logistic note - Cartagena Data Festival

CARTAGENA DATA FESTIVAL
Organised by: ODI, Africa Gathering, CEPEI, Data-Pop Alliance, Paris21, UNFPA and
UNDP
Cartagena, Colombia, 20-22 April 2015
Venue: Casa 1537
Logistics note for participants
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1. VENUE OF THE CONFERENCE.
The Cartagena Data Festival will be held at Casa 1537 in Cartagena, from 20-22 April, 2015.
Address and contact information:
Calle del colegio 34 -75 Centro Histórico
Cartagena, Colombia
Phone: + 57 (5) 647 8898
http://www.casa1537.com
2. LANGUAGE OF THE CONFERENCE
The working languages of the conference will be English and Spanish. Simultaneous SpanishEnglish translation will be arranged during the plenaries of the conference.
3. REGISTRATION
You can register at the following website: http://www.cartagenadatafest2015.org/
Submissions will be accepted until April 20, 2015.
4. LUNCHES & CATERING
The event will not cover lunches for participants, but there will be a variety of food stalls in the
vicinity of the conference where you can grab a drink and a bite to eat in between conference
sessions.
5. COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS
Wireless internet access will be available at the Casa 1537 throughout the duration of the three
day conference
6. SOCIAL EVENTS
The organisers will host the following evening events:
-
Welcome cocktail reception taking place at the Casa 1537 at 7pm on 20th April
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-
Dinner at the San Felipe Castle at 7pm on 22nd April
Please note transportation will be provided for participants from the Casa 1537 to San
Felipe Castle. Please collect your invitation during conference registration
7. HOTELS
Below is a list of recommended hotels which are walking distance from all the venues. For
reservations, please contact to Ana Maty Trujillo (anatrujillo@gematours.com):
Allure Chocolat Hotel
Calle Arsenal # 8B-58, Getsemaní
http://allurechocolathotel.com/
Kartaxa Hotel
Carrera 9ª # 39 - 120 Calle de las bóvedas, San Diego
http://hotelkartaxacartagena.com/
Movich Hotel
Calle Velez Danies 33 #4-39, Centro Histórico
https://movichhotels.com/index.php?option=com_booking&view=ho
tellist&city_id=2&Itemid=3&lang=es
Atlantic Lux Hotel
Avenida San Martín No. 8-20, Bocagrande
http://www.hotelcasinoatlantic.com/index.php
Regatta Hotel
Avenida El Malecón Carrera 1 No. 5 - 82, Bocagrande
http://regattacartagena.com/sitio/templates/index.html
8. VISA AND PASSPORT INFORMATION
All travelers should obtain their entry visa (where required) from the nearest available
Colombian Embassy/Consulate, prior to departure for Colombia. Please refer to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs’ website for information on which nationalities require visas:
https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/sites/default/files/VisaColombiaPaises.pdf
Should you require an invitation for visa processing, please contact p.miranda@cepei.org or
c.gambagamba@gmail.com.
9. AIRPORT TRANSFERS
Airport transfers to the different hotels and Casa 1537 will not be covered by the organisers. All
categories of participants are kindly requested to indicate flight information during online
registration.
10. WEATHER
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Cartagena's weather is dry tropical, with temperatures averaging 29 °C at day and 24 °C at
night. Due to the tropical climate, it is recommended to wear light comfortable clothing for all
seasons and more formal clothes for social events, e.g. Cocktail reception and dinner.
For information on weather conditions in Cartagena, please check the official website
http://www.pronosticosyalertas.gov.co/jsp/index.jsf#
11. CURRENCY EXCHANGE
The currency in Colombia is the Colombian peso (COP). Circulating coins are 50, 100, 200, 500
and 1,000 pesos and bills are 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, and 50,000 pesos.
Currently, the rate of the US dollar against the Colombian peso is approx. 2,400 pesos per
dollar.
12. HEALTH FACILITIES
The closest hospitals to the venue are the following:
Naval Hospital (3km from the Venue)
San Martin Avenue, Cartagena.
Phone: (+57-5) 6655360
Cartagena del Mar Hospital (3km from the
Venue)
Calle 30 # 20-71, Pie de la Popa
Phone: (+57-5) 6724260, 6724261
Also, it is highly recommended that all participants take out appropriate international medical
insurance before arriving to Cartagena,.
13. SAFETY
Cartagena is one of the safest cities in Colombia. However, with all travel, it is recommended
that you do not wear valuable jewellery or carry large sums of cash. It is also not advisable to
walk the streets at night. It is worth mentioning that the US State Department has canceled the
warning against travel to Colombia recognising significant improvement in the security situation
in the country.
14. OUTLET
The outlet in Colombia is American type, with two inputs (flat) and a grounding (round), 110 V.
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15. WATER
It is recommended not to drink tap wáter but to use bottled water. Usually hotels and any
establishment providing purified water bottles can also be purchased in supermarkets and
pharmacies.
16. CITY
Cartagena de Indias is one of the most important tourist destinations in Colombia and Latin
America. Tourism has boomed in the city thanks to its natural attractions and rich history. The
city is considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, which has strengthened Cartagena as a
tourist destination. Several important political and cultural events have taken place in
Cartagena, such as the Americas Summit and the Hay Festival. The city is home to an array of
historical sites including: the San Felipe Castle, the Inquisition Palace and the Clock Tower.
For all logistical issues and enquiries, please contact:
GEMATOURS: Mrs. Marcela AYAZO marcelaayazo@gematours.com
Tel: (+57) 315 266 27 69
CEPEI: Mrs. Priscilla MIRANDA p.miranda@cepei.org
Tel: (+57) 304 545 25 86
Mr. Camilo GAMBA c.gambagamba@gmail.com
Tel: (+57) 316 868 36 60
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