Travel

COVID-19 Entry Requirements

• Visitors from the United States are not required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test or antigen result. However, as conditions can change quickly, we are asking you to get a test no more than three days prior to entering Mexico.

• A completed Health Declaration Form must be presented to immigration upon arrival

• CGEE will monitor the entry requirements and let you know if anything changes before January 21.

Your program fees do not cover your travel to and from the region. You will need to book travel to and from Mexico City.

CGEE recommends Student Universe as a travel agency that specializes in student international travel. If you book with them, make sure to note that the school you are associated with is Augsburg University.

Remember to complete the Flight Information questionnaire in your Global Gateway account as soon as you have booked your flights. We need that information in order to schedule pick-ups at the airport in Mexico City.

General Tips

• If you choose to arrive prior to the designated travel date, you will be responsible for your own ground transportation, lodging and food.

• Once you have made your travel plans, please fill out the Flight Information questionnaire in your Global Gateway account.

• Although we recommend Student Universe, you are free to make your travel plans however you wish. The advantage to a travel agency is the support they provide should there be any travel disruptions.​ For example, several years ago a snowmageddon event stranded a good number of students across the midwest and northeast, and the travel agents worked overtime to assist them.

• Price is important. But make sure that you note layover times between connecting flights. Sometimes it's worth paying a little more to avoid long layovers.

• Tuesdays seem to have the best published fares.

• ​You will receive a list of the other students on the program. If there are any in your area, you may want to coordinate travel so you will have a traveling companion.

Guidelines for booking travel:

• You should plan to fly in to and out of Benito Juárez International Airport in Mexico City.

• Please try to arrive by 4:00pm if at all possible.

• Try to book a return flight no earlier than 11:00am, but if you need to make an earlier reservation you can take a bus directly to the airport from Cuernavaca. You may want to consider traveling in Mexico after the semester ends in May, as that is when you will have the most free time.
  

Travel Dates for Spring 2022 Semester Programs

• Arrive: Friday, January 21

• Depart: Sunday, May 15 (unless you want to stay for an additional Spanish course or travel on your own)

We will arrange for several pick-up times at a meeting point in the Mexico City airport on January 21. These times will be based on the arrival times of all group members. Therefore, you may have to wait for a couple of hours in the airport to coordinate with our pick-up times.

If you need to arrive before the designated travel date, be sure to contact the International Resident Assistant and cc Ann as soon as possible to let them know of your plans.

The last day of classes is Fri., May 13, when we will probably finish around 6:00pm. Saturday, May 14 will be free for you to pack and say goodbye before departing on Sunday, May 15. The Center will provide transportation to the airport in Mexico City on Sunday.

Since you must allow at least two hours to get to the airport from Cuernavaca and are supposed to check-in between 2-3 hours in advance, we recommend that you choose a flight that leaves no earlier than 11:00am. If you must take an earlier flight, you may need to take the bus to the airport. There are comfortable direct buses from Cuernavaca to the airport that leave as early as 3:15am and cost approximately US $15.

Should you decide to stay for a few days after the program ends, please remember that no meals will be provided after breakfast on Sunday, May 15 and that you must vacate your room by 12:00pm on Mon., May 11. Should you stay longer than that, you will need to pay US $15/day for your room unless you are participating in one of the summer programs.

Passports

Be sure to obtain a passport if you do not have one. If you have one, be sure that it is valid for at least six months past your departure from Mexico (November 15, 2022).

To obtain a new passport, you need the following:

• Original birth certificate with an embossed seal,

OR

• An old U.S. passport (even if it has expired),

OR

• A certified copy of your birth certificate with the Health Department seal of the state of birth. This can be obtained from the county clerk in the county in which you were born for a small fee. (Note: A birth registration or hospital certificate is not acceptable.)

AND

• Valid identification, such as a driver’s license.

• Check payable to the Department of State for $110 (10 year passport) plus a $25 execution fee to the facility processing the passport application.

• Two identical passport photographs

To renew your passport, you will need:

• Your most recent passport

• Two identical passport photos

• A $110 fee, payable to the U.S. Department of State

For complete information and application forms, see http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

Once you receive your passport, make a copy of the photo page to carry with you (in a separate place from your passport) when you travel. You will also need to upload a copy to your Global Gateway account (Passport Information questionnaire).

As a further safeguard, we require that you also bring to Mexico a certified copy of your birth certificate (see above where this is described) in case you need to reapply for a lost passport during the semester.

If you are under the age of 18 or are not a U.S. citizen, please contact our Minneapolis office, as there are special documentation procedures you will need to follow.

Visa Requirements and Tourist Card (Important!)

Mexico: U.S. citizens and permanent residents can stay in Mexico as tourists for six months (180 days) without any sort of visa. Upon arrival in Mexico (or on the plane), you will receive a tourist card, which you will complete and present to immigration authorities. If asked on the form, please indicate that your occupation is student but the purpose of your trip is “tourism.” While you are obviously planning to study in Mexico, you will not be enrolled in a Mexican university and therefore may use the standard tourist card rather than having to apply for a special student visa.

If you need to list an address in Mexico on that form, please use the following one: J.H. Preciado 314, Colonia San Anton, Cuernavaca, Morelos.

When you go through Customs, be sure to tell the Mexican immigration officer that you would like to be given 180 days. There will not be a place to indicate that on your form, so be sure to ask.

Along with the tourist card, you will need to present your passport. It is helpful to bring a photocopy of the first page of your passport to carry with you in Mexico as identification. When you get to Cuernavaca, you will be able to store your passport and tourist card in the safe. Be sure to keep the tourist card, since you will have to present it to Mexican immigration officials in order to leave Mexico. If you lose the card, you will have to pay a fine at the airport before leaving the country, so try to keep it with your passport or in another safe place.

On different weekends throughout the semester, there will be day trips to pyramids and beautiful cities, such as Cholula, Puebla, and Mexico City. You may also choose to plan your own day or overnight trips. Other popular weekend destinations include Toluca and Querétaro. To give you an idea of prices, the bus ride to Mexico City takes about two hours and costs about US $8 one way. Modest hotel accommodations can often be found for US $15-50/person.

For safety reasons, we highly recommend that students travel in pairs or small groups and would strongly discourage you from traveling alone or taking overnight buses. Acapulco is currently one of the most dangerous cities in the world, so it is off limits. (See the list earlier in this manual regarding other locations that are off limits for travel.)

It is very important that our staff be able to reach you in case of an emergency. Therefore, we ask you to email your destination, means of travel, and contact information to the Mexican program staff before you travel outside of Cuernavaca. Please send your travel information via email to the International Resident Assistant (Ari) and Ann.

• Mexico City: (2 hours) Known as “The Largest City in the World” (population: approx. 25 million) with museums, shopping, great city parks, clubs, plays, etc. Mexico City is the capital of the country, and nearly ¼ of the country’s population lives there.

• Tepoztlán (45 min.) A beautiful town nestled in the mountains. You can hike up to a pyramid or enjoy shopping for artisan products/souvenirs. Be sure to try Tepoznieves, Tepoztlan’s famous ice cream!

• Puebla: (2.5 hours) Colonial city where the Spanish legacy in a heavily populated indigenous region can be noted with the existence of many churches. Poblanos boast that they have a church on every corner. Puebla is a UNESCO "World Heritage Site" due to its incredible Mexican Barroque artwork.

• Chachalacas, Veracruz: (7 hours) A small beach area, on the Gulf of Mexico. There aren’t any large hotels and there are very few tourists, except during the high-volume vacation periods.

• Boca del Rio, Veracruz (7hours): A more developed beach area than Chacalacas, just south of the city of Veracruz. Lots of hotels and shopping areas.

• Veracruz, Veracruz: (6-7 hours) Very important sea-bearing port of entry throughout Mexico’s history. A great deal of Caribbean presence and influence in the area can be seen in the traditional Jarocho music, a mix of Indigenous, African and Spanish culture. Some of the beaches are hidden by the oil rigs. The nicest beaches close to the city are slightly south, in Boca del Rio, Veracruz. You can take a bus from the city of Veracruz.

• Oaxaca (7-8 hours) A beautiful colonial city in the state of Oaxaca, near Monte Albán, an important archeological site. Oaxaca is a great place for food and is known for its chiles, chocolates and chapulines (grasshoppers).

• Zihuatanejo: (ONLY to be visited by plane, as the region the buses transit are on the “restricted travel” only list created by the U.S. State Department as a result of drug cartel activity.) Beach area north of Acapulco, which is not as “touristy” and is a more secluded locale, away from large cities. It also boasts some of the best marlin fishing in the world.

• Guadalajara: (8-10 hours) One of the largest and most important economic cities in Mexico. Mariachi music is very popular here. Guadalajara also has a lot of bars/clubs/restaurants.

• Mazunte, Oaxaca (12 hours from Mexico City) Very nice beach area in Oaxaca. To get there, you have to take a bus to Pochutla, and from there take a camioneta or a taxi colectivo to Mazunte. There aren’t any large hotels – you can rent out a nice room from a local. It is known as a “hippie” beach.

• San Cristóbal, Chiapas: (18 or more hours) San Cristóbal used to be the capital of the state of Chiapas. The presence of the Zapatista uprising can be seen all over the city. It is a beautiful colonial town nestled in the mountains.

It is very important that our staff be able to reach you in case of an emergency. Therefore, we ask you to email your “TRAVEL INFO” (listed in the subject heading) to the International Resident Assistant (Ari) and Ann. and Antonio BEFORE you travel outside of Cuernavaca. Be sure to take your charged cell phone with you (along with the charger) and keep it turned on so that we can reach you in case of an emergency.

For Mexico City

From the U.S., dial 011-52-55 and then the phone number

Within Mexico, dial 01, if long distance, then dial 55, and then the phone number

Hotels near Mexico City Airport

From $40 – $150 USD

Hotel Camino Real Aeropuerto ($$)

Puerto México No. 80, Col. Peñón de los Baños Just across from the airport, Terminal 1

Tel: (55) 30-03-00-33 Fax: (55) 30-03-00-34

Courtyard by Marriott Mexico City Airport ($$)

4-star hotel. Just across from Terminal 1.

Sinaloa 31, Peñón de los Baños, 15520 Ciudad de México,

CDMX (55) 4631 4000

Hotel Holiday Inn Express Mexico Aeropuerto

3-star hotel. Close to airport

Circuito Interior Avenida Río Churubusco 253, Colonia Granjas México, 08400 Ciudad de México,

CDMX (55) 5803 4900

Hotel Aeropuerto ($)

Boulevard Aeropuerto No. 380 Colonia Moctezuma

Tel. (55) 57-85-53-18 / 57-85-58-88

Fax: 57-84-13-29

They do phone reservations and just take cash

Hotels in Downtown Mexico City

(approx. 20 minutes from the airport via authorized taxi)

$10 – $20 USD

Casa San Ildefonso

Calle San Ildefonso # 38 Centro Historico. Ciudad de México

CDMX (55) 5789 1999

Hostel style mostly single or double rooms with shared bathrooms, but they have a few ones with private bathroom. Excellent location, behind the Cathedral.

Hostal Moneda

Moneda 8, Centro Histórico de la Ciudad de México

Phones: 55 22 58 21/ 55 22 58 03

Dorms and private rooms (all with bathroom), internet, kitchen, terrace café, short term storage, travel info, clean, safe, excellent location.

$20 – $50 USD

Hotel San Antonio

2 Callejon 5 de Mayo # 29 (Entre Isabel La Católica y Palma)

Colonia Centro

Telephone and fax: 55-12-99-06

$70 – $130 USD

Hotel María Cristina

Rio Lerma # 31 Colonia Cuauhtémoc

Phones: 57-03-12-12 /55-66-96-88

Hotel Canada

5 de Mayo # 47 Close to metro stop Isabel La Católica

Telephone: 55-18-21-06, fax: 55-12-93-10

NEAR ZONA ROSA in Mexico City

$10 – $25 USD

Casa de los Amigos (Quaker House)

Ignacio Mariscal No. 132 (close to Metro Revolución)

Colonia Tabacalera

Phones: 57-05-05-21/57-05-06-46 Fax: 57-05-07-7l

Email: amigos@laneta.apc.org 100 pesos per night for a room in an 8-person single-sex dorm room

Also offers very reasonably priced private rooms

Safe, cheap hostel – good place to meet other backpackers, students, and volunteers

Hotel Azores

República de Brasil No. 25

Colonia Centro

Tels: 55-21-52-20/55-12-00-70

$35 – 50 USD

El Hotelito San Rafael

Ignacio M. Altamirano No. 45

Colonia San Rafael (close to Metro San Cosme)

Contact owners: Cuca Valero and Miguel Legaria

Phone: 55-35-39-73 Fax: 55-46-67-20 Email: hotelito@mati.net.mx

Hotel Juárez

Telephone: 55-12-69-29 / 55-18-47-18 / 55-12-05-68

HOTELS IN CUERNAVACA

From the U.S. dial 011-52-777 and then the phone number

Within Mexico, dial 01-777 and then the phone number

$40 – $60 USD

Hotel Laam on Avenida Morelos (approximately US $50)

Av. José María Morelos y Pavón Nte. 239,

Cuernavaca Centro, La Pradera, 62000

Phone: 314-4411

Hotel Quinta Las Flores

Tlaquepaque 1

Colonia Las Palmas, 62050

Phone: 314 1244

$80 – $120 USD

Villa San Marcos B and B

(cheaper rooms also available: from $40)

Leyva #208, Colonia Miguel Hidalgo,

Phone: 314-0361 Close to downtown (10 minutes) and gay-friendly

Contact person: Marta Elena de la Fuente: martaelena@cableonline.com.mx

Hotel Casa Azul (Raul Villareal)

Arista No. 17, Centro (downtown)

Phones: 314-2141/314-3634/314-3684

Email: lacasaazul@cableonline.com.mx

Hotel Casa Colonial

Nezahualcoyotl #37, Centro (downtown)

Phone: 312-70-33 and 310-0395

Posada Tlaltenango and SPA

(15 minutes in bus to downtown)

Privada Eucalipto #77

Phone: 313-2525 Fax: 313-0395

$120 – $200 USD

Las Casas B and B Hotel

Fray Bartolomé de las Casas #110 corner w/ Blvd Juárez

Col. Centro, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico CP 62000

International Call: +52 (777) 318-7777

From Mexico: (777) 318-7777

Local Call: 318-7777

$200 – $350 USD

Hotel Las Mañanitas

Ricardo Linares #107

telephone: 314-14-66/ 312-46-46 fax: 318-36-72

e-mail: reservaciones@lasmananitas.com.mx

HOTELS IN TEPOZTLAN, MORELOS

From the U.S. dial 011-52-739 and then the telephone number

Within Mexico, dial 01-739 and then the phone number

Hotels from $50- $100 USD

Hotel Tepoztlan Industria

No. 6, Centro (downtown)

Phone: 395-0522/395-0523

Hotels from $150- $250 USD

Posada Tepozteco Paraiso

No. 3, Barrio San Miguel

Phone: 395-0010

Family and friends are more than welcome to come and visit. The best times are during the long weekends and after the program ends due to the large number of speakers and excursions and the overall intensity of the academic program.

Some previous students have commented that they found visits by friends and family during regular program time to be extremely stressful. Absences due to travel with family and friends do not count as excused absences. However, family and friends are often able to attend classes, listen to guest lectures, and participate in excursions with you. They are encouraged to meet up with you and travel when the semester ends.

A Note to Parents and Legal Guardians: We very much enjoy meeting you and would love to have you visit. It is important for you to know that sometimes parents’ visits during periods while students have classes puts extra pressure on them, as they feel that they must entertain you in addition to trying to complete their coursework and participate in a very busy schedule. Therefore, you may find that it works best to arrive after the program ends. We highly discourage you from taking your children to the beach or traveling elsewhere with them at times when they would have to miss classes and other program activities. However, if you arrive prior to a long weekend or at another time during the semester, you are more than welcome to attend speakers and excursions with the group.

After the program ends, you may want to stay in Mexico for an extra week in order to travel with other students, family members, or friends. Popular destinations include Chiapas, Guadalajara, Oaxaca, Puerto Escondido, and Puerto Vallarta. We advise that you decide this before arranging your return date, as we have found that students often want to stay one more week but have already set their departure date for immediately after the program ends. Keep in mind that most airlines charge US $100 or more for any date changes.

You may make arrangements to store your belongings in our facility afterwards if you plan to travel within the region. However, CGEE takes no legal responsibility for items that are lost or stolen while in storage. In addition, you must arrange to both store and collect your items in storage during office hours: Monday-Friday, 10:00am-2:30pm.

If you choose to travel extensively, please be sure to budget accordingly. When traveling overland on a careful budget, about US $50 per day is sufficient for transportation, room and board (depending on where you go, as prices can vary quite a bit). You may want to allot extra funds ($100-$300 recommended) for souvenir purchases, nightlife, emergencies, or other extras.