We know you have already requested your leave to attend DevelopingEM but now its time to think about
- Registering for the conference and workshops
- Booking those flights
- Getting your accommodation sorted
- Planning your travel
Here are some tips and tricks from our our planning team who had the task of scoping out this amazing city prior to the conference.
Travel to Colombia
• When you book your ticket make sure the Colombian departure tax/airport fee is already
included so you don’t have to bother with a cash payment whilst checking in at the
airport
• GET TRAVEL INSURANCE!!!
We cant stress this enough for all of our events
• Make sure you have your Yellow Fever immunisation documentation
This is mainly to assist re-entry to Australia and other home countries after visiting
the region
• For Aussies check and record your trip on the Smart Traveller website
Entry into Colombia (Cartagena)
• Check the following guide to the Rafael Nunez Cartagena Airport
• No visa is required for Australians visiting for < 90 days (check the situation in your own
countries)
• Customs forms are handed out on the inbound flight
• There is a standard customs area beyond the arrival point
• Most customs officials will speak some English
• Past the customs area is a standard baggage claim area
• Past baggage claim is an area for any declarations
• Past declarations are two currency exchange booths
Americambios
Globocambio
and both open from 7 am to 8pm
It has been suggested that better exchange rates are obtained from ATM’s and there
are ATM’s in the domestic arrival and departure area
• There is a taxi area on the street outside arrivals and there are usually taxis waiting
Taxi rates are meant to be fixed but they often are not and can vary between 13000 and
20000 COP depending on where you are going
Most taxis will accept USD as well and $10 USD is enough
• Uber is also available with an average rate of 15000-30000 COP depending on the dropoff
• The drive time to the old city is 15 mins from the airport
Departure from Colombia (Cartagena)
• Check in for international flights is 2.5-3 hrs from time of flight
• Online check in is dependent on the airline but could speed the departure process if you
don’t have bags to check
• Lines can be long at check in on the weekends and we suggest arriving early
• An Airport fee / departure tax is collected at the check in counter if it hasn’t been
included in your ticket- it needs to be paid in cash (60,000 COP)
• There is a standard exit with customs and security
• The airport lounge is comfortable but basic with a couple of basic food options and a
couple of souvenir stores
• The airport wifi is free
Accommodation options
• There are literally hundreds of room type and budgetary options
• There are 3 main accommodation areas
Cielo Mar- near the airport
Old Town (El Centro / San Diego)- the walled historic old city
Getsemani- historic (now hipster) area outside the walled old city
Bocagrande- Miami-like new area of multiple high rise apartments and hotels
• Hotel options that we have personally reviewed include
Old Town
Bocagrande
– Hyatt
– Estelar
Cielo Mar
• Air BnB options that we have personally reviewed
• A Tour Company we have used previously and can Highly Recommend is
Bars and Restaurants
• There are many options
– the following can be recommended by the organising team
Old City
• El Baron
• Cafe del Mar
• KGB
• Bar at the Sofitel- El Coro
• Rooftop at the Movich- La Terraza
Getsemani
• Demente
Bocagrande
• Hyatt balcony- Amacagua
So now you have that you have booked your flights, accommodation and social schedule it’s time to Register for DevelopingEM 2020 and ACEM 2020.
March in Cartagena is going to be amazing- See you there!!