Application for oral or poster presentations is now closed.
Exploring Cali
Please note that the ISTRC's organizing committee is not managing nor organizing any tourist attractions for participants. A dinner and a welcome cocktail will be offer in CIAT HQ during the event days. If interested in touristic attractions or Cali' shows, we invite participants to make arrangements by themselves.
Arrivals via Bogotá
If your international flight is not straight to Cali, you will be arriving first in Bogotá, the capital city. The Bogotá airport has two terminals (the international, called El Dorado, and the domestic, called El Puente Aéreo). Upon arrival in Bogotá you will go through Immigration and—sometimes—through luggage claim and Customs. After finishing this process, please go to the connection desk where you will be instructed how to take the airport shuttle bus that will transport you to the other terminal (either Terminal Puente Aéreo if travelling with AVIANCA airline, or El Dorado). Please allow at least half an hour to transit between the Puente Aéreo and the International Terminal, El Dorado). If you have any inconveniencies, please go to our travel agency office, Carlson Wagonlit Travel and indicate that you are a CIAT visitor. Below you will find the contact information:
Carlson Wagonlit Travel – Bogotá airport
Erika Bernal, Head Office
Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Section - Colombian Travel Agency Tourist
El Dorado Airoport, 2 floor
Office: +57(2) 6445820 Ext 501
Mobile: +57 3114912630
Office hours: 05:00 AM to 09:00 PM Monday-Sunday
Email: aeropuerto2@colombiantourist.com
Power Supply at CIAT
The power supply in Colombia is 120V-60Hz, with two or three pin plugs.
Weather
The weather in Cali, located at an altitude of 1000m, is typical of tropical areas, with temperatures ranging from 22o C in the morning and evenings, to 24-35o C during midday.
For detailed weather forecast in Cali visit: www.cnn.com/WEATHER/sa/Colombia/CaliSKCL.html
For detailed weather forecast in Bogotá: www.cnn.com/WEATHER/sa/Colombia/BogotaSKBO.html
Banking Services
Very few stores in town accept USD and you may want to have some Colombian currency for personal purchases. We do not recommend you change money or use the electronic cashiers in town.
The ITAU Bank has an office in CIAT that provides banking services from Monday through Friday (8:30 to 12:00) for money exchange. You can also exchange money at the CIAT Guest House reception desk. In addition, there is a 24-hour electronic ATM cashier that accepts most personal or corporate credit cards that belong to Master Card and VISA.
Medical Service
Medical service is available on campus Monday through Friday 07:30 – 16:30. In addition, Cali has excellent medical services and CIAT has agreements with the main private hospitals. CIAT has ambulance service 24 hrs/day/7days/week.
In case of an emergency after office hours, please contact first the radio operator at Ext. 3111 and ask them to communicate with Mrs. Beatriz Narvaez.
Health
Yellow Fever Vaccination
We have been informed by CIAT that staff coming from the following countries will be required to present their yellow vaccination and immunization record upon entry to Colombia to ensure that they have been vaccinated for yellow fever:
*** Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Uganda, Brazil and Peru ***
If you are traveling from any of these countries, please make sure to have record of your yellow fever vaccination with you in advance of your travel.
Cali is not a malaria risk zone; nonetheless, in the evening, mosquitoes can be a nuisance at CIAT. The Guest House have screens on doors and windows. Please take care to keep them shut. It is also recommended to wear long sleeves and trousers, or use insect repellent, if walking around campus in the evening.
You cannot consume water from the tap, the hotel and conference rooms will permanently have bottled water.
According to CIAT’s policy you must have a health and life insurance during the period of the meeting. CIAT will not assume any legal or financial responsibility related with health problems or accidents.
