Travel Info for Undergraduate ALFALFA Team Observing Runs

GRANT FUNDS/REIMBURSEMENTS

The grant funds $750 for airfare per person up to 12 persons per year and provides lodging and subsistence support while onsite. We will refund ground transportation to the Observatory and more expensive airline tickets as we can. Please try to keep the airfare costs as low as possible, without undue inconvenience.
We typically support the faculty lead and 2 students per trip. Faculty are encouraged to seek available matching grants from their institutions so that we can fund additional students. Please confirm the number in your group with Becky before purchasing airline tickets.
Please submit an estimated budget at the time of ticket purchase.
Costs may be charged to Becky's credit card and/or reimbursed via check.

PLANNING YOUR TRIP

When planning your trip, please:

Book flights early.
Coordinate with other observers to minimize ground transportation costs to observatory (now ~$140 each way).
Request housing and taxi reservations weeks in advance. (See Accommodations.)
Try to save money. We want to support as many observers as we can, so please be wise with flight reservations and coordinating ground transportation.
Consult Becky with any questions.

LOGISTICS

TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM OBSERVATORY

Observers have two options for transportation to the observatory: rent a car or hire a taxi. Be aware that driving in Puerto Rico can be hectic and challenging, especially near San Juan near rush hour. Maps are available on the Arecibo Visiting Scientist Webpage

If you would like to hire a taxi, please contact Carmen Rosario (with copy to Natalia Pinero) or ask Becky to arrange it as soon as you have your flight schedule. Cost will be ~$140. Please get a receipt for reimbursement by the grant. In the unlikely case that you will have to look for alternate arrangements, e.g., if you are delayed, note that airport taxis will not necessarily know the way to the observatory or be willing to take you that far. (If it is necessary to take an airport taxi, directions in Spanish, at the end of this page, may be helpful.)

Please try to coordinate arrival times so that as many observers as possible can travel together (to keep transportation costs down).

When scheduling the return to the airport, be aware that travel can be significantly delayed by traffic. There can also be a long wait in airport security lines. It is safest to depart the observatory 4 hours before your flight. For morning flights on weekdays, we recommend leaving by 5am to reduce time in morning rush hour. Please schedule the return taxi when you have your flight schedule.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Carmen Rosario and Natalia Pinero will make room reservations. Email them or request accomodations using this form. Request that at least one person in your party be assigned to a room with a kitchen so that you can prepare your own meals if desired (see Food).

Keys are available at the guard house upon arrival. All rooms have bathrooms, air conditioners, refrigerators, and coffee makers. Towels are provided, but please bring your own shampoo. (Soap is usually provided, but bring your own to make sure). There is an internet connection in each room. Some rooms (mainly in North VSQ) have dehumidifiers. There is limited maid service a couple of days a week.

You may want to consider bringing ear plugs if you are a light sleeper. There are many lovely sounds in Puerto Rico, especially at night, but some are quite loud. One of the loudest is made by the coqui frog. The frog is only about an inch or so in size, but you wouldn't know that from its voice!

You may also want to bring along an alarm clock for a wakeup for your overnight observing session. Remember that you can't use your cell phone at Arecibo (see below), so a cell phone alarm will not work.

FOOD

The cafeteria at Arecibo is open on a limited basis M-F 6:45am - 4:30pm There is no dinner service, but you can order a sandwich. There is no service at all on weekends or holidays. Snacks may be available at the Visitor Center. You will want to bring a few snack items of your own, including fruit, which is generally not readily available. The taxi driver is usually willing to stop at a supermarket on the way to the observatory so that you can buy your own food. Request that at least one person in your party be assigned to a room with a kitchen so that you can prepare your own meals if desired.

IN CASE OF TRAVEL PROBLEMS/DELAY

In case of delay, please contact the taxi driver and Carmen Rosario and/or Natalia Pinero. The Observatory phone number is 787-878-2612. Carmen's extension is 267 and Natalia's is 215.

After working hours, call the guards at the gate, x222. The operators in the control room at x211 may also be able to help.

In case of very late arrival, it may be best to stay at the airport hotel and arrange a taxi in the morning.

WHAT ELSE TO BRING

MEDICINES

The observatory is in a remote location, not in ready reach of pharmacies or supermarkets. PLEASE BE SURE TO BRING A SUPPLY OF ANY MEDICINES YOU NEED. It's a good idea to also be prepared with any over-the-counter medicines, such as aspirin or allergy medications.

WEATHER AND DRESS

Puerto Rico is tropical and dress at the observatory is casual. It's common to have rain showers, sometimes heavy, so bring an umbrella. The buildings can be cool, especially the observatory control room, so bring a sweater/sweatshirt with you. There is a swimming pool, so you may want to bring your bathing suit. Bring closed-toe shoes (for example, sneakers) if you want to visit the platform.

PHONES

You will not be able to use your cell phone at the Arecibo Observatory (why is that, students?!). Please disable your phone, as well as any other wireless devices (e.g., pagers, laptops). There are phones available in your rooms. You can make long distance calls from these phones with a calling card, so you may want to purchase a calling card.

COMPUTERS

Each dorm room has an internet connection. Be sure to disable any wireless devices on laptops. While some ethernet cables will be available at Arecibo, it's a good idea to bring your own to be sure.

PASSPORT

U.S. Citizens: Puerto Rico is a territory of the U.S. and a passport is not required for direct travel between the mainland and Puerto Rico.

Non-U.S. Citizens should be prepared to show passports and any other documentation necessary to enter the U.S.

Here are directions in Spanish to Arecibo, in the event that you must hire a taxi from the airport:


 1.Despues de salir del aeropuerto de San Juan, coja la rampa hacia San Juan
 2. Entre a la carretera 26 y siga por aproximadamente 3.3 millas
 3. Despues de pasar el Tunel Minillas coja el Expreso de Diego (22) 
    hacia Arecibo (aproximadamente 47.1 millas
 4. Doble a la derecha en la salida 77B hacia la 129 que va  hacia Lares 
    por aproximadamente 2.6 millas.
 5. Doble a la izquierda hacia la carretera 635 (en el Estacion de gasolina 
    Texaco) (por 1.24 millas)
 6. Doble a la derecha para mantenerse en la 635 por aprox. 3.6 millas
 7. Doble a la derecha para continuar en la carretera 635 por aproximadamente 
    0.5 millas
 8. vire a la izquierda en la 625 (cementerio) y continue por aproximadamente 
    3.0 millas
 9. Continue  por esa carretera hasta que llegue a la casa de la guardia 
    del Observatorio de Arecibo

Undergraduate ALFALFA Team Home Page.

Last modified: Mon Sep 9 10:48:54 EST 2010 by becky