Geographical location

Chile is located in the extreme south-west of South America. Its capital city is Santiago and the country has a total population of approximately 17 million. Chile lies between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes mountains and its long, thin territory is divided into 15 administrative regions.

 

General information on Chile

Santiago, a city of almost six million inhabitants, is the capital of the Republic of Chile. It has a Mediterranean climate and well defined seasons, with rainy winters with temperatures as low as 0ºC (from May to September) and dry summers, when daytime temperatures hover around 30ºC (from November to March). Relative humidity is low and evenings are cool.

It is suggested that visitors drink bottled mineral water, since tap water, although safe to drink, may not agree with those not accustomed to it.

As in all big cities, it is advisable to avoid wearing expensive jewellery and to be careful with handbags and briefcases.

 

Climate

Northern Chile has a dry, hot, desert climate; the south is cooler and wetter, while the central zone has a Mediterranean climate. Precipitation falls mainly during the winter months.

In most of Chile, the four seasons are clearly marked:

• Summer: 21 December - 21 March
• Autumn: 21 March - 21 June
• Winter: 21 June - 21 September
• Spring: 21 September - 21 December

 

Useful information

LOCAL CURRENCY	The national currency is the Chilean peso ($). The exchange rate is approximately 640 pesos to the dollar (August 2018).
LOCAL TIME	UCT/GMT -3 (at the date of the meeting)
ELECTRICITY	220 volts, 50 Hertz (AC).
AIRPORT TAX	Airport tax is included in ticket prices.
TIPPING	Tipping is a common practice in Chile, as in many other parts of the world. It is customary to leave a tip of 10% of the total bill in restaurants.

 

Meeting venue

The Cities Conference II: towards safe. Affordable. and Sustainable Urban Mobility in Latin America and the Caribbean was held in the Raúl Prebisch and Aula II conference rooms at the headquarters of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), with entrance at Av. Dag Hammarskjöld 3477 and at Alonso de Cordova 3770, Vitacura.

 

Meeting coordination

The meeting was organized by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).

Queries regarding the meeting may be addressed to the e-mail: ciudades@cepal.org

 

Hotel reservations

The ECLAC Conference Services Unit has reserved a limited number of rooms with special rates for ECLAC at the following hotel:

• Hotel Director (****), Av. Vitacura 3600, Tel: (56-2) 2389-1956

Single room: US$145 (includes breakfast and internet)

Attn.: María Eliana Puga, Reservations Department

Email: reservas@director.cl and reservaciones@director.cl

      Group code: 359450, Reservations deadline: 14 September 2018

 

• Hotel Cumbres (****), Av. Kennedy lateral 4422, Tel: (56-2) 2487 5114

      Single room: US$135 (includes breakfast and internet)

      Attn:. Macarena Fuentes, Reservations Department

      Email: mfuentes@hotelescumbres.cl

Group code: 290955, Reservations deadline: 14 September 2018

 

• Novotel (****), Av. Américo Vespucio Norte 1630, Tel: (56-2) 2499 2200

      Single room: CH$78.000 (includes breakfast and internet)

      Attn:. Nancy Harpe, Reservations Department

      Email: nancy.harpe@accor.com

Group code: 205679, Reservations deadline: 24 September 2018

 

• Hotel Atton Vitacura (****), Av. Vitacura 3201, Tel: (56-2) 2422-7902

      Single room: US$130 (includes breakfast and internet)

      Attn:. Cesar Lucero, Reservations Department

      Email: clucero@atton.com y reservas-grupochile@atton.com

Group code: 496547, Reservations deadline: 14 September 2018     

 

These rates do not include value added tax (VAT) of 19%. Visitors who pay in dollars in cash, travellers’ cheques or international credit cards are exempt from payment of VAT.

Requests for reservations should be addressed directly to the hotel by the deadline given on the hotel reservation form attached. After this date, the hotel reserves the right to change the rate and cannot guarantee that rooms will be available. . To maintain the special ECLAC rate, hotel reservations must be requested personally, not through travel agencies nor other means. Delegates are responsible for their own reservations. You are advised to check that the hotel has processed your reservation and to request a reservation number or confirmation code. The hotel requires your flight number and date of arrival in and departure from Chile, as well as credit card details, in order to guarantee the reservation. Please complete in full the attached reservation form, which requests all the required details, and submit by the stated deadline.

 

Visas and entry requirements for Chile

Participants must be in possession of a passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the date of entry into Chile.

Delegates from countries whose citizens require a visa to enter Chile should apply for one in advance at their nearest Chilean embassy or consulate.

To find out whether you require a visa, go to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile (http://chileabroad.gov.cl/consulados  ) and click on the name of your country.

 

Transport from the airport to Santiago

Santiago’s public transport system includes buses, taxis and five subway lines. Taxi fares are metered and, in general, drivers do not expect tips.

The companies Transvip and Transfer Delfos operate minivan services from the airport, offering passenger transportation to different areas of the city. Each van can transport 10 to 12 passengers, at an approximate cost of US$ 15 per person. Visitors preferring to take a taxi are advised to use the firms Taxi Oficial or Transvip, which are also located at the airport; fares to the city vary between US$ 35 and US$ 40 depending on the destination.

 

Registration

Registration took place at the hall entrance of the Raúl Prebisch Conference room starting at 8:30 a.m., on Tuesday 16 October 2018.

 

Opening session

The opening session was held at 9 a.m. on Monday, 16 October 2018.

 

Internet

Delegates will have access to a wireless Internet connection (Wi-Fi) in conference rooms and in open areas.

 

Languages

The official language of the meeting will be Spanish. Interpretation into English will be provided.

 

Facilities and services at ECLAC

Travel agency                        Flight reservations and confirmations are handled by Carlson Wagonlit Travel, located in the basement of the ECLAC building (office 1S7).

 

Bank                                       There is a branch of Banco de Chile in the basement of the ECLAC building. It is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Foreign currency may be exchanged from 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.

 

Restaurants                           ECLAC has a cafeteria and a canteen, which are open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. These services must be paid for directly by participants.

 

Medical Service                     First aid is provided by the ECLAC Medical Service. It is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2.30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The “One World” shop         This shop, located in the central foyer on the ground floor, next to the spiral staircase, offers a wide range of attractive gifts, United Nations souvenirs and other items.

 

Places of interest in Santiago

Pueblito Los Dominicos                   A handicraft village located close to the foot of the Andes in the east of the city. It offers a diverse array of traditional and contemporary crafts, including furniture, textiles and paintings.

 

Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes      The national fine arts museum is a major centre for the visual arts in Chile. It is situated in Santiago’s Parque Forestal.

 

Museo de Arte Precolombino          This museum is at the cutting edge in terms of preserving, displaying and studying the continent’s pre-Columbian artistic legacy. It has an extensive collection of art from ancient cultures, such as the Incas and the Diaguitas. It is located in downtown Santiago.  

 

Municipal Theatre of Santiago         Built in 1857, Santiago’s municipal theatre is a national monument of renowned architectural beauty. It is one of the foremost cultural centres in Chile and hosts opera, ballet and musical performances.  

 

La Moneda Palace                             The Government Palace, located in central Santiago, is the only building of the pure Italian neo-classical style in the Americas. Its cultural centre presents visual and audiovisual exhibitions from Chile and further afield.

 

Plaza de Armas                                 Located in the heart of Santiago, this square has been the civic centre since colonial times. The cathedral in the square is a national monument and has an interesting museum, whose main attraction is its library containing manuscripts by important Chilean historical figures. Other historical buildings on the Plaza de Armas are the Santiago town hall and the central post office. 

 

Barrio Bellavista                               This vibrant, quintessentially urban neighbourhood combines a highly varied commercial clothing and craft sector with numerous restaurants offering many types of international cuisine. Bellavista nestles between the north bank of the Mapocho River and the foot of San Cristóbal Hill. Its exotic architecture gives it the aspect of an open-air museum, where art galleries, theatres and lapis lazuli jewellery shops can be found alongside restaurants, parks and the local zoo.