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VENUE AND ACCOMMODATION Conference Venue Download Location Map (jpg, 30 kb) The Symposium will be held on Margarita Island (Isla Margarita), the pearl of the Caribbean, in the Hotel Hesperia only 35 minutes from the international airport of Isla Margarita. We highly recommend and expect most participants to be lodged in Hotel Hesperia where we negotiated an excellent deal. For more details see the section below under Accommodation and Booking. The conference venue and its immediate surroundings (left). The Hotel is most recently built and set in a 2.700.000 m2 property (middle) and it also the only 5 Star De Luxe Hotel with Golf Course on the Island, surrounded by natural swamps. Hotel Hesperia has a direct access to the Caribbean Sea (right). Fore more pictures we have taken click here (sorry, under construction). Accommodation and Booking We have negotiated with the hotel an excellent deal. The costs of accommodation are as follows: Price per person per night on an ALL INCLUSIVE BASIS: Sencilla (single room): USD 99 Double room: USD 71 Triple room: USD 64 Children aged 0-5: free; 6-12: 50% discount on the price for the double room. The price of room includes: Breakfasts, lunches and dinners of buffet type in the Hotel Restaurant Puerto Viejo Unlimited (yes, correct!) national (local) alcoholic and not alcoholic drinks in all points of selling in the hotel, except during dinners or special events of the symposium In exclusive hotel spa: Use of the gymnasium, jacuzzi and sauna Clinics of Golf from Monday until Friday Access to day and night hotel activities every day Check In: 3:00 pm-Check Out: 1:00 pm Wi-Free in conference rooms The price DOES NOT include: Telephone calls, use of the Internet (in the room), laundry, safe, control of TV The hotel will request credit card from guests to endorse extras what are not included in the price deal. Further, there is an unusual extra charge according to hotel regulations: USD 2 for bellboy services (to be paid only once) and USD 0.75 per night/per person as tip for maid services. To book a room send the following information Arrival date: Departure date: Number of nights: Number of persons: Room type: to Mr Carlos Fernandez by email: cfernandez@hoteles-hesperia.com or by FAX: +58-295-4007150 Please remember to quote: IAU Symposium 247. Isla Margarita Geography La Isla Margarita is situated in the Caribbean Sea, off the northeastern coast of mainland Venezuela. The island consists of two sections linked by an 18-km spit of sand. The population of Margarita Island is 420,000, most of who live in the eastern part where the capital of La Asuncion and Porlamar are located. The western part of Margarita Island is called the Macanao Peninsula. It is sparsely populated and has seen little tourist development due to the limited availability of water. History Isla Margarita was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1498 during his third voyage to America. He named the island “La Margarita” (from the Greek margarites meaning “pearls”) since the seabed was rich in pearls. The local natives, the Guaiqueries, received the conquering Spaniards with open arms unaware that they later would become slaves of their own wealth. During the 16th and 17th centuries Margarita had to be fortified against the frequent pirate attacks and several of the fortifications remain today. In 1561, the island was seized by Lope de Aguirre, a notoriously violent and rebellious conquistador who held the islanders in a grip of terror. In 1814, the islanders fought successfully for independence from Spain, and Isla Margarita became the first free territory in Venezuela. It was on Margarita Island that Simon Bolivar was confirmed as Commander in Chief of the new republic, La Gran Colombia and commenced the liberation of Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia from the Spanish Crown. Weather The climate is very sunny and dry, with temperatures from 24 to 37ºC and annual rainfall average of 27 inches. Travel There are direct flights from Caracas and other Venezuelan cities, as well as scheduled or charter flights from a number of North American and European cities, and ferries from Puerto La Cruz, Cumana, and La Guaira (near the International Airpot Simon Bolivar). The currency is Bolivar 1US$ = 2,144.6 VEB (may strongly fluctuate!) Useful Links WorldAtlas.com Margarita-Island.com Virtual Tourist TravelLibrary A more complete travel guide will follow in due course.

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