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Rio in August

Rio is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with many beaches, and mountains covered by rain forest. The mountains separate the southern, sea side, part of the city from the north side, where most of the six million inhabitants live. The hotels for participants and IMPA are all located in the southern part.

See map.

The currency in Brazil is the Real. The current rates are approximately 1EUR= R$2.7, 1US$ = 2.4R$.

August is the one of the colder months: temperatures typically range from 17C to 28C. A light coat will be enough, and don’t forget your bathing suit! Besides the gorgeous beaches, there are lots of artistic and cultural activities going on during this period, and lots of good Brazilian music too.

Violence in Rio is a big problem for those who live here. Most violence is related to drug dealing. For tourists the basic problem is street robbery, usually by small groups of destitute teenagers, often at the sea shore. Be discreet. Carrying along passports is not necessary, and jewelry or large amounts of money are not recommended. If you’re going to the beach, carry little or no money. Going around in the city, if you carry a camera, take it in a bag, to avoid calling attention. Tourists should watch out for wandering groups of destitute teens and also avoid deserted places. In case of an attack you should never react. Taking these obvious precautions, a tourist will be as safe as in any big city and will enjoy the best of Rio.

Visa

Please get in touch with your nearest Brazilian Consulate to find out whether you need a visa to come to Brazil, or you can check this website:
http://en.brazilny.org/index.php?/consulado/t_c/visa_requirements_by_country/

If you do, we recommend you apply for a tourist visa, which is usually simpler to obtain, and which is enough for this purpose. Brazil has agreements with most European and Latin American countries, so participants with passports from these countries will not need a visa. However, participants with passports from US, Mexico, China and Russia, for instance, will need a visa. Please contact xebp@impa.br if you need help to get a Brazilian visa.

Accommodations

Hotel Address Single Room Double Room Included Taxes
Rio Othon Av. Atlântica 3264 - Copacabana U$ 120 U$ 120 Breakfast 15%+U$3.00
Luxor Copacabana Av. Atlântica, 2554 - Copacabana U$ 95 U$ 95 Breakfast 15%+U$1.50
Luxor Regente Av. Atlântica, 3716 - Copacabana U$ 98 U$ 98 Breakfast 15%+U$1.50
Savoy Av. Nossa Senhora de Copacabana, 995 U$ 60 U$ 60 Breakfast 15%+U$3.00
Lancaster Av. Atlântica, 1470 - Copacabana U$ 80 U$ 80 Breakfast 15%+U$3.00
Olinda Othon Av. Atlântica, 2230 - Copacabana U$ 60 U$ 60 Breakfast 15%+U$1.50

Reservations

  • Rates available for the period: July 27 to August 5, 2006
  • Deadline for reservations: May 30, 2006
  • Reservations have to be made with the Convention Bureau (CMOEventos). Contact them by phone (55 (21) 2210 1732) or fax (55 (21) 2210 7282). You can also use their secure online form on https://secure.001hosting.com.br/cmoeventos/form_seguro.html.
  • Indicate dates of stay, number of rooms needed, and hotel.
  • The CMOEventos will reply by email (if online form was used) to confirm that the rooms are available.
  • A credit card is required to guarantee your reservation. Please see cancellation policies below.

Cancellation and Date Change Policy

  • Cancellations will be accepted without penalty 55 days before the event.
  • 16 days before the event cancellations will be charged 50%.
  • 0-15 days to event cancellations will be charged 100%.

Transportation from the Airport to Hotel

Transportation from the airport to hotel is very easy. One can arrange a taxi ride at the airport, at one of the booths next to the customs exit gates (rates are paid at the counter).

There are two types of taxi companies that operate at the airport: special and regular taxis.

The companies of special taxis are: COOTRAMO (blue cars) e TRANSCOOPAS (red cars). The ticket bought at the counter of the company to Ipanema or Copacabana costs around R$ 67,00 (one-way) and R$119,90 (two-ways, with reservation for return). We recommend participants to use one of such special taxis.

The regular taxis (yellow cars) also operate at the airport. Two such companies are aerootaxi and aerocoop. For these, a ride to Ipanema or Copacabana costs around R$30,00 to R$35,00. These taxis stop in front of the terminal, and run with taximeter. Please do not accept other possible offers.

The Othon Shuttle Service is free and available at the Othon hotels (Rio Othon, Savoy, Lancaster and Olinda) in Rio de Janeiro, taking guests to and from the airport in special air conditioned vans. To make reservation for transfer. It is necessary to send data of flights, name of guests, code or hotel reservation to transfer@othon.com.br .

Transportation from the Hotel to IMPA

During the conference, transportation will be provided: from hotels to the conference site at IMPA in the morning, before the beginning of the activities, and back to hotels, at the end of the day. The bus schedule will be distributed to the participants together with the meeting program, and posted at IMPA, and can also be viewed here.

Taxi

Taxi is the best way to go around. Taxi drivers are, in general, gentle and honest, but hardly ever do they speak English.

All special taxis and most of the regular ones have air conditioning. A regular taxi from Copacabana to IMPA costs approximately R$16,00 and a special one costs about R$25,00. Some reliable radio taxi services are:

  • Horto Taxi (regular) - 2512-8991 - convenient if you are at IMPA
  • JB Taxi (regular) - 2501-3026, 2501-3027
  • AeroTaxi (regular) - 3398-4206, 3398-3163
  • RadioTaxi 2000 (regular) - 3878-8880
  • Coopertramo (special) - 2560-2022, 0800-701-2022, http://www.radio-taxi.com.br
  • Coopatur (special) - 2573-1009, 2560-1009
  • Cootramo (special) - 2560-5442 (Does not use taximeter. Has pre-fixed rates.)
  • Transcoopas (special) - 2560-4888

Many taxi drivers do not know IMPA or Estrada Dona Castorina. It is good to tell them that IMPA is at Horto, and that Estrada Dona Castorina starts near the end of Rua Pacheco Leão (approximately at Rua Pacheco Leão, 1800 ), turning to the right.

Public Bus

The rates of public buses are R$1,80 (no air-conditioning) and R$1,90 (with air-conditioning).

Line number 409 (Tijuca-Centro-Botafogo-Humaitá-Jardim Botânico) has its final stop very near to IMPA. This line has buses leaving its final stop approximately each 10 minutes. This line (409) does not go to Leblon, Ipanema, Copacabana, but it can be used to go down to Rua Jardim Botanico, from where there are various options of buses (571, 573, 583) to Leblon, Ipanema and Copacabana.

Line number 125 has also a final stop near IMPA and goes to Ipanema. But it is not very regular.

Participants not very familiar with Rio should avoid the public bus, using the conference transportation or a taxi.

City Tours

For more information on city tours offered doing your visit to Rio, please go to http://www.cmoeventos.com.BR/congressos.HTML. Find your congress and choose the option "City Tours".