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11th ALAGO 2008 LATINAMERICAN CONGRESS ON ORGANIC GEOCHEMISTRY 2nd - 6th November 2008 Margarita Island, Porlamar, Venezuela |
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General Information Location The 11th ALAGO Congress 2008 will be held at the Margarita Hilton Hotel, Margarita Island, Venezuela. Because of its low tax status and its geographical situation, Margarita is a significant tourist centre in the Caribbean: hotels and resorts, casinos, international restaurants, a large variety of shops and night life. The island boasts beautiful beaches, add to that a widely varied landscapes and a hospitable people. The charm of Margarita lies in the contrast between its modern and its old.
Margarita Maps Map of the Island of Margarita with information of interesting places (PDF 1.55MB). Weather Margarita is located outside the route of storms and hurricanes, so this permits the island to be far away of this kind of danger. The annual average of rainfalls is very low and the climate is warm with an average of 27ºC (85ºC). The gentle breeze that constantly blows across the Island makes you unaware of the heat of the sun. The island offers up magnificent and widely varied landscapes. The rich vegetation of verdant valleys close by the capital contrasts with the arid side of the Macanao Peninsula. We suggest to wear light clothes, cap and sunglasses. Beaches Margarita is well known for the quality of its beaches. Being an island, it is surrounded by beaches, and there is one for every taste. You can find a beach with or without waves, large or small, crowded or not, deep or not, cold or warm, windy or not, just select what you want, and you´ve got it! Restaurants Margarita offers and endless selection of restaurants to satisfy any taste and budget. An amazing variety of fresh seafood, as well as its many typical local dishes. Restaurants are normally open between 12 noon – 15:00 and 19::00 – 23: 00. Language The official language of the Conference is Spanish, but simultaneous translation will be provided, however a number of bilingual staff will be on site to assist the participants with specific issues. Passport and Visa It is your responsibility to check visa requirements for entering Venezuela. Please check with the Venezuelan Embassy or Consulate in your country if you have any concerns. International Flights Regular Airlines operate flights originating from cities in Europe, North-, South- ,Central America, and the Caribbean to Caracas. We present a list of several airlines websites for more information: AIR FRANCE, ALITALIA AMERICAN AIRLINES (AA), BRITISH AIRWAYS (BA), CONTINENTAL AIRLINES (CO), DELTA AIR LINES (DL), , LUFTHANSA (LH), TACA
Domestic Flights Several domestic flights operate from Caracas (CCS) to Margarita Island (PMV). The duration of the flight is about 45´. The main domestic airlines are: AEROPOSTAL (VH), ASERCA (RI), CONVIASA (AERO), LASER AIRLINES (LER), VENEZOLANA (RAVSA) *Important Note: At the arrival to Caracas International Airport, passengers will have to pick their luggage (no luggage transit between international and national airport) In addition, it is important to calculate a stopover of 2h30´between the arrival of your international flight and correspondence for the national flight to Margarita Island (custom formalities, luggage). The distance that separates the international and domestic airports is a short five minutes walking distance. At Margarita Airport (Santiago Mariño), we offer personal assistance and transfer Airport-Hotels-Airport. Transport It will be possible to walk to the Conference (Margarita Hilton) from many hotels located in the surroundings. If you are further away and require transportation you can order a taxi from your Hotel Reception. Many of the leading international rental car agencies are represented on the island. To rent a car, you must be older than 21, have a valid license and a major credit card (Visa or MasterCard). It is strongly recommended to ask for a full coverage insurance. Driving is on the right side. Taxis are not so expensive. Nevertheless, it is always a good idea to agree on a fare beforehand. Electricity Electricity is 110volts. Plugs are the same that US standard plugs. You may need an adaptor.
Water It is recommended that you do not drink water from the tap. Instead consume bottled or filtered water. Shops and Banks Most shops are open Monday – Sunday from 9:00 – 20:00, some of them may be closed during lunchtime period. Smaller establishments may be closed on Sundays. Banks are generally open Monday – Friday from 8:30 – 15:30. There are numerous cash machines in Margarita open 24/7. Parkings Parking facilities are available at the Margarita Hilton Hotel, at hotels and in the island.
Currency The official currency in Margarita (Venezuela) is the Bolivar. Dollars and Euros are not widely accepted. Most shops, hotels and restaurants accept credit cards, though taxis do not. Foreign currencies or travelers checks can be exchange at banks or exchange houses. Ferries Going to the Margarita Island from Puerto la Cruz (Anzoategui State, Venezuela) by the sea is possible using “Consolidada de Ferrys” services (CONFERRY). It offers several ferries to cross the distance between land and the Margarita Island (Trip Duration: 2H30´). Please do check the following website for further details: www.conferry.com Phone There are a lot of Calling Centers in the Island. To make an international long distance call from your country to Venezuela, you just have to dial :
00 + 58 + area code + phone number. Margarita Code Number is 0295.
To make an international long distance call from Venezuela to your country, you just have to dial :
00 + country code + area code + phone number
Important Phone Numbers
Hotels The ALAGO 2008 committee has selected several hotels, among the available on the island. We recommend the following lists for selection and reservation:
To know where they are located, please have a look a the map of recommended hotels for ALAGO 2008 (PDF 390kB). Please note that the requests of hotels at the Margarita Island is high. Thus, we suggest to do the reservations as soon as possible. Hilton Hotel Maps Map of the Hilton Hotel in Margarita (JPG 1.74MB)
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www.alago2008.org Contact email : info@alago2008.org |