IN-COUNTRY TRAVEL
CATIE will provide transport from the airport to Turrialba, where the Conference will be held. Also, group transport will be offered after the Conference from CATIE to San José or the airport. CATIE is two hours from San José.

CLIMATE
The average daytime temperature in Turrialba is 85°F (29°C). We recommend that you bring an umbrella.

CURRENCY AND CREDIT CARDS
The official currency is the Colon, although the US dollar is accepted throughout the country. Currency can be exchanged at all banks, hotels and at CATIE. Most major credit cards and travelers checks are accepted throughout the country. Please take note that in most of the cases, you will require your passport.

VISA AND PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS
A passport, valid for at least six months, is required when visiting Costa Rica. Citizens from the Soviet Bloc, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Dominican Republic and Nicaragua require a Consular visa. Citizens from Cuba and y Haiti must obtain a visa from the Costa Rican Immigration office.

INAUGURATION
Registration for the Conference will take place at CATIE, on Monday, October 31st. from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. The inauguration speech and dinner will take place after registration.

FIELD TRIP
Conference participants will be able to choose between two field trips; both will be to the location known as the “Reventazon Model Forest.”

Option one: Coffee and Cheese Route
Participants in this field trip will visit a working coffee farm which occupies an important area in the Reventazon River watershed. During the visit, we will discuss how this farm manages the challenges and opportunities of environmental services and certification of the productive system from the standpoint of supply of services.

The second half of the day will be dedicated to discussing the design and valuation of a Payment for Environmental Services (PES) scheme implemented by the local hydroelectric company. This company will present its perspectives on the demand for environmental services in the region. Participants will also analyze the challenges of starting a PES system in a landscape dominated by dairy farms and agriculture, from both a micro -and macro- watershed perspective.

Lunch will be at a scenic site and afterwards, participants will visit the Irazu Volcano National Park, where they will be able to observe the crater.

Option two: Water-Energy Route
Participants in this field trip will witness the interaction between energy production and farm landscapes.

The trip will begin at the dam to see the challenge of sedimentation in the Angostura Hydroelectric Project. On the road to the Tapantí National Park, participants will enjoy the great scenic beauty while observing farms that have adopted the PES scheme. They will discuss commercial reforestation and conservation.

At the Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park, participants will walk through dense trails in the rain forest, where they will learn more about environmental services provided by the park. These include water for human consumption and production of electricity.

After a field lunch on the riverbank, they will visit the water catchment area in the park and have an opportunity to take a vigorous walk through the trails in this beautiful national park.

We recommend that you take a jacket,
rain gear, binoculars and a camera.