) respect sacred beliefs and adhere to Diné religion. This includes our guides and surrounding locals, many still prefer not to be included in; photographs, video, and or any kind of recording.
Please be considerate. Ask and confirm permission before taking their picture or recording anyone in any way.
Meeting and Pick-Up
We meet and pick-up at the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park parking lot on the west center circle. We do not pick-up at The View Hotel due to its management’s request. It is best to show up earlier than the departure time so we may depart on time.
Early Departure
Schedules are set for the day, guides and vehicles are assigned for specific tours before they leave our office, requests to depart before your reserved tour time changes our scheduling. If your early departure request is possible, your reservation will be changed to a “Private Tour”, a $100.00 fee will be due upon the request and no one will accompany your party on the tour.
Missed Tour Departure
Please arrive at the time you have booked your tour for, our guides will wait no longer than 10 minutes maximum. There may be availability at a later time, and if you still wish to take a tour contact us right away. If there is no availability for the day the cancellation policy will apply.
Unintentional Inconveniences
While on tour there are many coincidences that may happen, please be aware we will do the best we can to alleviate any of “unintentional inconveniences”. Of these we will list some of these:
Vehicle breakdowns – Engine trouble, flat tires, etc., we will put your party on another vehicle passing by whether our company or another tour company completing the same tour. Our tour guide may accompany you through the rest of the tour, leaving the broken vehicle behind to be towed back to our company headquarters later.
Stuck vehicle – 4×4 vehicles do get stuck in Monument Valley, due to very sandy or muddy road conditions. Since many vehicles use the same trail or dirt roads, the condition of the road may become unknown to the guide and the vehicle may become stuck. In this case the guide will do his or her best to get the vehicle out from being stuck, or catch a ride on another vehicle whether our vehicle or not. Your guide will accompany you through the rest of the tour tour, leaving the stuck vehicle for our mechanics or staff to retrieve it later.
Persons; Injured, health problem, etc – In some instances we have had persons that did not follow our guide’s instructions; they might become injured by climbing and falling off rocks, walking away from the tour into unpredictable terrain, or have tormented a wild animal and got kicked, bitten, pierced or scratched. Some have had health problems; heart complications, breathing complications, heat stroke, etc. In these circumstances we will cancel the remaining tour and go directly back to the Monument Valley Tribal Park visitor center, in severe cases medical help will be called, any medical services may be at your expense.
Tour refunds will NOT be given for any of these instances, ANY kind of medical services; first aid, ambulatory, medical flights will be at your expense.
Cancellation Policy
We operate wind, rain, snow, or shine, in some circumstances severe weather conditions may be unforgiving, and your tour may have to be cancelled due to safety risks. Also, in rare cases the park management may issue a park closure that overrides all operations in the area.
The Navajo Nation Government and the Department of Navajo Parks and Recreation have full autonomy over policies and laws on The Navajo Nation. Park closures may happen at any time, sometimes without warning. If an emergency closure is declared and your tour reservation has not started yet, we may be obligated to cancel any tour and refund in full.
Navajo Nation emergency park closures are usually due to; impassible roads due to weather conditions, emergencies, accidents, etc. This will result in cancellations of reservations, tours, or any activity within the Monument Valley Tribal Park, tours already in progress will be completed. National; U.S., European, etc., closures, travel restriction, etc., will not apply these local or Navajo Nation cancellations.
Any reservation cancellation made by the customer will be refunded only up to 50% of the subtotal without taxes or fees. This includes the aforementioned “**National” cancellations. Booking restrictions apply, 2 persons minimum.
Any missed reservation or no show that could not be remedied by a reschedule will be considered a cancellation made by the customer, will not be eligible for a refund.
Any cancellations stated above or forfeit on Blackwater Tours behalf will be refunded in full.
Tour Time Approximation
Tour routes start at the Monument Valley drive entrance, not the pick-up area. The 1.5 hour, 2.5 hour, and 3 hour times are routes identified by the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park and can be affected by reasons listed below:
**Time and length of tour is based on the route taken for the tour reserved. Times are approximate and may be shortened or lengthen due to:
Participation – A party may choose not to exit the vehicle or stop at a location designated by the tour guide or our company itinerary, this lessens the tour time. The tour route is still taken, thus is still the tour; length, route, type reserved.
Weather Conditions – Weather may become a factor. Rain, wind, snow, etc., may slow a tour, the usually lengthens a tour.
Congestion/Traffic – During the peak tourism months May through August, tour routes may become congested, this also lengthens tour time.
Park Activities – The Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park has full autonomy, and sometimes holds events for the public or Navajo Nation government. In the event of this happening, our tours will be re-routed to other tour routes, these deviations usually do not affect tour times or lengths.
Reservations Are A Must
Arrival without a reservation may result in higher fees due to an agreement set by the local tour operators and the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park.
Printed rates from this site will not be honored upon your arrival without a reservation made from this website, booking partner, telephone call to our office, or on-site coordinator in advance. Without a reservation, prices, rates, etc., established at the Monument Valley tribal park will be applied.