Information for ALE2011 Participants
Welcome to Santiago! Here are some tips you may find useful.
Arriving at the airport
Citizens from some countries have to pay a "reciprocity fee" to enter Chile. Look at the signs with the flags of these countries, and be sure to pay the fee before you go to the immigration lines.
Chile has very strict regulations to protect its agriculture and livestock industries. You are not allowed to bring any vegetal or animal products. If in doubt about some item, declare it in the customs form.
Airport Transportation
Official airport taxis and shuttles are safe and reliable. They can be hired at desks located after you exit the customs area. See http://www.transvip.cl/ for more information.
Getting around in the city
Recommended hotels are all located near a metro station in Line 1 (red). The conference venue can be reached from the "Universidad Catolica" metro station.
To pay your fare, you can use a "Bip card" ("tarjeta Bip"), sold at metro stations. An empty Bip card costs $2,000 (two thousand Chilean pesos, some 4 US dollars), and you have to charge it with money before you can use it. The metro fare at peak hours is $580. Therefore, if you spend $5,000 ($2,000 for the card and a $3,000 charge), you will have enough for 5 rides. Cards can be recharged at any metro station.
City taxis are painted black and yellow, and there are usually plenty of them in downtown Santiago. Pay just what the meter says.
Hotel taxis are not painted in a special color, but they have orange license plates. They are usually more comfortable (and more expensive) than regular taxis.
Registration desk
For the convenience of people arriving early, the registration desk will open on Sunday afternoon, from 4 to 6 PM. Please come to pick up your badge and conference material, or to complete your registration, and have a cup of coffee with the local hosts.
On Monday, the registration desk will open at 8 AM.
Welcome Dinner
The welcome dinner will be on Monday, January 10 at 8 PM at Restaurant Cívico, located in the Cultural Center of the government palace (La Moneda). Yo may arrive early to explore some of the exhibits before heading for the restaurant.
http://www.civicochile.cl/civico/comollegar.html
