Pontificia Universidad Católica de

Universitas 21

Research Collaboration Group: RCG schedule

Arrival Guidelines Mon 27th – Tue 28th May Horizon 2020 and Horizon de Chile, 27-31th May, 2019 Europe training.

Webpage: www.uc.cl/ Contact e-mail: [email protected] Tue 28th May

Informal welcome Dear delegates,

We are more than pleased to welcome you to our country! To th st maximize your experience we have prepared this document to Wed 29 – Fri 31 May serve you as an arrival guideline, so you know some basic Core RCG meetings. aspects about Chile and it’s capital.

Once you have arrived Thu 30th May Which documents should I submit to enter Chile as a tourist? Visit to the PUC's Coastal Incoming visitors must submit their travel documents (passport), and Marine Research Stations at the duly stamped visa as necessary, at International Police. Las Cruces Individuals from specific countries such as Australia may need to pay a reciprocity fee.

International visitors are required to fill out a Tourist Card and hand in a copy of this document when leaving the country.

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Where can I find a money exchange office at the airport?

Inside the Terminal, the airport features several Exchange houses, located on the first and third level of the public Hall, in international departures. In Santiago, there are also several Exchange Houses. Likewise, banks offer this service at a slight higher rate. You will also find many cash dispensers (ATM) on the streets, banks, and at the hotels.

Are there means of transportation at the airport?

At the airport, there are the following types of official public transportation: basic and executive taxis, minivans and buses. You will find the office counters right after the Duty Free and Customs Useful tips area. How much should it cost to go from the airport to the Hotel? Money Exchange Offices The Transvip (minivans) service costs approx. 7.000 CLP in a shared We advise you to go to transfer, 20.000 CLP in an executive taxi, and the exclusive transfer authorized offices or costs approx. 27.000 CLP. We do not recommend taking a exchange in your hotel. The regular/basic taxi outside the airport since the fares may raise fares do not change excessively. significantly from one office to another In the following link, you will find extra information that might be interesting and useful:

https://www.nuevopudahuel.cl/pinformation?language=en Can I pay in USD for any service?

Hotels in Chile usually accept About Chile dollars as a form of payment; nevertheless, we recommend Language exchanging your currency for The official language in Chile is Spanish, which is spoken by the Chilean Pesos (CLP) to eat majority of the population. and buy souvenirs. Most stores also accept credit cards Indigenous people have their own languages, such as Quechua (North), Mapudungun (South) and Rapa Nui (Easter

Island), which continue to be used by some of them in the country.

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Currency

The official currency is the , which is the only valid monetary unit in the country. The value of the Peso relative to the American Dollar, Euro and other foreign currencies changes slightly daily; therefore, you are advised to check the exchange rate on the date you plan to travel to Chile. As there are no foreign exchange restrictions, money may be exchanged freely at official banks and currency exchanges, with no special documentation requirements. Payment can also be made almost everywhere by credit cards. Useful tips

Commercial schedule

What is the conversion of United States Dollar (USD)/Euros (EUR) to Usually markets and stores are Chilean Pesos (CLP)? open from 10:00 to 20:00 including weekends. Approximately, 1USD is equivalent to 670 CLP, and 1EUR corresponds to 760 CLP, but as aforementioned, we suggest to check these values on the day you arrive. Bank cards Time zone ATMs in Chile are available to Chile is part of GMT-3. be used with any bank card. Banks are open from 9:00 to About Santiago 14.00, Monday to Friday. You may find ATMs outside the Santiago is a big city. The urban cluster of counties and Banks (available 24/7), inside neighborhoods (comunas) effectively associated to Greater malls or supermarkets Santiago gathers approx. 7 million people (40% of the national population).

One can find some write-ups on Santiago, its neighborhoods and the rest of Chile in the website of the National Service of Tourism

(http://www.sernatur.cl).

As could be expected, Santiago has some typical problems of big cities. It is congested at rush hours, and it has some quite poor areas. On the other hand, it also has many nice neighborhoods, including parts of the city center. Moreover, it has a fair number of green areas and parks. Among the major towns in , Santiago is probably the safest. It has a modern system, which efficiently connects most neighborhoods.

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Weather

Santiago has an extremely nice weather pattern in the spring, summer, and fall, probably most similar to Northern California or some places in Southern Europe. In general, It is fairly dry, with nearly all rain concentrated in winter. During your stay, you can expect a maximum temperature around 23°C and a minimum temperature around 3°C. We highly recommend wearing layers of clothes; Santiago has a very changing weather during the day, with very cold mornings, warmer during the day, and cold again in the evening. It is also advisable to bring a waterproof coat in case of rain. It rarely hails or snows in the city. Central heating is common in more modern buildings.

Weather in Las Cruces can be colder and more humid than in Santiago, ranging from 2°C to 20°C with averages going from 9°C to 16°C. We recommend bringing a waterproof jacket and Hotel Cumbres Lastarria comfortable shoes. Walking distance from UC, this boutique hotel is located in the Activities cultural neighborhood of Lastarria, José Victorino Lastarria Santiago is a city big enough to have all that you expect from 299, Santiago. urban life, while still preserving the charm of the suburban spaces in many neighborhoods, especially those in the eastern part of the city, towards the foothills of the Andes. It is definitely a modern city, where most stores accept major credit (American Express less so) and debit cards. Santiago has plentiful options for eating, shopping and general entertainment. There are many typical and ethnic places for enjoying different types of cuisine. There are lots of bookstores, artisan/jewelry shops, libraries, theaters, movie theaters (including 3D), rock concert venues, and also an opera theater, an excellent philharmonic orchestra, and many groups of chamber music, which play all The Ritz-Carlton Santiago year round. In addition, the "modern times" have brought the all- American invention of the Shopping Mall. There are more than Located near the metro station five huge malls in town, with hundreds of stores (many of which El Golf, in the street El Alcalde, Av. El Golf 15, . will be familiar to the foreign visitor), movie theatres, and/or cineplexes in each.

In the link below, you will find some useful information about Breakfast are included in the Santiago, what to do, and where to go: rate at both hotels. http://chile.travel/donde-ir/centro-santiago- valparaiso/santiago/

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Transportation system

Transantiago is the name of the bus transportation system around Emergency numbers the city. You can take a bus or the Metro by previously buying a 131 Ambulance “Bip!” card at any Metro station, but we highly recommend using only the Metro, since it is easier and faster. A one-way trip in either 132 Firefighter bus, subway or combination of both can cost from 650 to 780 133 Police pesos, depending on the time and transportation. If you want to go somewhere, you can plan your trip using the website: 134 Investigation Police (PDI) https://www.transantiago.cl/planifica Immigration and International Police 56 2 2708 10 43 Metro

As we mention in the part of life expenses, Santiago's Metro trains are clean and modern. It is important to note that the Metro gets quite crowded during rush hours. Rush hours are from 7:00 to 9:00 Driving side in the morning and from 18:00 to 20:00in the evening. In Chile we drive on the left Here is the traveler’s guide: side, this will help you if you decide to rent a car for your https://www.metro.cl/guia-viajero stay.

And the map of Metro's Network https://www.metro.cl/estacion/plano-red

Recommended Neighborhoods to Visit

Barrio Lastarria

Barrio Lastarria (Lastarria Neighborhood) is an historical neighborhood in the center of Santiago, Chile. Now a popular tourist hub, Barrio Lastarria is a center for cultural activity, with cinemas, theaters, museums, restaurants and bars. Activities such as festivals and live performances are commonly held throughout the streets of Lastarria given its strong cultural flavor, particularly in J.V. Lastarria street and Parque Forestal.

Metro station Universidad Católica and Bellas Artes provide direct access to this neighborhood.

Hotel Cumbres is located in this Neighborhood.

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Barrio El Golf

If you are staying at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, you will be located in a More useful tips neighborhood called Barrio El Golf. This neighborhood combines the financial district with residential areas, high-end stores and AC power plug restaurants. The power plugs used in Chile A good starting point to go down this area is Plaza Perú (Isidora are of type L, and C. Local Goyenechea street, 3051), where you will find many executives system uses 220 V and 50 Hz catching a break or families visiting small organic markets or antique fairs during the weekends.

Barrio Italia

This neighborhood has become one of the most attractive areas in Providencia, since it is the main district for Design and Gastronomy.

In Barrio Italia you will find a lot of restored houses hosting Design and Decoration stores, antique shops, beautiful cafes and small restaurants. Stores open at 11 am and close around 7 pm. Water Barrio Bellavista Water is drinkable Barrio Bellavista (Bellavista Neighborhood) is an area that lies everywhere in Santiago. between the Mapocho River and San Cristobal Hill in Santiago. It is known as Santiago's bohemian quarter, with new hip restaurants, In case of earthquakes boutiques, and avant-garde galleries occupying loft spaces and lordly mansions that punctuate tree-lined streets awash with ALWAYS keep calm, Chile is a colorful antique homes. Many of the city's esteemed intellectuals seismic country and its and artists live in Bellavista, following the footsteps of its most infrastructure has been built famous denizen, Pablo Neruda. In the evening, Bellavista pulses to to support seismic activity. the beat of music pouring from its many discos and bars. On Never use elevators while an weekends, there is an evening handicrafts market that runs the earthquake is ongoing. length of Pío Nono. The area is served by the Baquedano Metro subway station, located just across the river. In addition, it is a popular place to purchase craftwork made from lapislázuli, a semiprecious stone found principally in Chile and Afghanistan. Pablo Neruda's famous house in Santiago, La Chascona, is also in this area. Another attraction is the Santa Filomena Parish also known as the Parroquia de Santa Filomena. You can also visit the National Zoo located at the entrance of San Cristobal Hill. This neighborhood can turn somewhat sketchy at nights.

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Barrio Yungay

Located west from downtown Santiago, it is one of the most typical neighborhoods in the city. Its buildings are a mix of colonial constructions, terraced houses, as well as some others with Bauhaus and Art Deco style.

In this neighborhood you will find museum such as The Museum of Memory and Human Rights (Matucana 501), the Science and Technology Museum, the National Museum of Natural History and the Contemporary Art Museum. Likewise, there are some other places of interest such as the Culture Center Matucana 100, Santigo’s Library, Pasaje Lucrecia Valdés, and well-known restaurants like Boulevard Laveaud, Fuente Mardoqueo and Zarita Restaurant.

Security

Even though Chile is considered one of the safest countries in , it is important to be always very careful and alert. We recommend keeping your valuable items with you, saved properly in your bag or closed pocket when walking around the city, especially at night or in touristic areas. When going to a store, coffee shop or restaurant, never leave your belongings unattended.

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