Transportation Airport <-> Workshop

Free shuttle service will be available for the workshop participants to/from Guarulhos International Airport (GRU, also known as Cumbica Airport), in greater São Paulo, and the workshop venue (Hotel Mercure Colinas, São José dos Campos, SP) at the following departure times:

Airport (Terminal 2, international arrivals area) -> Workshop (Hotel Mercure, S.J. dos Campos)
Friday (09-10-2009): departures at 07:00, 10:00, 13:00, 18:00
Saturday (10-10-2009): departures at 07:00, 10:00

Workshop -> Airport
Monday (12-10-2009): departures at 14:00, 18:00
Tuesday (13-10-2009): departures at 07:00, 10:00, 15:00, 18:00

At the Airport (Terminal 2, international arrivals area) someone will be holding a workshop banner for identification. In case you arrive at Terminal 1, the meeting point in Terminal 2 is just within a 5-minute walk, on the same floor, without leaving the main part of the airport. 

Since we´re trying to cater for everyone, let us know if none of them suits you. In order to check this, bear in mind that

* the Workshop -> Airport departure time should be about 3.5 to 4.0 hours prior to your flight departure time, and

* the Airport -> Workshop departure time should be at least 45min after your flight arrival time.

For those whom we cannot attend, a direct and reliable coach service is available linking the Airport and São José dos Campos central bus station, through Pássaro Marron company.

Travel InformationVenue of the Workshop

Automata 2009 will be held at Mercure Hotel São José dos Campos (Colinas - city centre). The hotel has excellent premises and is very well located, with lots of neighbouring facilities for shopping, eating and services, all at walking distance. Also, the hotel convention rooms are shared with the annexe, simpler hotel, Ibis São José dos Campos Colinas, thus allowing for a double option for flexible and handy accomodation. More details here.

Travel InformationThe City of the Workshop

Although the host institution is located in São Paulo city, the event itself will take place in São José dos Campos (São José, for short), a much smaller city, while still being one of the main cities in the same Southeastern Brazilian state of São Paulo.

São José is well-known as the capital of all major aeronautics and aerospace activities of the country, as it houses Embraer, the world´s 3rd largest airplane industry, world-renowned research centres like the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) and the General Command for Aerospace Technology (CTA), as well as a number of related high-tech industries and high-level teaching institutions. São José is a modern Brazilian city, with one of the top living standards in the country, as excerpts from Wikipedia make it explicit: “Safe and secure city that offers a wide variety of stores and services; One of the top ... Brazilian cities for quality of life; … one of the most important industrial and research centers in Latin America”. 

Additionally, São José is very handy due to its extremely strategic location, about 50 Km from Guarulhos International Airport, the main Brazilian airport, and aproximately in the centre of a triangle that links:

• the vibrant and cosmopolitan city of São Paulo, the main national centre for cultural activities, social life, shopping and gastronomy;
• Serra da Mantiqueira mountain range, with its green villages and excellent hiking, through lush high-altitude forest, at one of the highest regions in the country; and
• the Northern seacoast of São Paulo state, where Serra do Mar mountain range meets the sea, creating an imposing and unforgettable scenery of exuberant forests, dozens of paradisiac beaches and islands.

And all this within less than 90 Km (57 miles) of distance! Also, for participants who would like to further explore the neighbouring states, or even the country as a whole, São José also provides easy access to other parts of the country, through daily flights or coaches to various of the main Brazilian cities, including Rio de Janeiro. 

More information: official site of the city government.

Travel InformationVisa Information and Entry Requirements for Brazil

The Brazilian Embassies and Consulates abroad maintain updated web sites, providing information about visas and entry requirements, such as immunisations, depending on where you are coming from, as well as other practical information and health tips. Please take some time to review the entry requirements.

Brazil has agreement for visa exception with several countries. Please consult the visa requirements for your country.

Tourist visa provides coverage for attending scientific conferences, seminars, or meetings. Although tourist visa holders are not allowed to engage in any paid activity in Brazil, they can get per-diem allowances. Getting the Visa usually takes a couple of weeks or less, but it may take up to a month, depending on the country. So, please check this and related details with the nearest Brazilian Consulate as soon as possible.

The organisation of Automata 2009 can provide a letter of invitation for participants who request so, but it is necessary to provide the following information by email to the Chairman:

• Full name.
• Passport number and futher details (country of expedition, expiration date, etc).
• Email address to send the letter.
• Names and passport numbers of accompanying persons, if any.