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FURTHER INFORMATION

 

You are of course welcome to search the internet on your own and find cheaper hotels, hostels, or boats to sleep in at your own risk. And also to make your own reservations on planes, boats or buses to arrive in Manaus. We are only offering a small variety of the options available for foreigners, we imagine Latin American participants will be able to fend for themselves in seeking out the best deals for their economic condition on their own.

VISAS
A tourist visa is required from non-Brazilian citizens wishing to visit Brazil as tourists, participants in conferences and seminars. Your passport should be valid for at  least six months from  this date of arrival in Brazil.
The first entry into Brazil must be made within 90 days from the date the visa is issued. The length of your stay in Brazil with a tourist visa is limited to 90 days. To obtain a tourist visa you will need:
• A passport that is valid for at least six months from the intended date of arrival in Brazil
• one passport-sized photograph (2” x 2” )
• The photocopy of your round trip ticket
• A dully filled out and signed visa application form
• The $45.00 processing fee.
For more details US citizens please check www.mre.gov.br .A wwworldwide list of Brazilian embassies and consulates can be found at www.brazilians.net/frameconsulados.htmCurrency and exchangeThe brazilian currency is the Real (R$) (1 real = 100 centavos).
Currently (August 2007) the exchange rate is about R$ 2.00  for $1.00 US, with a tendency of medium rated devolution of the Real over the next months.
Dollars, euros, sterling and Swiss francs can be exchanged directly at Hotel Tropical  (but only if you staying at HT). Traveller’s checks can also be exchanged at the hotel, but at a lower exchanged rate than for cash. The best way to pay or get cash is with your credit or debit card. Most places are not accustomed to accept payment in US$, including traveller’s checks, but most large restaurants, hotels, bars, stores accept international cards:  Master, Visa, American Express, Diners, etc.
Cashing of personal checks on US banks is very difficult, and is not recommended. The easiest way to get cash is by using your VISA or Master Card at automatic  teller machines located around Manaus, including Hotel Tropical.
Tips at most restaurants are automatically added to the bill, but if the service is good an extra 10% or more will keep the waiters coming extra fast to the table. Taxicabs do not expect to be tipped, but extra service of any kind always enjoys a reward, you can even tip Dick every time you see him. Baggage handlers should be given about R$ 2 per bag.

The Language Portuguese is similar to Spanish, with about 55% direct overlap, but pronunciation makes is sound quite different. Spanish has 5 very stable vowel sounds, while Portuguese has 12 unstable vowel sounds (7 orals, 5 nasals). If you speak Spanish slowly a lot of people can be understand you and might try to. English is spoken in Tropical hotel and other luxury hotels, but hardly anywhere else in Manaus, except with the airlines and travel agencies.
There are some words that are the same in Spanish but have an entirely different meaning in Portuguese, like exquisito, which is an adjective used to describe an excellent meal in Mexico, but means something strange or unpleasant in Brazil. A good book to buy and read, if you have some knowledge of Spanish, is “ Com Licença! Brazilian Portuguese for Spanish Speakers” by Antonio R. M. Simões (1997), published by Univ. Texas press for $25.00. Berlitz also sells a book on how to learn Portuguese rapidly.

Telephone Calls
The Brazilian telephone system is actually quite good. You can make direct dial international calls from your hotel room by leaving your credit card open. Hotels normally charge an extra service fee for long distance calls, so it better to call collect -  some hotels charge a flat rate extra for this service, so it is better to call from a pay phone. Public telephones accept a special telephone card and you can dial direct from these phones or call collect without a card, including local calls. These cards can be purchased at drug stores, newsstands and candy-cigarette counters.

Time zone
In August Manaus has the same time as the Eastern Dayling Saving Time Zone of North America, and one hour less than Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Manaus has standard minus 4-hours difference to GMT and minus 6 hours in relation to central European time in August.Breakfast (café da manhã): between 7-8 am on working days
Lunch (almoço): around 12 am
Dinner (janta, jantar):  between 6-8 pm

Health requirements
Valid yellow fever and tetanus/diphtheria vaccinations are advisable if your destinations include one of the following Brazilian states: Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, District Federal of Brasilia, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima and Tocantins. If when traveling to Manaus you overnight in Panama City you will need your yellow fever vaccination certificate to board the plane to Manaus.
A yellow fever vaccination certificate may be required at the Brazilian entry airport if, within the three months preceding the entry date, you have traveled to any of the following countries: Angola, Bolivia, Benin, Ecuador, Peru, Nigeria, Venezuelas, and others. The yellow fever vaccination certificate is checked at Manaus airport upon arrival.Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for all persons visiting the Amazon region for periods under six months, although it is not necessary if you are staying only in Manaus, since the urban area is largely free of malaria. However, if you are considering travelling to other parts of the Amazon northern and central Brazil, prophylaxis may be advisable.
Please consult with your doctor or foreign health department.

Smoking and drink
Smoking is forbidden in most closed restaurants, supermarkets, airports, or bars, except in designed areas. You will hardly be fined, but you may be looked upon rudely by other customers and may suffer their wrath.
Drinking in public and private places is tolerated at all times.

Weather and clothing
Beginning of August   coincides with the begin of summer in Manaus. Therefore you can count an predominantly hot and sunny days, although occasional tropical showers may still occur. A light, foldable umbrella may be useful. Day temperatures vary between 29 º and 38 º C, with relative humidity ranging around 70-90%. Night temperatures are usually high in the city, but my drop to around 20º c in the field.
Clothing should be light and light-coloured, including some warmer garments if you plan to make field trips. Since most meeting activities will be held in air-conditioned rooms, a long – sleeve shirt could also come in handy. Sun block, sunglasses and wide hat are recommended for outdoor activities.

Collecting permits
Collecting and exportation of any kind of biological material is strictly forbidden by Brazilian legislation without proper permits issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology –MCT, and needs a special visa other than a tourist visa. All applications of foreign researches for permits to carry out collection and exportation of biological samples or other kind of scientific activity in Brazil must be made to the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico –CNPq through a Brazilian counterpart linked to a officially recognized Brazilian research instituition, and need approval from the Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e Recursos Naturais Renováveis – IBAMA.If the research involves genetic analyses you will also need approval from the Conselho de Gestão do Patrimônio Genético – CGEN (www.mma.gov.br/port/cgen) Further information may be obtained from CNPq (www.cnpq.br)  at their link for Scientific Expeditions  (www.cnpq.br/expedicaocientifica/index.html) in Portuguese.

The evaluation of permit request is complex and takes several months at best. Therefore those researchers considering the possibility of liking their participation in the “6th World Congress of Herpetology” to any kind of data collecting activity in Brazil are strongly advised to contact their Brazilian partner and apply for permits at the earliest possible opportunity. The Local Committee will not arrange colleting  permits for the participants  of the  "6th World Congress of Herpetology" .

Access to scientific collections
The INPA – Intituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia herpetologist collections will available for study or general viewing before, during and after the meeting. For specific material please arrange your visit with the respective curator before the meeting. The INPA herpetology collection has more than 15.000 specimens.

Registration
The registration fee covers all programs materials, refreshment breaks, the general reception, and the program CD of abstracts.

Registrants are responsible for all other meals and lodging.The fact that the "6th  World Congress of Herpetology" will be held in Brazil necessarily implies a cosiderable amount of international money transfers. In order to keep the impact of the cost of international transactions on the registrations fee as low as possible, and also to reduce the complexity of these operations, we have different ways of registration payment to choose form. Although this might seem confusing at first sight, it is our intention to make things more convenient for you, while at the same time saving your money.

The travel agency (see Travel Information) operating for the "6th World Congress of Herpetology" will allow those participants travelling with them to send their registration forms and pay their registration fees directly to them in one-stop shopping fashion. You can do that even if you have already made your reservation for a travel package. Those not travelling with one of the agencies (TAM, ORCAL/PLANET TOUR) can mail or fax registration form and pay their registration fees to Orcal Events.

Participants from Brazil can also pay the registration fee through bank deposit to the AIHA account.Please contact  the agency for information on forms payment (see Travel Information for contact directions.For those travelling with ORCAL/ Planet Tours:Mail or Fax the registration form to Orcal Eventos, Av. Joaquim Nabuco, 352, Centro, 69020-03 Manaus –Am, Brazil, with the ticket of deposit of the registration fee. Fax: +55-92-234 50663 / 2344843 / 2345067

Bank Deposit:      Banco Real, agência 0230
                                Conta DAC 4000432-6
                                Name: AIHA
                                CNPJ: 05.037.169/0001-30

Be sure  to indicate your interest and payment for banquets, special activities, T-shirt, group photos, etc. on the registration form. To take advantage of early registration rates, your completed registration on form an all fees must be poster marked by 1 May 2008. On-site-check-in will take place at the Tropical Hotel Conference Center beginning on 26 June 2008. Participants are encouraged to register in advance so preparations can be made for materials, meals, and other functions.Registration staff will confirm your enrolment in the "6th World Congress of Herpetology".