Dates & TRavel

Official Program Dates

Summer 2027 Programs

Language and Culture (Session 1) 

• Program Start (Arrive Mexico City): Saturday, May 29, 2027 

• Program End (Depart Mexico City): Sunday, June 13, 2027

Language and Culture (Session 2) 

• Program Start (Arrive Mexico City): Wednesday, June 9, 2027 

• Program End (Depart Mexico City): Sunday, July 4, 2027

Language and Culture (Session 3) 

• Program Start (Arrive Mexico City): Wednesday, June 30, 2027 

• Program End (Depart Mexico City): Sunday, July 25, 2027

Medical Spanish & Clinical Observership 

• Program Start (Arrive Mexico City): Wednesday, June 9, 2027 

• Program End (Depart Mexico City): Sunday, August 1, 2027 

*Note: Students who want to complete internships must attend at least 2 sessions in a row.

Core Routing & Flight Logistics

Required Airport Routing

• Arrival Airport: Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX) – Mexico City, Mexico

• Departure Airport: Benito Juárez International Airport (MEX) – Mexico City, Mexico

Target Flight Windows

• Arrivals: Try to land in Mexico City by 3:00 PM if at all possible on your session's start date. 

  • Note: If you cannot find a flight that arrives by then, just let us know. We will arrange to pick you up at the airport based on group arrivals. 

• Departures: We recommend choosing a return flight that leaves no earlier than 11:00 AM on your program's end date. 

  • Note: The Center provides transit back to the airport, but because MEX is a 2-hour drive from Cuernavaca, if you must book an earlier flight you will need to independently take a direct bus from Cuernavaca. 

Additional Program Notes

• Early Arrivals: If you choose to arrive ahead of your designated session start date, you assume full responsibility for your own ground transportation, lodging, and meals.

• Booking Tips: We highly recommend purchasing a ticket that allows for changes in case of illness or unforeseen issues. Watch your layover times to avoid long waits. You will receive a student roster soon if you wish to coordinate travel companions!

• Travel Agent Option: You are free to book independently, but you can also choose to use our travel agent, Northstar Travel Company. A travel agency provides crucial support if there are flight delays or travel disruptions.

Mandatory Action Item

Once your international flights are finalized, you must submit your details via the Flight Information Questionnaire in your Global Gateway account. We need this information in order to schedule airport pick-ups. 

Managing Jet Lag & Long-Haul Flights

While traveling to Mexico City doesn't involve the extreme time differences of transatlantic flights, traveling can still be physically exhausting. Mexico operates on Central Standard Time year-round and does not observe Daylight Saving Time. Depending on your home time zone and the time of year, Mexico will likely align with U.S. Central or Mountain time. We recommend utilizing the following strategies to ensure you arrive refreshed and ready to head to Cuernavaca.

Pre-Departure Preparation

• Because the time difference is minimal, focus your pre-departure prep on packing efficiently and getting a good night's sleep the evening before you travel.

In-Flight Strategies

• Time Zone Alignment: Before you land, double-check your phone's time settings to ensure it updates to Mexico City local time.

• Hydration: Air travel is incredibly dehydrating, which increases general travel fatigue. Avoid excess caffeine while in transit and drink plenty of water. We strongly recommend bringing a reusable, empty water bottle through airport security to fill before boarding.

• Mobility: Even on shorter flights, do not remain completely stationary. Periodically stretch your legs and ankles in your seat or take a quick walk down the aisle to maintain circulation.

Post-Arrival Routine

• Traffic and altitude changes can add to your exhaustion when arriving in Mexico City. Try to stay active, get some fresh air upon arrival, and align immediately with local meal and sleep times once you arrive at your housing in Cuernavaca.

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.

To obtain a new U.S. passport, you will need to submit materials at an in-person appointment:

• Follow the Steps to Apply for a Passport In Person on the U.S. Department of State Website.

• Along with submitting materials, you will also need to pay for the passport fee. To see the most up-to-date costs please visit: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/fees.html 

To renew your U.S. passport, you can renew by mail:

• Follow the steps to Renew (Your Passport) by Mail on the U.S. Department of State Website.

• Along with submitting materials, you will also need to pay for the passport fee. To see the most up-to-date costs please visit: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/how-apply/fees.html 

For complete information and application forms, see https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.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, you will receive a stamp visa. If asked by authorities, 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 visa stamp rather than having to apply for a special student visa.

If you need to tell immigration an address in Mexico, 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 (ciento ochenta dias). There will not be a place to indicate that, so be sure to ask.

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 somewhere safe. 

Weekend Travel 

We will organize a number of free optional day trips on weekends (typically Saturdays) while you are in Mexico.  These will include visits to ancient pyramids and other archeological sites, museums, water parks, and other fun destinations. Over the course of the summer we typically make several visits to Tepoztlan, Mexico City, and Puebla. 

You may also choose to travel independently. Popular weekend destinations include Mexico City, Tepotzlan, Toluca, Puebla, and Querétaro. To give you an idea of prices, the bus ride to Mexico City takes about one and a half hours and costs about US $10 one way. Airbnbs and modest youth hostel and hotel accommodations can often be found for US $15-50/person.  Acapulco is currently one of the most dangerous cities in the world, so it is off limits, as is the whole state of Guerrero in which it is located (excluding the city of Taxco). 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. 

Prohibited destinations in Mexico:

The U.S. State Department's Mexico Travel Advisory says "Do Not Travel" to the following 6 states:

• 1. Colima

  2. Guerrero

  3. Michoacan

  4. Sinaloa

  5. Tamaulipas

  6. Zacatecas.

One exception is the following: Taxco: U.S. citizens should use Federal Highway 95D, which passes through Cuernavaca, Morelos, and stay within downtown tourist areas of Taxco. U.S. citizens may visit Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park during the day with a licensed tour operator.

In addition, you should not travel to Cancun for safety reasons. We recommend other beaches if you have your heart set on visiting a beach while in Mexico. For the full U.S. State Department's Mexico Travel Warning, see Mexico Travel Advisory (state.gov) 

It is very important that our staff be able to reach you in case of an emergency. Therefore, we ask you to WhatsApp or email your “TRAVEL INFO” (listed in the subject heading) to the International Resident Assistant and Ann 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.

In case you decide to stay and travel in Mexico after your program ends, this is a list of popular destinations that previous students have visited and enjoyed. They are listed by travel distance, and so the first several locations could be visited on a weekend, but the others require more time to be able to visit. 

Before planning personal travel, be sure to check the U.S. State Department Travel Advisory regarding locations that are off limits to US citizens (including you).  Five states are currently on the "Do Not Travel To" List: Colima, Guerrero, Michoacan, Sinaola, and Tamaulipas. There have also been recent strong warnings about not traveling to Cancun, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen (Cancun & the "Riviera Maya") due to drug-related crime. 

• Mexico City: (1.5-2 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.- 1 hour)  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:  (2-2.5 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 and Ann 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 planned 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, Huatulco (a beach resort in Oaxaca), Oaxaca City, 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.