Arrangements for the 55th Annual Meeting
Santa Marta, Colombia, May 26-30, 2024
traducción al español | traduction en français
The ACH Executive Committee is pleased to announce that the 55th Annual Meeting of the Association of Caribbean Historians will be held in Santa Marta, Colombia, from Sunday, May 26 to Thursday, May 30, 2024. On-site registration and check-in opens Sunday afternoon. The conference fête, our annual dinner and dance (which is highly recommended and a central feature of this organization) will be held on Thursday evening, May 30. An optional field trip is scheduled for Friday, May 31.
Conference Venue & Accomodations
The conference will be held at the University of Magdalena (Universidad del Magdalena), 15-20 minutes from the historic center of Santa Marta.
The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) has selected one primary hotel, with two alternatives, and secured discounted ACH rates for each. Transportation to and from the conference venue and these three accommodations will be provided. Note that if you choose to stay elsewhere, you will need to arrange your own transportation to and from the conference venue. There are many other hotels, short-term rentals, etc. at various price points within walking distance of the official hotels.
1. Best Western Plus (primary hotel)
This modern hotel in downtown Santa Marta features 125 rooms, a rooftop pool and bar, gym, free wifi, and two restaurants. ACH members who book directly with the hotel will receive free buffet breakfast. Nightly rates for a single guest range from 240,000 COP (Colombian pesos—about $62 USD) for a “superior king” to 290,000 COP ($74 USD) for a “junior suite.” Additional persons can be added for 80,000 COP/night ($21 USD). These rates do not include IVA of 19% or optional hotel insurance. To book, email ventas2@bwsantamartahotel.com OR reservas@bwsantamartahotel.com with your dates of arrival and departure, name, and requested room type and indicate that you are a member of the ACH by using reservation code BWP-CaribbeanHistorias2024.
2. AC Hotel
The AC Hotel is also in downtown Santa Marta, about five minutes walking distance from the Best Western Plus. Features 120 rooms, a pool, four restaurants/cafes, free wifi, and gym. Nightly rates for one or two guests are 300,000 COP for a “superior king” or 350,000 COP for a “premium twin,” with an additional charge of 100,000 COP/night for another guest. These rates do not include tax or optional hotel insurance. Buffet breakfast is included. To make a reservation, email reservasac@oxohotel.com with the following information: reservation code ASAMBLEA ANUAL ACH 2024, name, dates of arrival and departure, type of room requested, number of guests, and phone number.
A smaller hotel (60 rooms) in the center of Santa Marta’s historic district, about 10-15 minutes walking distance from the Best Western Plus and AC Hotel. Features rooftop pool and terrace, free breakfast and wifi, restaurant, and business center. ACH rates are 250,000 COP/night (not including tax). For reservations, email mercadeo@hotelcatedralplaza.co and request the University of Magdalena rate.
Travel To & Within Colombia
Santa Marta (Aeropuerto Internacional Simón Bolívar–SMR) is well connected to airports in the Caribbean, United States, and Europe, primarily via El Dorado airport in Bogotá. For visa requirements and information, see: https://www.cancilleria.gov.co/en/procedures_services/visa/requirements.
Official taxis are affordable and widely available at the airport (about 15-20 minutes) and throughout Santa Marta. Payment is only accepted in cash (Colombian pesos). While taxis can be hailed on the street, for safety it is recommended to request them via phone or app (hotels, restaurants, and other businesses can also request a taxi for you). Confirm the fare with your driver before starting your trip.
The LOC will provide transportation to and from the three hotels above to the university each day. Transportation schedules will be shared with participants in advance of the conference.
Refreshments & Lunch
The LOC will provide information on lunch options during the conference as soon as possible. For dinner and drinks, downtown Santa Marta is full of restaurants, bars, and cafes in a wide range of prices. Those recommended by the LOC include:
- Cinto (Cl. 17 con Cra. 2)
- Donde Chucho Gourmet (Cl. 19 #2 – 17)
- Casa Magdalena (Cl. 17 #2-09)
- El Gran Manuel (Cra. 1a #26A-158)
- Mañe Cayón (Cra. 1a #26-37)
- Porthos Steakhouse (Cl. 19 #3-25)
- Ouzo (Cra. 3 # 19-29)
- Guásimo (Cra. 2 #19-15)
- Belo (Cl. 18 #4-08)
Optional Field Trips
The LOC will organize an optional field trip, “Ruta al Realismo Mágico,” to important historic and cultural sites in the region on Friday. The cost and other details will be shared with participants at a later date.
Membership & Conference Registration Fees
All conference attendees and presenters must be current members of the ACH. Those who joined at or before the last conference in 2023 will need to renew at or before this year’s meeting; those who joined since the 2023 meeting have a valid membership until just after the conference in Santa Marta.
For those who still need to join, visit the Membership page by clicking here.
There are six categories of membership (all amounts below appear in U.S. dollars):
- Non-tenured faculty, Caribbean-based lecturers ($50 a year): for faculty, public history, or governmental positions.
- Tenured professors and other established researchers ($75 a year): for tenured faculty, public history, or governmental positions.
- Teachers (primary/secondary), students, and retirees ($25 a year): a special rate for primary/ secondary teachers; graduate and undergraduate students, and retirees.
- Institutional Members ($100 a year): for colleges, universities, libraries, museums, and other cultural and educational organizations.
- Benefactor ($150 a year): a higher category of giving to support the organization’s activities.
- Life Membership ($500): the best membership bargain—equivalent to 10 years of regular annual membership, but valid for life.
In addition to annual membership, there is a registration fee for the conference itself to defray local expenses. Registration fees for the 2024 conference appear below. While participants can register at the conference, speakers and chairs must do so in advance, and pre-registration online is encouraged for everyone—presenting or not—to gain access to all pre-circulated conference papers. All those presenting or chairing sessions at the conference MUST renew their membership and register for the conference by the time their pre-circulated papers are due on March 15, 2024.
- ACH members: $170
- Caribbean-based students: $65
- Non-Caribbean-based students: $95
- Guests: $100
See below to join/update your membership, and to register online. When registering, please be sure you select the appropriate category and corresponding fee. If you choose to register on site, fees are still payable via PayPal (credit card) only. We cannot accept cash or other forms of payment.
Pay Conference Registration Fee
If you choose to register on site, fees are payable via credit card only. We cannot accept cash or other forms of payment.
Accessing Pre-Circulated Papers
ACH presentations include both a pre-circulated 25-page paper and a brief (10 minutes or less) conference presentation. The ACH is making pre-circulated papers available online for those who pre-register. Once the ACH receives your completed registration, you will receive a password to access the portion of the website where papers are housed. Please be aware that papers are not due until March 15; they will not, as a result, be available online until late April. You can pre-register for the conference online by clicking here.