Please note that these activities & times may have changed. While in Cuernavaca, please help us to update this section of the manual.

Activities at the Community Center

The communitiy center Center de Desarrollo Comunitario Los Chocolates has workshops and shows free movies. Find what is offered on their social media @ cdcloschocolates.

Knitting, Sewing, and other crafts: Right before reaching Cuernavaca’s cathedral (about a 10-15 minute walk) you can find a small crafts store that offers supplies and classes for no extra cost, M-W and Sat. mornings. Near there, there are also various places that offer workshops, including drawing, literature, sculpting, etc.

Places of interest:

Salta de San Anton - beautiful waterfall a short walk from Casa Augsburg.

Movie Theaters:

• Cinemas Las Plazas: It is located in downtown Cuernavaca. Is cheapest but isn't a high-quality system video and audio. All movies featured in this cinema are all in Spanish.

• Cine Morelos: Located right across Jardin Borda and in close proximity to the Cathedral. It features small budget movies from all over the world. It’s fairly inexpensive and movies are aired in several languages.

• Cinemax: Running four locations across the city in plaza Cuernavaca (Bugambilia), Forum (Cibeles), Jacarandas and Diana (in front of Galerias shopping mall). Tickets start from 80 pesos for basic and go all the way to 220 pesos for VIP access. All locations have Imax 4d and Dolby digital systems. Plenty of options to choose for snacks.

• Cinepolis: Cinepolis has 3 operational locations in Galerias mall, Averanda mall and Portal D10 (Domingo Diez) mall respectively. Tickets start from 80 pesos for basic and go all the way to 220 pesos for VIP access.

Bowling Alley

Located on the third floor at Plaza Cuernavaca, Alboa features bowling and billiards tables for lots of fun with family and friends. Shoes are available onsite for rental. A large food and drinks menu to keep you and your friends busy and happy. Tuesday promotions of 2x1.

Disco Silver Skate

Located on Calle Pericon 207, Miraval, Cuernavaca features roller rink and small games. Open skate from Tuesday-Sunday, 12PM-8PM. Skates are available for rent. Wednesday ́s promotions are $20 pesos less than regular days. ($100 pesos instead of $120 for admission with skate rental).

Shopping Malls:

• • Galerias: A little far from Augsburg, Galerias is one of the largest shopping malls in Cuernavaca. It houses international brands from Tommy Hilfiger to Adidas and Nike among countless others.

  • Plaza Cuernavaca: Built similar to Californian style shopping centers, Plaza Cuernavaca is a great place to find local brands in an outdoor atmosphere and a calm indoor center.

  • Plaza Forum: Newly built in 2017, Plaza Forum is rapidly gathering international brands such as Zara, Pull and Bear, and Nike to join them as they quickly grow to become one of the top shopping places in town.

  • Plaza Averanda: Much like Plaza Forum, this shopping center was built in 2017 with some of your favorite brands such as Forever21 and H&M. There are no other places in town with these two brands! Plaza Averanda is located just across the street from Galerias.

Students can often open store membership cards such as Cinepolis, Cinemex, La Comer, and Starbucks.

With ISIC student card:

• Best Western: 20% student discount on accommodation

• Hotels Zar: 15% student discount on accommodation

• The Hamburger Club: 20% student discount on burgers

Libraries

• St. Michael and All Angels Church (English Library), Calle Minerva #12, Colonia Delicias (behind the church). M-F 10 am - 12:30 pm, F 4-6 pm, and Sat., 10:30-1. Tel: 316-0749.

• Biblioteca Dr. Jose Felix Frias Sanchez (Spanish Library), Interior del Parque Melchor Ocampo. Hours unknown.

Museums (All are open from Tuesday to Sunday -close Mondays- from 10 to 5 or 6)

• • Jardin Borda. Calle Morelos #271. Centro Historico. 62000, Cuernavaca. (777) 318 - 6200. Former summer house of Emperor Maximilian and Empress Charlotte. It is mostly a cultural center with halls for temporary exhibits, a concert hall, a bookstore and a cafeteria. Strolling in the garden and the artificial lake is an option for relaxing. Sunday the gardens host an arts and crafts market and they also sell some food.

  • La Tallera de Siqueiros. Calle Venus 52. Colonia Jardines de Cuernavaca. CP 62360, Cuernavaca. Morelos. (777) 160 11 90. Weekend house and studio of the muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros. Has 2 of his murals in the facade and has a temporary exhibit hall for contemporary art.

  • Museo de Arte Indigena Contemporaneo. Calle Morelos # 275 Centro Historico. 62000, Cuernavaca. (777) 310 5700 / (777) 310 5701. This recently remodelled colonial building is small but has beautiful pieces of indigenous art as well as temporary exhibits of indigenous art.

  • Museo de la Ciudad de Cuernavaca (MuCiC). Calle Morelos # 265 Centro Historico. 62000, Cuernavaca, (777) 314 - 5738. This colonial building used to be the City Hall until it was recently remodeled to become a cultural center. It mostly has halls for temporary exhibits and it’s patio is used for cultural events and concerts. It also has a bookstore.

  • Museo Morelense de Arte Contemporáneo Juan Soriano (MMAC). Dr. Guillermo Gándara S/N Colonia Amatitlán, C.P. 62410, Cuernavaca. (777) 608-3350. New modern art museum dedicated to Juan Soriano, contemporary artist of Diego Rivera. Has temporary exhibits, art workshops, a library and an auditorium. A must is the Sculpture Garden which is also a small city park that you can visit free of charge.

  • Museo Cuauhnahuac. Also known as the "Palacio de Cortes.” Frente a Plaza de Armas. Centro Historico. 62000, Cuernavaca, (777) 312-8171 / (777) 312-6996 / (777) 310-1845. Former House of Mexico’s conqueror Hernan Cortes, it is now a History Museum. The Collection goes from prehispanic art and objects all the way to the Mexican revolution. The highlight is the Diego Rivera Mural of the History of Morelos on the 2^nd floor. It has a wonderful bookstore.

  • Robert Brady Museum. Calle Netzahualcoyotl # 4. Centro Historico. Cuernavaca , 62000. (777) 318 8554 (777) 314 3529. Private house of eclectic and eccentric art collector Robert Brady. The highlight might be the Frida Kahlo self portrait with a monkey or maybe exotic dancer Josephine Baker’s bedroom.

  • Sitio Arqueologico Teopanzolco (Piramide de Teopanzolco). Rio Balsas S/N Colonia Vista Hermosa. 62,290, Cuernavaca. (777) 314 - 1284. Small but interesting archeological zone now right in the middle of the city of Cuernavaca.

Recommended Restaurants

• Los Arcos: An outdoor café next to the Zócalo. Open for lunch and dinner with many traditional Mexican dishes and a great location. Also has live music and salsa dancing.

• El Barco: Two locations in Cuernavaca. A great place to try Pozole, a good option particularly for Mon nights, when many other restaurants are closed.

• La Fontana: A great place to gather for pizza, beer, and a casual, fun atmosphere.

• La Maga: Good food in a cozy environment. Especially noteworthy is their lunch buffet (with lots of great vegetarian options!).

• Pizza Roma: Great little restaurant with gourmet pizzas. Eat in, take out, or delivery.

• Restaurant El Salto: A nice restaurant located a short walk from Casa Augsburg, right next to the San Antón waterfall. It closes on Tuesdays and shortly after 8:00pm other days. Live music on Thursdays and Fridays.

• Taquería La Gringa: Delicious place for tacos. Three locations throughout the city. Great options for vegetarians. Their alambres are a must try!

• Marco Polo: A True Italian restaurant located right opposite to the cathedral on the second floor. Perfect for groups. Great views from the balcony. Huge variety of pizzas and wines. Their house wines are a must try.

• Néctar Tropikal Pizzería: Famous for their pizzas and sauces, Néctar truly brings fusion Italian-Mexican cuisine to another level. They are also popular for their international craft beers from Germany and Belgium.

• La India Bonita: India Bonita is a peaceful restaurant with lots of greenery in spite of its location in the middle of downtown Cuernavaca. Excellent table side service. Waiters are very attentive. Don’t go by name, this place is authentic Mexican.

• 100% Natural: Located right across from the Cuernavaca letters in the center. The food and service is great with moderate prices.

• Los Colorines: The place is lovely with a lot of colors truly Mexican. The service is really good and the waitresses are really attentive and helpful on how the food is served and give you a good detail about the different meals. The chilaquiles are handmade and the flavors are incredible. All the food is really good with moderate prices.

• Las Mananitas: Located in the outskirts of Cuernavaca. Las Mananitas restaurant and hotel. A perfect place to have a romantic date or a business meeting with its beautiful, flower full garden, with a great experience of exotic birds loosely mingling with the guests. An advanced booking is highly recommended.

• House Café + Lounge: Located across the artisan’s market. House café and lounge is an upscale restaurant. A perfect place for a date in town. Excellent service both in English and Spanish. It has both inside and outside seating areas. It serves fusion food.

• El Madrigal: El Madrigal Cuernavaca offers a heavenly location. They offer a vast selection of international dishes. Their staff is extremely attentive, and the customer service is impeccable, all that in a wonderful atmosphere. It is also a hotel and the architecture does not disappoint. Would be a great place for a gathering or wedding reception.

• Anticavilla Restaurant: The hotel/restaurant is an Italian establishment with the restaurant being a Member of the Chaine Des Rotisseurs and displayed a silver plate on the wall from Accademia Italiana della Cuciana indicating it was Ristorante Verde Salvia. The mixture of an open-air concept restaurant with modern and Mexican hacienda styles provides an inviting and welcoming atmosphere.

• Cinnamon Veggie: A vegan resturant recomended by past vegan students! It is located at Av. Palmira, Plaza Palmira 42-Local 3, Palmira, 62040 Cuernavaca, Mor.

Recommended Cafés

• Los Arcos: An outdoor Café next to the Zócalo. A popular meeting place for foreigners and Mexicans. There are evening happy hour specials 8:00-10:00pm. Live Salsa and Cumbia music on Sun, Thursday and Friday evenings and lively dancing initiated by the diners. No cover. (also see listing in Restaurants).

• Barecito: This is a very small, gay-owned bar that is open to the LGBTQIA community and the community at large. No cover. Live performances by local artists and painting exhibitions are commonly held at Barecito.

• Meraki: New cafe/bar located on a rooftop, two blocks from the Cathedral. Very nice scenery, hammocks and indoor and outdoor seating.

• Cafe Punta de Cielo: Located in the center. Cozy place for a coffee and to socialize. Comfortable and quiet to study.

• La Maga: Good drinks, cozy and artsy environment with live music most weekend nights. During the daytime, this has a great and inexpensive salad bar and buffet.

• La Rana Sabia: In front of the Cuernavaca cathedral, this is a very nice place to visit if you are interested in workshops and literary gatherings, including poetry slams.

• Starbucks Centro Cuernavaca: Located right in the heart of downtown Cuernavaca and alongside the Palace of Cortes, Starbucks is a bustling location with friendly staff and a warm atmosphere.

• Gandhi Coffee and Library: A local coffee shop with English-speaking staff. Inexpensive and comfortable environment for study. There is a huge selection of books to choose from.

• Celito: Designed with the impression of sharing Mexico’s culture, it’s vibrant colors share a warming environment with plenty of art and coffee hosted by local farmers and artists.

• Al Paradiso: With excellent views from its balcony, this medium-sized coffee shop is famous for its daily activities and outstanding coffee drinks. Each day is themed with a new activity such as Friday Movie Premiers, so please check ahead of time or take a random stop to explore.

• Café Colibre: Small but great outdoor space located in the center of downtown Cuernavaca. A tasteful dessert selection and good service.

• Expendio de Café: Known for its huge selection of coffee beans for sale, you can actually go and learn how to brew your own coffee without any necessary purchase.

• Coffee Gringo: Located in downtown Cuernavaca, a majority of its staff are friendly students from local colleges with medium English-speaking skills. A small but good selection of coffee drinks. The environment is beautiful with soothing background music supported by a lovely pool designed by a local artist and a patio.

• Mercado Vista Hermosa: Located in Plaza Piasse, Rio Balasas 58, Vista Hermosa. Good vibes, music and plenty of different vendors of food to choose from.

Special deals and promotions: There are always special promotions in town. One of the most popular is the 2x1 deal that makes your third purchase free. Keep your eyes open for them. Most bars and coffee shops have special deals running that you can check online or see when you walk in.

Recommended Bars

• • Barecito: Truly small, Barecito is a hidden gem of its own. A lesbian-owned bar, this small space is LGBTQ+ friendly and open to everyone. Located in the centro, Barecito is the growing hip bar in town with inexpensive drinks and live music. Recommended only for small groups.

  • Mercado Comonfort: Just next to the cathedral in downtown Cuernavaca, Mercado Comonfort is famous for its free open space with bar stands and food stalls. Great for all groups. Very busy on Friday and Saturday nights. The Mojito stand there is known as one of the best in town.

  • La Plazuela: A cobblestone pedestrian street downtown (near the town square) that is full of different types of sidewalk cafes and bars with live music and dance floors. La Plazuela is a one-place-fits-all. Like all locations, take precautions and travel in groups or pairs. Popularly known for their 5-liter beers and inexpensive drinks.

  • Mr. Chile: Two-floored bar with reggaetón music and upbeat waiters, Mr. Chile is famous for their Michelada drinks with plenty of chili and their mojitos. Basic snack options. Located outside of Cuernavaca center, plan to call a taxi in the evening.

  • La Trinchera: Similar to Mercado Comonfort, La Trinchera is an open space area with bar stands and music. All types of drinks with great food options. Busy on weekends so go early!

  • L'Arrosoir d'Arthur: Located in the heart of centro, L’Arrosior d’Arthur is a luxurious bar with a great wine selection. Great seating environment with outside patio with a very calm atmosphere.

  • La Guayaba Pulqueria: Their pulque drinks are one of the best in town with plenty of other inexpensive drinks. Famous for their own draft beer.

• Avoid the following bars/clubs, which have a reputation for violence. As you hear of other places from people you meet, please tell the staff and other students so that we can add them to this list and all reduce our risks.

• El Atico (closed at time of printing but may reopen)

• Drea’s Karaoke Bar on Avenida Vicente Guerrero

• Plaza Marina, on Avenida Rio Mayo (where a shooting occurred)

• La Terazza, in The Antonio Barona neighborhood (La Terazza has experienced several shootings within the last few months, and is known for racist and discriminatory practices)

• La Patrona, located in colonial Vista Hermosa

• Vice Nightclub on Rio Mayo 502: Employees have been accused of using date rape drugs.

• Avoid going to discos and nightclubs until the violence subsides, as many nightclubs have staff who sell drugs and therefore could suffer violent attacks. Only go to places on a recommended list that staff will give you. The recommended list includes places where we know the owners. Remember, there are LOTS of fun things to do in Cuernavaca other than going out to bars and discos. There are movie theaters and activities you can engage in with your host families.

Mexico is a predominantly Roman Catholic country. Therefore, there are many Catholic religious services available for students who would like to attend them. In fact, there is a Catholic church just one block down the street from the Center. In addition, there is a growing number of Protestant churches here, including Baptist, Episcopalian, Methodist, Pentecostal, and other churches. There is also one orthodox synagogue in Cuernavaca and several conservative and other synagogues in Mexico City.

If you do not find information about your religious group below, please contact Ann Lutterman Aguilar and she will try to assist you.

The following is a brief list of a few of the religious services that we know of. Please join us in updating and completing our list of religious services. Also, once you have arrived in Mexico, please call each place of worship you are thinking of attending for more information on their service times (which tend to change).

Jewish Services in Cuernavaca & Synagogues in Mexico City

Cuernavaca – Orthodox services at a Jewish nursing home

Madero 404, Baja California, Cuernavaca

Phone: not available

Services are on Saturday morning.

Synagogues in Mexico City

Alianza Monte Sinai (Orthodox)

Tennyson #134, Colonia Polanco, Ciudad de México

Phone: 01-55-5280-6369

Agudes Achim

Montes de Oca 32, Colonia La Condesa, Ciudad de México

Phone: 01-55-5553-6430

Judaísmo Humanista de México

Reforma 2233 E., Sauces 402, Ciudad de México

Phone: 01-55-5559-6638

Bet-El

Horacio 1722, Colonia Polanco, Ciudad de México

Phone: 01-55-5281-2592

Muslim Temples in Mexico City (None in Cuernavaca)

Masjid Dar As Salaam

Circuito Tequesquitengo No. 150,Tequesquitengo, Morelos, Phone: 734-347-0995

See website for worship times

Mezquita Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahab

Sur 77 No. 32 int. 7, esq. Lorenzo Boturini, Col. Lorenzo Boturini, Deleg. Venustiano Carranza, Mexico City, 15820

Phone: (55)5650-4612, English (55)3166-81-13

Protestant and Evangelical Churches

Anglican/Episcopal

St. Michael´s Episcopal Church

Calle Minerva #1, Colonia Las Delicias, Cuernavaca, Phone: 315-2870

Services in English at 10:45am and in Spanish at 5:00pm on Sundays

The Good Shepherd Anglican Church

Corner of Calle Degollado and Guerrero, Colonia Centro, Cuernavaca, Phone: 315-2870

Baptist

Iglesia Bautista Monte Abarim

Ocotepec #612, Colonia Reforma, Cuernavaca (behind Sam's Club), Phone: 311-4362

Capital City Baptist Church

Sur 138 Esq. Bondojito, Colonia Las Americas, Del Alvaro Obregon, Ciudad de México

Phone: 01-55-5516-1862

Methodist

Iglesia Metodista de México A.R.

Calle No Reelección #31, Colonia Centro, Cuernavaca

Phone: 312-9429

Non-Denominational Christian

Centro Cristiano

Álvaro Obregón 321

Phone: (777) 318 - 59 – 65

Email: contacto@cccuernavaca.org.mx

Services on Sundays at 11:00am and Bible Studies on Wednesdays and Fridays at 6:00pm. This is within walking distance of the Augsburg campus.

Compañerismo Estudiantil, A.C. (*youth group only, not a church)

Calle Leyva y Abasolo (in front of a school in the Templo Philadelphia)

Phone: 322-0457 Email: ivanvallado@hotmail.com, serv_@hotmail.com

Presbyterian

Iglesia Nacional Presbiteriana Bethel

Jardin San Juan #10, Colonia Centro, Cuernavaca

Phone: 312-3564

Email: inpbethel@yahoo.com.mx

Pentecostal

Iglesia de Dios Pentecostal Emmanuel

Reforma #4, Colonia Centro, Temixco (just outside of Cuernavaca)

Phone: 325-1021

Quaker (Religious Society of Friends) in Mexico City

Casa de los Amigos

Ignacio Mariscal 132, Colonia Tabacalera, Ciudad de México, 06030

Phone: 52-55-5705-0521, 52-55-5705-0646

Roman Catholic Masses

Catedral de Cuernavaca

Hidalgo #17, Colonia Centro, Cuernavaca (on the corner of Morelos y Calle Hidalgo)

Phone: 318-4590, 318-4596

Mass times: M-F, 7:00am, 12:00pm and 7:00pm; Sat, 7:00pm; Sun, every hour and a half from 7:30am to 1:30pm, 5:00 pm, 6.30pm and 8:00pm; English mass 10:30am Sun en la Capilla del Carmen

Parroquia de San Antón

J.H. Preciado #112 (down the street from Casa Augsburg, walking away from el Puente 2000, on left-hand side) Phone: 312-7947, 313-0075

M-F (except Tuesdays) 6:00pm. Sunday: 8am, 9:30am, 10:30am, and 6:00pm. No mass on Sat.

Parroquia de Ocotepec

Av. Miguel Hidalgo #304, Esq. Aldama, Ocotepec, Cuernavaca

Phone: 382-1156

Parroquia de Tejalpa

Plaza de la Asunción #1, Cuernavaca, Phone: 320-9817

Parroquia de La Lagunilla Cristo Obrero

Manzana 11, Lote 21, Av. Mariano Matamoros, Cuernavaca

Phone: 102-4644

Parroquia de Plan de Ayala Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe

On the corner of Otilio Montano and Emiliano Zapata, Cuernavaca

Phone: not available

Phone Calls

Cell Phones: Most students bring their cell phones with them & download WhatsApp in advance (if they don't already have it) and encourage their friends and family members to do so in order to communicate internationally for free. Others purchase a U.S.-Mexico or other international calling plan for their cell phones.

Other Calling Options: Calls to and from the United States: CGEE has a Vonage (VOI, or "Voice Over Internet") phone account through the Internet that allows us to make and receive unlimited calls as if we were in Minneapolis. We have one of those phones in our office and one in the library in the house. For family and friends from the Twin Cities, this is a local call. For everyone outside of the Twin Cities and within the United States, the call is a national long distance call.

Calls within Mexico: In addition to the Vonage phone system, we also maintain Mexican phone numbers for local calls within Mexico. Please note that if you are making a long distance call from within Mexico, you must do so from a pay phone. However, you may receive long-distance calls from within Mexico and internationally at the phones in Casa Augsburg. For calls to Mexico through the Mexican & Vonage phone lines, a recording will come on asking you for the correct extension; please use the extension numbers below.

Calls from the U.S. and Canada

CGEE Mexico Office Internet phone line: (612) 605-7230

• Ann Lutterman-Aguilar or Naty Rosas, Office Manager: Ext. 101

• Antonio Ortega, Instructor: Ext. 106

• Dining area & first floor living room: Ext. 109 and 110

Mexican phone line from U.S: 011-52-777-318-7799 or 011-52-777-312-3578

Director Ann Lutterman-Aguilar’s cell phone/WhatsApp: (+52) 777 215 6296

Casa Augsburg

Internet phone In computer/study room: (612) 605-7222

Dining area & first floor living room: (612) 605-7230, ext. 109 or 110

Please ask people NOT to leave messages on this phone because the voicemail does not work.

Emergency Contact Information and Phone Numbers for People Who Need to Reach YOU

In the case of an emergency, if your family and friends are having trouble reaching you, they can call the CGEE office number that is a U.S. phone line through the internet during office hours: 1-612-605-7230 and then dial extension 101 or 106. (It is as if you were calling Minneapolis, MN.) If they do not reach someone immediately, they can call Augsburg's CGEE-Mexico Site Director Ann Lutterman-Aguilar on her cell phone at 011-52-777-215-6296 or call her via WhatsApp at +52-777-215-6296. If it is at night-time or early in the morning, they may need to dial twice in a row.

In the case of an emergency, your family and friends can also call the CGEE office in Minneapolis and leave a message with as much information as possible. During office hours (8:00am – 4:30pm Central Standard Time). After hours and on weekends, one of our Minneapolis staff members will monitor an emergency cell phone at 612-817-2830.

Your mailing address in Mexico is:

J.H. Preciado # 314

Colonia San Antón

Cuernavaca, Morelos

C.P. 62020 MEXICO

The Mexican postal service is often very slow. Allow up to three weeks for delivery of letters and small packages. Warning: In many cases, packages do not arrive or are held up in Customs, so we caution you about having anything valuable sent through the mail! If someone does decide to send you a package, we recommend that they send it in a large envelope rather than a box because boxes are almost always held up in customs (and end up costing you money to retrieve them), whereas envelopes tend to arrive without hassle.

Although reliable, Federal Express and United Parcel Service are expensive and must be given the street address: J.H. Preciado #314, Colonia San Antón, 62020, Cuernavaca, Morelos, MEXICO and phone number (777) 312-3578, ext. 101.

It is also very important to know that the Mexican government charges an extremely high tax on most articles sent by mail from the United States according to the assumed value of the items. Hence, you may want to advise family and friends to take that into account when listing the price of any given package on the customs slip. Sometimes students have had to pay nearly half the cost of the birthday presents they have received in taxes!

A major question you are likely to have is how much money to bring and in what form. Your fees cover all living and travel expenses during the program. You need to cover the following: your travel to and from Mexico; your required class texts, some of which must be bought in the U.S. before departing for Mexico; any independent travel you plan for 3-day weekends or other times; and any medical expenses incurred while in Mexico that the insurance does not cover up front.

The unit of currency is the peso. The exchange rate (as of September 2021) is approximately MXN $20 pesos to US $1. However, the rate fluctuates.

You may need to pay for some medical expenses yourself and then file a claim for reimbursement, and you will have to pay for transportation to appointments with doctors and/or therapists. Given this, the amount of money you will need depends on your health while abroad and your lifestyle: the number and cost of gifts and souvenirs you purchase, how much you like to go out to the movies or go dancing in clubs, and how much additional travel you plan, as well as how simply or extravagantly you do it. The week after the program ends offers an excellent opportunity to travel, perhaps with family or friends who may be able to visit, or with other program participants.

In the past, most students have brought between US $500 and $1,500. Many students spend U.S. $500-$1,000 while fewer spend U.S. $1,000-1,500. How much you bring obviously depends upon how long you will be there, your own spending patterns and financial capabilities.

You will have the opportunity to buy crafts and jewelry from several artisan groups, including women’s cooperatives, associated with some of our guest speakers and visits. You will find that because some items are less expensive in Mexico, you may feel rich and spend freely and quickly. Beware of this tendency! Your money will disappear rapidly if you are not careful!

CGEE recommends bringing both cash in U.S. dollars and an ATM card with your PIN number so that you can withdraw money regularly from an ATM.

ATMs are common in Cuernavaca and throughout Mexico. Most students prefer using their ATM cards to carrying large amounts of cash. If you’d like to bring a Visa card or MasterCard, you will find that many of the fancier stores, hotels and restaurants accept credit cards. Credit cards can often be used to pay for health services, especially in clinics and hospitals.

You may also withdraw money from an ATM and get cash advances on credit cards in all Mexican cities, although this can be very costly. We strongly urge you to bring an ATM card and to use money belts or body pouches for the bulk of your money while traveling. International ATM machines are available in cities all over Mexico. Check with your bank to see if & what they will change your for foreign transaction fees.