1. LOCATION OF SESSION

By kind invitation of the Government of the Republic of Costa Rica, the Second Session of the Intergovernmental Group on Bananas and on Tropical Fruits will be held in San José from 4 to 8 December 2001. The Session will be held at:

Hotel Meliá Confort Corobicí (known as Hotel Corobicí)
Sabana-Norte, San José, Costa Rica
PO Box 2443 1000
Telephone: (506) 232-8122
Facsimile: (506) 231-5834
Email: [email protected]

2. ENQUIRIES/INFORMATION

(a) All enquiries concerning the Session, except those regarding local arrangements or hotel accommodation, may be addressed to:

 

Facsimile: (39-06) 57054495 / 57053152

(b) The following websites contain information about the Session:

www.fao.org/es/esc/esce/escr/bananas/costrice.htm (English)

www.fao.org/es/esc/escf/escr/bananas/costricf.htm (French)

www.fao.org/es/esc/escs/escr/bananas/costrics.htm (Spanish)

 

and www.infoagro.go.cr

(c) Local information should be requested from the Liaison Officer:

Mr Orlando Barrientos Saborio
Secretaría Ejecutiva de Planificación Sectorial Agropecuaria (SEPSA)
Telephone: (506) 231-6422, Facsimile: (506) 232-0677, Email: [email protected]

3. ENTRY FORMALITIES

Delegates and accompanying travellers who, because of their nationality, require visas, should apply for them at the embassies/consulates of Costa Rica in their respective countries of residence. Should any difficulties arise, the Liaison Officer should be informed at least four weeks prior to the Session. In case there is no embassy or consulate of Costa Rica, the Liaison Officer should be informed at least eight weeks prior the Session.

4. HOTEL ACCOMMODATION

Delegates should make their hotel reservation by completing the attached form and forwarding it to:

Hotel Meliá Confort Corobicí
P.O. Box 2443
1000 San José, Costa Rica
Facsimile: (506)231-5834
Contact: Evelin Monge - email: [email protected]

or:

Hotel Best Western Irazú
P.O. Box 962
1000 San José, Costa Rica
Facsimile: (506)232-4549
Contact: Marjorie González Vargas - email: [email protected]

Please note that hotel prices have been specially arranged for a limited number of rooms in each hotel (see Annex I), and therefore delegates should confirm their bookings as early as possible. Copies of reservations requests should also be sent to Mr Orlando Barrientos Saborio, Liaison Officer, as listed in paragraph 2 (c).

5. TRANSPORT

Delegates who advise the hotel (see reservation form) of flight details and arrival times will be met at San José airport. Transport to the hotels will be provided. A taxi to the hotel will costs approximately US$15.00.

6. BANKING FACILITIES

The exchange rate in August 2001 is approximately 350 colones for US$1. Currency can be exchanged at the airport through various banks (situated before passport control) which are open to service from 09.00 hours to 15.00 hours. With a credit card you can get colones 24 hours per day from the automatic services. Banking hours are also from 09.00 hours to 15.00 hours.

7. CLIMATE

December is the transition period of the wet to dry season. Temperatures in San José will be 16-20° Celsius. There is a good chance of rain during the field visit, so it is advisable to bring a raincoat. The temperature in the region of the field trip will be hot (over 30^oC) and humid.

8. PROVISIONAL TIMETABLE

The opening ceremony will take place at 09.00 hours on Tuesday, 4 December 2001 and the Session is expected to conclude its work in the evening of Saturday, 8 December 2001. The provisional timetable is attached as Appendix 1.

APPENDIX 1

PROVISIONAL TIMETABLE

IGGBA/TF Intergovernmental Group on Bananas and on Tropical Fruits
SGBA Sub-Group on Bananas
SGTF Sub-Group on Tropical Fruits

COSTA RICA VISA REQUIREMENTS

1. No visa required for stay up to 90 days:

2. No visa required for stays up to 30 days:

3. Visa required for up to 30 day visit, obtainable directly from Consulates and Embassies of Costa Rica:

4. Visa requests requiring prior approval of the Director General of Immigration. Requests should be submitted at least eight weeks prior to the Session via Embassies and Consulates of Costa Rica:

REGISTRATION FORM

Hotel: __________________________________

As December is the tourism high season in Costa Rica, when making your reservation, a deposit of one night is required. The balance can be paid at check-out.

Hotel Meliá Confort Corobicí

Single room, buffet breakfast                                US$ 70.00, plus 16.34% tax
Double room, buffet breakfast                              US$ 80.00, plus tax
Single room, tropical breakfast                             US$ 65.00, plus tax
Double room, tropical breakfast                           US$ 70.00, plus tax
Suite single                                                           US$ 89.00

Hotel Best Western Irazú

Standard single, continental breakfast                     US$ 54.00
Standard double, continental breakfast                   US$ 56.00

Flight details:

Arrival date: ___________________ Time: ___________ Flight number: ________________

Departure date: ________________ Time: ____________ Flight number: ________________

Payment :

Cash (US dollars or Costa Rican colones), US dollar check or credit card. For those paying by credit card, the company (e.g. Visa, Mastercard, American Express), card number and expiration date must be included - payments will be debited in US dollars.

Please send this registration form directly to the hotel with a copy to:

 

Mr Orlando Barrientos Saborio

Secretaria Ejecutiva de Planificación Sectorial Agropecuaria (SEPSA)

Telephone: (506)231-6422

Facsimile: (506)232-0677

Email: [email protected]

 

If you need help with hotel booking, please contact Mr Barrientos Saborio.