General Information
Venue
The Novotel Viña del Mar is located in the financial district of Viña del Mar and is the ideal venue for the Combustion Summer School. The hotel has a modern structure with spacious and comfortable rooms, free Wi-Fi, rooms for all the planned activities and many more.
The hotel’s location allows easy access to the main attractions of the city, such as the Flower Clock, the Wulff Castle, the Fonck Museum and the shooping Malls.
For more information regarding the Novotel please visit: Novotel
Visa information
If you are coming to Chile, you’ll need to check if a visa is required for your entry. This will depend on your nationality and the length of your stay. You can check an official list of countries whose nationals will be affected by visa requirements can be found at the following link HERE . If your country of citizenship shows with REQ. VISTUR “NO”, it means you are NOT required a tourist visa. If your country of citizenship shows up next to REQ. VISTUR “SÍ” then you ARE required to get a visa.
If you are a visa-required national, you will have to apply for it online, and obtain it from the nearest Chilean Embassy/Consulate.
In general terms, the process for obtaining a Chile visa is as follows:
- Complete the online Chile visa application and attach electronic copies of all the required documents (check your consulate/embassy requirements).
- After the visa is processed (and approved) submit your passport and originals of the required at the Chilean embassy or consulate stated on your online application.
- Pay the Chile visa fee (you only have to pay a fee if your Chile visa application is approved.
- The Chile authorities review your documents and place the visa on your passport. You have 90 days to travel to Chile.
Do keep in mind that you must apply for a visa at least 30 days before your intended date of travel.
Local Attractions
Known as the Garden City, Viña del Mar is charming! You can relax in green areas, such as the Botanical Garden and the Sausalito Park, enjoy the intense cultural life of the city and visit the Viña del Mar Casino and the Vergara Pier.
The region is also an invitation to practice outdoor sports and enjoy the sun on the different beaches. The Quinta Vergara Park, stage of the famous Viña del Mar music festival, is very close to the hotel. In the Valparaiso region, located 9 km away, you cannot miss the iconic house of Pablo Neruda.
Clicking on the following images will take you to a page with more information about the attraction.
Chilean Landscapes
Covid-19 restrictions
Entry requirements
We recommend everyone to familiarize themselves with the entry rules for Chile before they travel. Entry requirements to Chile can change depending on the COVID ‘Alert Level’ in the country at the time of your entry. Therefore, everyone should review the entry requirements into Chile before their trip.
At the moment, a pre-departure test is recommended for everyone coming to Chile, but it is not mandatory. Chile is currently in the lowest possible level of alert (Level 1). At Alert Levels 2 and 3, travelers are required to have a negative pre-departure PCR test SARS-COV-2 (rapid and antigen tests are not accepted), taken no more than 72 hours before boarding the final flight into Santiago.
Everyone visiting is recommended to have a valid Mobility Pass (‘Pase de movilidad’). At the moment this is optional but in higher alert levels becomes mandatory. You must validate your vaccination in order to obtain a valid Mobility Pass with Chilean authorities. To apply for a Mobility Pass visit MeVacuno website. Visitors can create an account with an email address to access the site. You should allow at least 30 days for your Mobility Pass application to be processed. After registering your vaccines, and once approved, a mobility pass document with a QR code will be issued. Please bear in mind that you will be required to show your Mobility Pass to enter many private and public places in Chile.
All Non-resident foreigners need to hold proof of travel insurance covering a minimum of $30,000 USD for COVID-related issues for the entire duration of your stay.
All travelers need to complete an affidavit (Declaración Jurada) up to 48 hours before boarding. This will generate a QR-code document (sent by e-mail), which you must show to the airline when checking-in and during the health screening process on arrival in Chile. The health authorities will provide the detail of this process by email following the health screening.
Once you arrive to the country, you should follow the instructions of airport authorities regarding testing requirements. You might need to undergo an antigen or PCR test SARS-COV-2, either in the airport or at an external laboratory outside the airport. If the latter, you will need to do this within 24 hours of arrival. If you undergo an antigen test, you will need to wait for the results in the airport. If the result is positive, non-resident foreigners will be denied entry into the country.
More information about what you need to do when you enter Chile can be found here, selecting ‘Plan Fronteras Protegidas’, and here.
Transportation
When arriving to Chile, you will need to get transportation to go from the airport to the school venue. There are multiple different alternatives that will take you from Santiago to Viña del Mar.
As you exit the Customs & SAG area in the airport, follow the signs to get to the specially designated transportation center before accessing the public arrival concourse. Head to the counters, where you can choose from black and yellow cabs, minicabs, transfers, rental cars or buses. Pay for your choice of transportation on the counter and exit towards the public concourse.
For more information about methods of transportation visit the airport website . If possible, we strongly recommend booking your transportation ahead of time to make the trip easier for you!