Passports and Visas
Citizens of the U.S., Canada, the European Union, Japan, and some countries of Latin America are not required to obtain visas for short visits (up to 3 months) to Mexico; you will require only a valid passport and a landing card supplied by the airlines. Citizens of most other countries will require a visa obtainable at the nearest Mexican consulate or embassy. In the (unlikely) event that you have problems obtaining a visa, please notify us as soon as possible as the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla may be able to intervene and expedite the issuance of a visa.
Arrival
The two nearest airports to Puebla are Mexico City’s International Airport and Hermanos Serdán Airport in Huejotzingo, Puebla:
1. From International Airport of the Mexico City
Mexico City’s International Airport (AICM) (MEX code) Puebla City lies about 130 kilometers from Benito Juarez International Airport of Mexico City, and it should not take more than two hours to travel there by car and three hours by public transportation. The following methods could be used to get to the Center of Puebla from the Mexico City International Airport.
o The cheapest way
Estrella Roja provides nonstop, first-class bus service to Puebla from Mexico City, including its two terminals inside the airport. The two-hour ride, approximately, includes snack and beverage service, air conditioning, videos, on board internet access, and personalized surround system for music and/or a movie. This bus arrives at either CAPU (bus central of Puebla) or the 4 Poniente Station. We recommend you to take the bus to 4 Poniente because the taxis inside that terminal are safe and it costs approximately $50 pesos (~2.5 dollars) to get to one of the recommended hotels. Nevertheless, you can take the bus to CAPU and take an official taxi in the stand inside the terminal. Give the dispatcher the address of the hotel, the dispatcher will charge you about $130 pesos (~6.5 dollars) and assign you a cab number.
o The direct way
You can take an authorized taxi in the Mexico City International Airport, but the cost of a trip directly to Puebla Center at the hotel you will stay is about $2000 pesos (~100 dollars). Puebla has a small airport, called Hermanos Serdán (PBC). It is located in the nearby town of Huejotzingo, about 40 to 50 minutes from downtown Pueba. Hire an official taxi for $400-$450 pesos (~25 dollars) at the stand inside the terminal. The disadvantage is that all international flights come through Houston, Texas and hence there are fewer options than when flying to Mexico City.
2. Traveling from other states of Mexico
If you are already in Mexico, you can take a bus that arrives to CAPU depending on the place you are. The most common lines departing from Mexico City are ADO and Estrella Roja, a detailed list of lines can be found at this link, if you are in another state you can travel to TAPO in Mexico City and then travel to Puebla by ADO or Estrella roja.
Accommodation
Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla has several special price deals with hotels in Puebla downtown. The cheapest is Hotel Gilfer; the most traditional one is Hotel Colonial. You can obtain a special rate at any of the hotels of the following list by specifying that you are attending the CIMA, organized by the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP).
Hotel Colonial de Puebla:
Address: 4 Sur 105 - Puebla, Puebla. C.P. 72000 Mexico
Tel: 01 (222) 246-4612 - Fax: 01 (222) 246-0818
Hotel Gilfer:
Address: 2 Oriente 11, Colonia Centro, C.P. 72000 Puebla
Tel: 01 (222) 246 0611
Hotel Palacio San Leonardo:
Address: Av. 2 Oriente 211, Colonia Centro, 72000 Puebla
Tel: 222 223 6600
Map of the conference sites