Home Schedule Registration Workshops Previous meetings Field Trips Plenaries Location
FIELD TRIPS
IsoEcol meetings traditionally include a mid-week break to allow delegates to relax, experience local culture and wildlife, and to network with colleagues outside of the lecture theatre through a series of pre-arranged field trips. This year we have arranged five field trips that range from the very gentle, through to the mildly stimulating and all the way to the physically demanding.
Other delegates may choose to explore what the region has to offer under their own steam. We are also extremely happy to help people find suitable activities beyond what we offer here, e.g. winter sports, SCUBA diving, bicycle tours of Santiago.
Booking procedure:
- Send an email to chris@harrodlab.net stating (a) your name (same as IsoEcol 2018 registration) and (b) your preferred field trip
- We will add the field trip to your details on the 4id.cl online system where you will be able to pay.
Note that:
- All Field Trips will take place on Wednesday 1 August 2018.
- The costs detailed below (in Chilean Pesos) are for guidance only and may be reduced depending on the number of participants for each field trip [not Trip 5 as we are limited to 15].
- A field trip option may be cancelled if there are insufficient registrants. In this case delegates will be given the option to transfer to another open field trip.
- August is late winter in Chile and it is important that suitable clothing and footwear is worn for each trip.
Trip 1: Casablanca Valley vineyard tour
Cost: CLP $ 75 000
Capacity: 35
The world-famous Casablanca Valley is located at the base of the Coastal Cordillera, ca. 30 km from Viña del Mar. In this trip, we will depart at 9:00, visit two vineyards (and taste their wines), eat lunch, and return by approx. 16:00. This trip includes: Round-trip transfer from hotel, the entrance fee to two vineyards (Casas del Bosque and Emiliana), including tour with a local winery guide and tasting (3 wines). The price does not include tips or lunch (approx. CLP $ 20 000)
Trip 2: City tours of Viña del Mar and Valparaíso
Price: CLP $ 30 000
Capacity: 35
This trip is a guided tour through the main tourist spots of the two contrasting cities of Viña del Mar and Valparaíso. The tour includes the flower clock, Easter Island Moai, Reñaca beach, Quinta Vergara, panoramic view on Pablo Neruda’s La Sebastiana, historical centre of Valparaíso, Sotomayor square, Valparaíso harbour and some of the UNSECO’s world heritage neighbourhoods in Valparaíso’ hills.
The trip will depart at 9:00, returning approx. by 14:00. It includes round-trip transfer and a bilingual guide. It does not lunch or drinks (approx. CLP $ 15 000).
Trip 3: Hiking in the La Campana Mountain National Park
Price: CLP $ 65 000
Capacity: 35
La Campana mountain (1 180 m) forms the heart of the La Campana National park in Central Chile. The wooded park harbours a diverse native flora including Jubaea chilensis, an endemic and very rare palm-tree and Nothofagus, among others and a large number of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. La Campana is a lovely place, with a unique microclimate due to oceanic moisture that often materialise during the morning. Charles Darwin visited La Campana hill in August 1834 during his explorations in South America and marvelled at the views, which remain stunning to this day.
We offer 2 options for those undertaking the trip: level 3 (medium-easy difficulty) and level 4 (hard). Fitness levels those trekkers following the level 3 hike should be average, working out or doing cardiovascular exercise (cycing, running, swimming) once a week. The trek will take between 4-6 hours, with a total distance covered between 6-12 km and altitude difference between 200 and 500 m. Fitness levels for those choosing the level 4 hike should be good, i.e. working out or doing cardiovascular exercise (cycling, running, swimming) at least twice a week. The hike will take between 6-8 hours, covering a distance between 12 and 18 km and ca. 500-900 m difference in altitude. The coach will leave the pick up point early (7:00) and will leave the national park at between 18:00 and 19:00 (times subject to change).
Hikers will need to bring suitable boots and clothes, a backpack, a warm and waterproof jacket, 2 litres of water, food and snacks. The trip includes bilingual guide, round-trip transfer and trekking sticks. It does not include lunch, drinks or snacks (or life/ accident insurance).
Trip 4: Pablo Neruda cultural tour – Isla Negra and Pomaire
Cost: CLP $ 55 000
Capacity: 35
Pablo Neruda, Chilean poet and winner of the 1971 Nobel Prize for Literature had several residences in Chile. One of the most iconic is found in the small coastal town of Isla Negra, located 60 km south of Viña del Mar, and it is here where he is buried. The house is now a museum that is unmissable to any admirer of this internationally renowned poet, and includes large collections of figureheads, model boats and other items associated with the sea, navies and sailors’ life.
The trip will depart from Viña del Mar at 8:15, first visiting Isla Negra, then moving on to Pomaire, a typical small town of central Chile, famous for its earthenware pottery that plays a key role in some of Chiles most characteristic dishes.
The cost includes the round-trip transfer from the hotel, the entrance ticket to Museum Isla Negra. It does not include lunch.
Trip 5: Sea fishing
Cost: CLP $ 35 000
Capacity: 24
NB: This trip is weather dependent as swells on the Pacific coast of Chile can be extremely ‘impressive’. If the weather smiles on us, this trip will allow delegates to sample boat fishing for a range of Chilean coastal fishes guided by ace angler, local fisheries biologist and IsoEcol organiser Sebastian Klarian.
We will travel from Viña del Mar at 9:00 to the charming fishing village of Quintay, where Universidad de Andrés Bello have their marine station. We will fish during the morning and then return to the laboratory and eat lunch in one of the picturesque restaurants. We will then return to Viña del Mar in the late afternoon. The trip includes the round trip, and the loan of fishing equipment. It does not include lunch or drinks. Those joining this trip should bring warm and waterproof clothes and a sense of humour.
sponsors
We are extremely lucky to have received sponsorship from a range of different sources. Their generous contributions mean that we have been able to minimise registration costs (especially for students), provide student fellowships and invite plenary speakers.
