Travel Information

Getting there

With any one of the better Latin American airlines it is possible to fly to Montevideo from most major cities, connecting either in Santiago (Chile), São Paulo (Brazil), Lima (Peru) or Panama City (Panama). There are also a few direct flights to Montevideo from Europe (e. g. Madrid and Paris) and the USA (e. g. Miami).

The airport

Carrasco International Airport is located at 20 kilometers (13 miles) from the city centre. There are taxi and minivan shuttle services at the airport, although it might be more convenient to hire a chauffeur-driven private sedan (remise).

It is also possible to use the public transportation and take one of the several bus lines that stop right outside the terminal building. This is an inexpensive option for visitors carrying little luggage.

There are some online transportation network companies operating in Uruguay, although their legal status is still under discussion.

From Buenos Aires

International visitors might consider booking a flight to the nearby Buenos Aires: there are many more flight options, and it allows the possibility of a stopover in one of the most important and interesting cities in South America.

From Buenos Aires it is very easy to travel to Montevideo, with a direct ferry connecting both cities in less than three hours.

It is also possible to travel via Colonia, with a combination ferry-bus. It takes longer but it is less expensive, and by buying the ferry and bus tickets separately it is possible to stop over in Colonia, a small city with a Barrio Histórico (historic quarter) designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Accommodation

The ICSC organization recommends the Hotel Embajador, a nice hotel conveniently located in the city center, offering preferential rates for ICSC2017 participants.

Prices per night, including breakfast:

To make a reservation at the discounted rates contact the hotel by email (reservas at hotelembajador.com), mentioning the ICSC.

It is highly recommended to book in advance to secure the availability of rooms.

Visas

Most visitors will not need a visa to enter Uruguay.

A visa is not required for visitors holding a passport from any country in the American continent (except for Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Surinam), any country in the European continent (except for Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Fyro Makedonija, Moldova, Montenegro and Ukraine) as well as from other countries such as Australia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, South Africa, South Korea, etc.

A visa is required for most African countries (except South Africa) and most countries in the Middle East and Asia.

There is more information here, or you can check the visa requirements for all countries here (Dirección Nacional de Migración, in Spanish).

Currency

The local currency is the Uruguayan Peso ($U or simply $), and the current exchange rates are approximately €1 ≈ $U33, and US$1 ≈ $U29. Exchanging money is very easy and simple at any of the numerous exchange bureaus in the city; no ID is required and no commission is charged. ATMs are also easily available in the city and at the airport.

All major international credit and debit cards are widely accepted in most shops and restaurants.

Climate

The Conference will take place in early spring, and fair weather can be expected. Average temperatures range from cool to comfortable during the day (15° to 20°C, 59° to 68°F) and cool in the nights (8° to 12°C, 46° to 54°F).

The weather is less predictable these days, so it would be wise to be prepared for the possibility of somewhat lower or higher temperatures.

Rain gear is a must.

Mains electricity

Electric power supply in Uruguay is 220V, 50Hz. Sockets are Type C (not grounded) and the compatible Type L (grounded), although Type F sockets can also be found.

Please check if you need a plug adapter and/or voltage converter for your electronic devices.

More Information

Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information and recommendations.