Itinerary*March 16 and 23 On Campus/VCM meetings
March 26 Chicago to Mexico City; explore city center
March 27 Teotihuacan
March 28 MUNAL, Templo Mayor site and museum + choose one more museum in city center
March 29 Museo Tamayo and Chapultepec Museums
March 30 Casa Azul & MUAC
March 31 Choose your own adventure or hike
April 1 exploring; fly from Mexico City to Chicago Apr 6 On Campus
*Tentative itinerary, subject to change |
ART OF MEXICO CITY : PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE
MARCH 25-30, 2022 Course DescriptionImmerse yourself in the cultural legacy of Mexico City's past, present, and future through its outstanding museums, galleries, and archaeological sites. Explore the pre-Columbian pyramids and temples of Teotihuacan, including the Pyramid of the Sun, one of the largest pyramids in the world. Other stops include Casa Azul, the museum and former home of the legendary Frida Kahlo, the Templo Mayor, and a wide variety of art museums.
Be prepared to walk/hike several hours each day in the sun and high temperatures. Students must co-enroll in ART-1823 (1 credit) or ART1100 (3 credits) and either ART2211, ART2212 or ART2213 or ART1823 (3 credits). |
Classes: March 16 (on campus), March 23 (Zoom), and April 6 (on campus) from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Field Study: March 26 -April 1. Registration opens October 2022. Please register by December 15 to ensure you seat! Fee: $1,097 (includes airfare, hotel lodging, museum/site fees, transportation to Teotihuacan and hotel breakfasts). Students should plan to have $20-30 extra for public transportation or ride share in Mexico City. Required tuition is extra.
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Tuition, Registration, & Contact Info
Tuition is for 4-6 credits. In District Tuition Total:$140/credit; Out of District Tuition Total: $327/credit. Payment plans available.
All students must take the course for credit. Pass/fail option available.
For scholarship info, apply asap by visiting: https://www.cod.edu/academics/academic_opportunities/field/scholarships.aspx or email [email protected].
Register through beginning in October 7, 2022.
For more information or itinerary contact:
Jackie Weaver, (630) 942-3607, email: [email protected]
David Ouellette, (630) 942-2586, email: [email protected]
All students must take the course for credit. Pass/fail option available.
For scholarship info, apply asap by visiting: https://www.cod.edu/academics/academic_opportunities/field/scholarships.aspx or email [email protected].
Register through beginning in October 7, 2022.
For more information or itinerary contact:
Jackie Weaver, (630) 942-3607, email: [email protected]
David Ouellette, (630) 942-2586, email: [email protected]
What to Pack
Space is limited to one suitcase and one backpack per student. Below are some practical suggestions of what to include.
- Passport and copy of passport
- Water bottle
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Lightweight packable brimmed hat
- Lightweight umbrella
- Security money belt
- Lightweight long sleeve shirt
- Warm layer for cool evenings
- Sturdy sneakers or hiking shoes and hiking socks
- Shoes/boots you can wear in the event of rain
- Travel pack of Kleenex (not all bathrooms have toilet paper)
- Travel-size hand sanitizer (not all bathrooms have soap)
- 2 credit/debit cards (leave one in safe at hotel, just in case)
- Phone with Uber app and Google Translate; Google maps is also recommended
- Ear plugs
- Wash cloth
- Camera/camera phone, battery charging pack (optional)
- Notebook & pencil
- Travel hair dryer if needed
Traveler's Guide
Passport
Please make sure that your passport is valid for at least one year after our travel. (You may have difficulty getting in/out of the country, even if your passport is expiring 2 or 3 months after our trip.) Email Jackie a clear copy or photograph of your first passport page (with your photo and info) for security and ticketing purposes at [email protected]. You may also want to carry a paper copy of your passport in case you lose it during travel. During our stay, leave your passport and customs forms locked in the hotel room safe.
Luggage
Please pack as light as possible. Your ticket includes one small, carry-on suitcase and one small personal item like a purse or backpack. Each piece must be 21.5″ x 15.7″ x 10″ or smaller with a total weight for both pieces of 22 lbs. You may purchase a checked bag if you wish for an extra fee (about $60 roundtrip for a bag that’s 50lb or less), but this will slow our trip to the hotel and add extra time while you’re checking in at the airport. Mexico City is a very large airport, and depending on our departure gate, we may have a 20 minute walk to get there, even with moving walkways. Something light or with good wheels will be helpful; channel your inner minimalist. Also, our transportation to and from the airport will be by Uber, and many of the cars have smaller trunks than you may be used too. You’ll be responsible for carrying and lifting all your bags.
Airport
Plan to arrive at O’Hare 2 hours early, 3 hours if you are checking your bags. Meet us at the gate and go to the podium to have your passport verified. The plane boards 45 minutes before departure and we cannot hold it for you if you’re late. If you miss the plane, you’ll need to rebook at your own cost and find us in Mexico City.
Food and drink are available for purchase on the flight; sandwiches with a drink are less than 200 pesos ($10) and must be paid for with a credit card or pesos. Alternatively, you can bring food with you.
The flight is about 4.5 hours and is a non-stop flight. On the flight, they will ask if anyone needs immigration forms in Spanish. Ask for one if you can. When we land in Mexico, we may wait on the runway for a half hour for a bus to take us to immigration.
If you didn’t get a form on the plane, it’s okay. You’ll need to fill out a form or an electronic form (you’ll get a print-out) when you land. If you go through the electronic queue when you land, you will scan your passport and your fingers and take a photo of yourself. You’ll need to press your fingers down very hard for the machine to recognize your fingerprints. Have your flight number handy as well. You’ll hand your form to an immigration officer who will ask if you’re a tourist (you are!), how long you’ll be staying in the country and might ask where you’re from and where you’re headed (Hotel Catedral, Donceles 95 in Mexico City).
Hold onto this form for your return flight. You can’t board the plane back to the US without it. Keep it in a safe place with your passport. If you lose it, you will need to go to immigration before your return flight at Gate 10, outside the security area. You will need pesos to purchase new papers and may miss your flight.
While we are in the airport in Mexico City, plan on finding an ATM (Citicard, HSBC, Bancomex) to take out some pesos. (See money section for more info.) If you plan to take public transport at all, you’ll also need to find a Metrocard vending machine.
We will plan to stick together in the airport.
When we return to O’Hare, we will need to go through American customs. They have an electronic system similar to Mexico’s. The line to get through customs could easily be an hour; so if you have someone picking you up, let them know this ahead of time.
Money
Before you leave, contact you credit card company and your bank to let them know you will be in Mexico City during our trip dates. This will help avoid putting a hold on your credit cards for suspicious activity.
Be prepared to take out pesos from an ATM when we land at the airport. Many of the ATMs have familiar bank names, but there are Mexican banks as well. Choose a machine with an English option if your Spanish is rusty. Make sure you know your PIN number. You’ll see dollar signs for options, but these indicate pesos, not USD. 200 pesos is about $10. There will be a fee to take out cash, probably around $10. ATMs are typically cheaper than the exchange locations you’ll see throughout the airport.
The ATM will dispense pesos in the form of 500, 200, 100, 50, and 20 bills. When you start using them, you’ll likely get some coin change for 1, 2, 5, and 10 pesos.
Though many restaurants take a credit card, not all do. Any street food vendor will take pesos only. These are usually smaller, coin amounts like 5, 10 or 20 pesos. When dining at a place that takes credit cards, the server will come to your table with a machine and ask how much you want to add for tip. A 10% tip is typical, but 15-20% is fine for great service/food.
You’ll absolutely need pesos if you plan to take any public transportation. You also may need 5-10 pesos to use public restrooms at the train station or other public locations. (Grab some tp from the area by the sink; there is none in the stalls.)
Things in Mexico are typically a little cheaper than the US. Many places are made with tourists in mind and charge prices that are comparable to the US; however, you can seek out plenty of cheap eats while here. You can easily buy a taco or a bottle of water for a dollar (20 pesos) and Mexican beer for $1.50 ish (30 pesos).
Physical Health Considerations
Check to see if your health insurance covers you in Mexico for emergencies or issues related to pre-existing conditions. If so, find out if you’ll need to pay out-of-pocket first and submit receipts for reimbursement. Ask them for doctor/hospital recommendations near the historic city center and also Teotihuacan. Often your plan will not cover you, and you will need to purchase some travel health insurance on your own online. (Medicare does not cover you out of the US.) Figure 5% of your trip cost or a little more--between $50 and $100.
Expect to walk a lot! Especially at Teotihuacan, but every day. Expect to walk up to 10 miles a day. There will also be plenty of stair climbing on this trip (although you are not required to climb the pyramids.) Just the walk from the Pyramid of the Moon to the Temple of the Feathered Serpent on the south end, it is around 2.5 miles, often over uneven terrain. If you make it this length, you’ll also need to walk back to the bus stop, so conserve your energy and give yourself plenty of time to get there. There is not much shade at all. If you do choose to climb the spectacular pyramids, go slowly and hold onto the railing whenever possible. The stairs are steep, tall, and inconsistent in height. The steps for the pyramid of the moon are 18-24 inches, getting steeper as you get closer to the top. If you are dizzy, sit down and put your head between your knees. The trip down can be vertigo-inducing.
It will be high 70s/low 80s during the day and 40s/50s at night, but with the humidity, and especially in the sun this can feel much warmer. Carry at least a liter of water with you at all times and keep hydrated. Plan to wear a brimmed hat (preferably one that packs down small and light), sunglasses, a lightweight long-sleeve shirt, and sunscreen for any time spent outdoors, but especially Teotihuacan. (More on Teotihuacan later.) Hats are available for purchase near the entrance of the pyramids. We may be standing outdoors in long lines.
Mexico City is at an altitude of 7,382 feet above sea level, quite a bit higher than Denver and significantly different from Chicago’s elevation of 597 feet. Altitude sickness is a real thing, and it may take you a day to acclimate to the change in elevation. You may experience dizziness, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, nausea, headache, and shortness of breath. Drinking several quarts of water each day, eating plenty of carbs, avoiding alcohol, using Tylenol/Advil for headaches are helpful for acclimating. If your symptoms worsen, you may need to see a doctor or go to the hospital.
Be aware that the air quality in the area is not as clear as you might be used to in Chicago.
Getting from Place to Place
While we will have a day or two of walking to our daily destinations from our hotel, you will need to pay for all other transportation in Mexico City, except the bus from the North Bus Terminal to Teotihuacan. The quickest way to get around the city is Uber. If you don’t have the Uber app on your phone, please install it before departure, even if you don’t typically use it and don’t plan to use it after Mexico City. Add your credit card info in ahead of time, and learn how to use the app. A typical Uber ride costs around 80-200 pesos or $4-10 usd, depending on distance and traffic. We recommend that everyone split Ubers. Form a group of 4 people you plan to ride with in an Uber X, or a group of 6 for an Uber XL. This will put everyone’s cost of ubering at around $1 per person per ride. (Figure about 14 rides and about $14 per person for our trip, or more if you’re venturing out beyond our scheduled site visits.) It might be easiest for each person in your Uber group to take turns ordering the Uber. The cars are often smaller than cars in the US. There’s another ride share program there called DiDi, but we have not used it before.
Public transportation is available and costs 5 or 6 pesos for each ride (about 25 cents). If you think you’ll want to do this at all, you’ll need to purchase (comprar) a plastic metro card at the airport (find a kiosk) for about 15-16 pesos and load/recharge (recarga) it with money. If you’re planning to take subways only, you can buy paper tickets at the ticket counter in the subway. Yes, this is cheaper than Uber, but it will take longer, involve more walking/standing, and does not have AC. If you plan to use the busses/trains, do your own research to get acquainted with the systems and please let me know; I have all our routes mapped out. As in any large city, pick pockets are common on all public transport (and in any crowded place). Use an under-the-shirt money belt for a more secure option. (Our friend had a fanny pack outside her shirt, and in a very crowded bus, someone unzipped it and swiped her wallet.)
In many cases, you will be responsible to meet us at a certain location and a certain time by Uber. We will always tell you when we plan to leave, but if you’re traveling a little before or after us, be aware of how long it will take to get there. Rush hour takes significantly longer to move through the city. Download Google maps to help orient yourself if needed.
To get to Teotihuacan, we will be boarding a bus together at the North Bus Terminal to the Pyramids. We will give you tickets. Be sure to hold onto them, especially your return ticket. We will need to go through a quick security check before getting on the bus; security will check your bags and pat your down.
It’s a little bumpy getting out of the city, but once on the highway, it’s smooth sailing. We will make a few stops along the way and the bus will wind through the narrow streets of San Juan Teotihuacan. When we get to our stop, the bus driver will say “Piramides” and most people will get off. The bus lets us off at the intersection of Ave Piramides and Rt 132 in front of Puerta 2. The bus will pick us up on Rt 132 at the corner of Ave Piramides. Look for a blue bus sign and have your return ticket handy. Return busses come every 10-20 minutes but stop at 6pm.
Hotel
We are staying at Hotel Catedral, right in the center of the city. There may not be temperature control for heat/AC/fan in the room. Evenings are cool (40s and 50s), and you can open the windows to cool the room down if needed. (Days are usually around 80.)
Don’t drink the tap water (or ice) or use it to brush your teeth. The hotel provides a small bottle of water for each person each day when they clean your room. You can purchase more water as needed.
You should also be aware that plumbing in Mexico City is sensitive and toilet paper should go in the trash next to the toilet rather than be flushed.
The hotel has free WiFi and some sort of breakfast. Soaps, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and body wash are also provided. Towels and hand towels will be provided, but washcloths are not typically used so bring your own. Hair dryers are not in the room.
There is only one key for each room; coordinate with your roommate.
This is a city, so there will be noise and music at night. If you are sensitive to noise, please bring ear plugs or other noise cancelling device.
Outlets are the same in Mexico as the US.
Each room will have a safe. You’ll create a 4 digit code for the safe. Test it out first so you don’t accidentally lock your valuables in for good. Have someone in you room write down the code. We suggest storing your passport, extra credit card, and extra cash/pesos and electronic devices in the safe.
Telephone and Internet Service
You will need a way to communicate with us while in Mexico City; check with your cell phone plan ahead of time to see if your plan covers you in Mexico. If not, you may need to purchase a travel pass or make a temporary change to you plan. (My pay-as-you-go plan from Verizon allows me to pay $5 a day for a travel pass which gives unlimited talk and text in Mexico; you just need to be sure to load a balance that will cover the days we will be there.)
To dial into the US, you’ll need to dial +1 for the country code (not just 1). The plus is often found by holding down the “0” button when you’re dialing on your phone.
There are places in the city with WiFi, you’ll just need to be on the lookout for it. Our hotel has WiFi also.
In case of emergency, dial 911.
Communicating
If your speak Spanish, great! We know enough to get around, but we may ask for your help translating. If your don’t know Spanish, realize that many people will not speak English or know only a little. Brush up on your travel Spanish before the trip. If you feel uncertain about your Spanish speaking abilities, you may want to download google translate app and its Spanish dictionary for use on the trip. Know the pleasantries, but be able to understand and answer phrases like “Where are you from? Where are you going? What would you like to drink? What would you like to order?” You would want to be able to ask “which way” or “where is” and understand basic directions.
Food Restrictions
If you have any food restrictions, allergies, or preferences, be sure you know how to clearly say these things in Spanish.
City Speed
Things move at a slower speed in Mexico City, so prepare yourself ahead of time and practice patience. It may take longer to get a menu or your meal than you expect. You may need to ask for the bill. Places may or may not be open during their posted hours. We may sit on the runway for a while or have to wait in a long line. Just be willing to relax and enjoy the wait. I don’t want our group to fit the stereotype of pushy, impatient, demanding tourists.
Local Restaurants
It’s difficult to accommodate a group our size at a restaurant, so find a friend or two and head out to meals on your own. Like in any big city, you should take safety precautions and avoid traveling alone, particularly at night. There are so many awesome choices for restaurants in this area. You can easily walk to a great place for your meal.
Some places we recommend for dinner in nearby Condesa are Azul and Temporal (no vegan options at temporal though). Prices here are very similar to eating at a trendy restaurant in the states, maybe slightly cheaper. We’d recommend reservations for these places if you can, but if you don’t mind waiting, you may be able to get a table anyway. At the Hotel Parque in Condesa, there is also a great rooftop restaurant and bar (you’ll need to specify if you’re there for dinner or drinks). The restaurant overlooks the park, and the bar/lounge area overlooks a courtyard.
Some similarly priced recommendations close by would be Specia, Patagonia, La Bodega, Rojo Bistrot, Merotoro, and Contramar. For vegan only options, try Vegani, Veguisima, or Por Siempre Taco on Manzanillo. There’s also a chain of Falafelito throughout the city. Many more things close by! Just do your research or adventure in to a new spot. If you’ve got a place in mind, it’s a good idea to look at the menus online or outside the restaurant to get a sense of the pricing and options.
Be aware some places charge 15 pesos if you choose to eat the pastry/bread they bring out.
Oxxo is a corner store, if you need to purchase quick snacks or more water. There are also 7-elevens nearby. (We recommend splitting the cost of a few large bottles of water with your roommate.)
Teotihuacan
The pyramids are a spectacular site and your experiences with them evolve as you move through the complex. If you’re up for it, the Pyramid of the Sun is a long climb with awesome views of the area. The Pyramid of the Moon, though a short climb, is a steep climb, with stairs getting steeper as you go, up to two feet. The top of this pyramid is probably the best photo spot at the site, with a stunning view of the Pyramid of the Sun with the mountains in the background.
Just southeast of the Pyramid of the Sun and near Gate 5, is the park’s museum. It’s free with your entry ticket, but you’ll need to leave your water bottles outside. It’s worth a visit.
At the south end of the complex is the Temple of the Feathered Serpent, which has some of the most detailed sculptures at the site on its face. You will need to climb up the front then down in between the pyramids to see these. Across from this area, you’ll find the park’s restaurant and bar. It’s convenient and offers a bit of shade.
If you’re a bit more adventurous, you can eat at La Gruta, a cool restaurant in a cave, just outside Puerta (Gate) 5, cross the street and follow Avenida del Puente (on the left if you’re back is to Puerta 5). You should see a black sign on the left for La Gruta as soon as you’re on that little street to the left. Follow the little road/path and signs to get there. It’s a very short walk from Puerta 5 to the restaurant. It’s all about the ambiance.
There’s also plenty of spots for a picnic and informal food options at the entrance near the bus stop. You’ll find stands near that entrance for water and other drinks. You’ll also see vendors inside and outside the complex selling souvenirs.
Bathrooms are near entrances only. They don’t always have toilet paper, soap, or running water; so this is where a couple tissues and a tiny hand-sanitizer might come in handy.
Please refer to physical considerations sections for some important safety concerns. Hydration, sun protection, and sturdy footwear are critical for your safety.
Travel Safety
Mexico is the largest city in North America by population. Like most big cities, we want to take common-sense safety precautions while traveling. While we will be doing plenty of exploring together, we ask that any exploring outside our group excursions be done in groups of 3 or more and that you always let someone else know where you plan to go or text your location. It's best to have someone who is comfortable speaking Spanish in your group. Female travelers especially should not travel alone.
While neighborhoods like Roma Norte/Sur, Condesa, Centro Historico (where we are staying), Zona Rosa, Juarez, Escandón, San Rafael, Coyoacan, and Polanco are considered "safe," you'll need to watch out for scams and think about how you are storing your cash and credit cards. A fanny pack can look trendy, but it can be an easy target for a pick-pocket in a crowded area. Even storing your phone or wallet in your back pocket might not be a good idea. You might want to consider a hidden travel belt to store your essentials. Some scams to watch out for in any city are people spilling something on you or causing a commotion while another person grabs your wallet, cashier's giving you less change back than you should receive, someone offering you something for free, taxi's charging tourists more (stick with Uber), or ATM machines that steal your credit card info (stick to cash machines at banks!) Tepito (10 blocks north of our hotel), Ciudad Neza, Iztapalapa, and Doctores (between Roma Norte and Centro Historico) are considered higher crime areas.
In general, stay alert to what is happening around you, leave valuables in your safe, know where you are and how to get where you're going, use extra caution at night, and try to learn some basic Spanish before we leave.
The hospital closest to our hotel is Hospital General Gregorio Salas Flores. For the police, dial 911. For an ambulance, dial 066. For the tourist assistance hotline call 800 008 9090.
COVID Considerations
There are some important things to be aware of and plan for related to COVID-19. First, it is likely that someone on our plane will have covid and likely that someone in our group will get COVID on the flight if we do not follow safety precautions. All students should plan to test for COVID the day before we leave. You should not come on this trip if you have COVID or show symptoms such as fever. Not only does it put you in a potentially difficult situation, but you may put others in danger. It's one thing to have COVID while you are in your own home, but quite another to have COVID in another country, especially when you don't speak the language or know the area.
We suggest talking to your health professional about the possibility of a booster shot at least 2 weeks before our departure. We would also suggest wearing a mask in public places and following proper hand washing protocol for the two weeks leading up to the trip to minimize the chances of getting sick (and getting others sick). In the airport and on the plane, plan to properly wear a KN-95 mask, change the mask every 4 hours, and consider bringing disinfectant spray/wipes to wipe down your buckle, and seat tray. We would like to keep the whole group as safe as possible. You may want to bring a covid test or two with you to have on the trip as well.
If you become ill with COVID on the trip, you will be required to quarantine in your room for 5 days. If this happens on Day 5 of our 7 day trip, you will need to pay for a hotel room for those additional days, while the rest of us head home. You will also be responsible for arranging food and healthcare for yourself during this time and potentially pay the cost of changing your ticket back to the US. This idea is beyond unpleasant for all of us, so please take precautions for yourself and others.
Student Survey
Please take a few minutes to complete this brief survey.
Please make sure that your passport is valid for at least one year after our travel. (You may have difficulty getting in/out of the country, even if your passport is expiring 2 or 3 months after our trip.) Email Jackie a clear copy or photograph of your first passport page (with your photo and info) for security and ticketing purposes at [email protected]. You may also want to carry a paper copy of your passport in case you lose it during travel. During our stay, leave your passport and customs forms locked in the hotel room safe.
Luggage
Please pack as light as possible. Your ticket includes one small, carry-on suitcase and one small personal item like a purse or backpack. Each piece must be 21.5″ x 15.7″ x 10″ or smaller with a total weight for both pieces of 22 lbs. You may purchase a checked bag if you wish for an extra fee (about $60 roundtrip for a bag that’s 50lb or less), but this will slow our trip to the hotel and add extra time while you’re checking in at the airport. Mexico City is a very large airport, and depending on our departure gate, we may have a 20 minute walk to get there, even with moving walkways. Something light or with good wheels will be helpful; channel your inner minimalist. Also, our transportation to and from the airport will be by Uber, and many of the cars have smaller trunks than you may be used too. You’ll be responsible for carrying and lifting all your bags.
Airport
Plan to arrive at O’Hare 2 hours early, 3 hours if you are checking your bags. Meet us at the gate and go to the podium to have your passport verified. The plane boards 45 minutes before departure and we cannot hold it for you if you’re late. If you miss the plane, you’ll need to rebook at your own cost and find us in Mexico City.
Food and drink are available for purchase on the flight; sandwiches with a drink are less than 200 pesos ($10) and must be paid for with a credit card or pesos. Alternatively, you can bring food with you.
The flight is about 4.5 hours and is a non-stop flight. On the flight, they will ask if anyone needs immigration forms in Spanish. Ask for one if you can. When we land in Mexico, we may wait on the runway for a half hour for a bus to take us to immigration.
If you didn’t get a form on the plane, it’s okay. You’ll need to fill out a form or an electronic form (you’ll get a print-out) when you land. If you go through the electronic queue when you land, you will scan your passport and your fingers and take a photo of yourself. You’ll need to press your fingers down very hard for the machine to recognize your fingerprints. Have your flight number handy as well. You’ll hand your form to an immigration officer who will ask if you’re a tourist (you are!), how long you’ll be staying in the country and might ask where you’re from and where you’re headed (Hotel Catedral, Donceles 95 in Mexico City).
Hold onto this form for your return flight. You can’t board the plane back to the US without it. Keep it in a safe place with your passport. If you lose it, you will need to go to immigration before your return flight at Gate 10, outside the security area. You will need pesos to purchase new papers and may miss your flight.
While we are in the airport in Mexico City, plan on finding an ATM (Citicard, HSBC, Bancomex) to take out some pesos. (See money section for more info.) If you plan to take public transport at all, you’ll also need to find a Metrocard vending machine.
We will plan to stick together in the airport.
When we return to O’Hare, we will need to go through American customs. They have an electronic system similar to Mexico’s. The line to get through customs could easily be an hour; so if you have someone picking you up, let them know this ahead of time.
Money
Before you leave, contact you credit card company and your bank to let them know you will be in Mexico City during our trip dates. This will help avoid putting a hold on your credit cards for suspicious activity.
Be prepared to take out pesos from an ATM when we land at the airport. Many of the ATMs have familiar bank names, but there are Mexican banks as well. Choose a machine with an English option if your Spanish is rusty. Make sure you know your PIN number. You’ll see dollar signs for options, but these indicate pesos, not USD. 200 pesos is about $10. There will be a fee to take out cash, probably around $10. ATMs are typically cheaper than the exchange locations you’ll see throughout the airport.
The ATM will dispense pesos in the form of 500, 200, 100, 50, and 20 bills. When you start using them, you’ll likely get some coin change for 1, 2, 5, and 10 pesos.
Though many restaurants take a credit card, not all do. Any street food vendor will take pesos only. These are usually smaller, coin amounts like 5, 10 or 20 pesos. When dining at a place that takes credit cards, the server will come to your table with a machine and ask how much you want to add for tip. A 10% tip is typical, but 15-20% is fine for great service/food.
You’ll absolutely need pesos if you plan to take any public transportation. You also may need 5-10 pesos to use public restrooms at the train station or other public locations. (Grab some tp from the area by the sink; there is none in the stalls.)
Things in Mexico are typically a little cheaper than the US. Many places are made with tourists in mind and charge prices that are comparable to the US; however, you can seek out plenty of cheap eats while here. You can easily buy a taco or a bottle of water for a dollar (20 pesos) and Mexican beer for $1.50 ish (30 pesos).
Physical Health Considerations
Check to see if your health insurance covers you in Mexico for emergencies or issues related to pre-existing conditions. If so, find out if you’ll need to pay out-of-pocket first and submit receipts for reimbursement. Ask them for doctor/hospital recommendations near the historic city center and also Teotihuacan. Often your plan will not cover you, and you will need to purchase some travel health insurance on your own online. (Medicare does not cover you out of the US.) Figure 5% of your trip cost or a little more--between $50 and $100.
Expect to walk a lot! Especially at Teotihuacan, but every day. Expect to walk up to 10 miles a day. There will also be plenty of stair climbing on this trip (although you are not required to climb the pyramids.) Just the walk from the Pyramid of the Moon to the Temple of the Feathered Serpent on the south end, it is around 2.5 miles, often over uneven terrain. If you make it this length, you’ll also need to walk back to the bus stop, so conserve your energy and give yourself plenty of time to get there. There is not much shade at all. If you do choose to climb the spectacular pyramids, go slowly and hold onto the railing whenever possible. The stairs are steep, tall, and inconsistent in height. The steps for the pyramid of the moon are 18-24 inches, getting steeper as you get closer to the top. If you are dizzy, sit down and put your head between your knees. The trip down can be vertigo-inducing.
It will be high 70s/low 80s during the day and 40s/50s at night, but with the humidity, and especially in the sun this can feel much warmer. Carry at least a liter of water with you at all times and keep hydrated. Plan to wear a brimmed hat (preferably one that packs down small and light), sunglasses, a lightweight long-sleeve shirt, and sunscreen for any time spent outdoors, but especially Teotihuacan. (More on Teotihuacan later.) Hats are available for purchase near the entrance of the pyramids. We may be standing outdoors in long lines.
Mexico City is at an altitude of 7,382 feet above sea level, quite a bit higher than Denver and significantly different from Chicago’s elevation of 597 feet. Altitude sickness is a real thing, and it may take you a day to acclimate to the change in elevation. You may experience dizziness, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, nausea, headache, and shortness of breath. Drinking several quarts of water each day, eating plenty of carbs, avoiding alcohol, using Tylenol/Advil for headaches are helpful for acclimating. If your symptoms worsen, you may need to see a doctor or go to the hospital.
Be aware that the air quality in the area is not as clear as you might be used to in Chicago.
Getting from Place to Place
While we will have a day or two of walking to our daily destinations from our hotel, you will need to pay for all other transportation in Mexico City, except the bus from the North Bus Terminal to Teotihuacan. The quickest way to get around the city is Uber. If you don’t have the Uber app on your phone, please install it before departure, even if you don’t typically use it and don’t plan to use it after Mexico City. Add your credit card info in ahead of time, and learn how to use the app. A typical Uber ride costs around 80-200 pesos or $4-10 usd, depending on distance and traffic. We recommend that everyone split Ubers. Form a group of 4 people you plan to ride with in an Uber X, or a group of 6 for an Uber XL. This will put everyone’s cost of ubering at around $1 per person per ride. (Figure about 14 rides and about $14 per person for our trip, or more if you’re venturing out beyond our scheduled site visits.) It might be easiest for each person in your Uber group to take turns ordering the Uber. The cars are often smaller than cars in the US. There’s another ride share program there called DiDi, but we have not used it before.
Public transportation is available and costs 5 or 6 pesos for each ride (about 25 cents). If you think you’ll want to do this at all, you’ll need to purchase (comprar) a plastic metro card at the airport (find a kiosk) for about 15-16 pesos and load/recharge (recarga) it with money. If you’re planning to take subways only, you can buy paper tickets at the ticket counter in the subway. Yes, this is cheaper than Uber, but it will take longer, involve more walking/standing, and does not have AC. If you plan to use the busses/trains, do your own research to get acquainted with the systems and please let me know; I have all our routes mapped out. As in any large city, pick pockets are common on all public transport (and in any crowded place). Use an under-the-shirt money belt for a more secure option. (Our friend had a fanny pack outside her shirt, and in a very crowded bus, someone unzipped it and swiped her wallet.)
In many cases, you will be responsible to meet us at a certain location and a certain time by Uber. We will always tell you when we plan to leave, but if you’re traveling a little before or after us, be aware of how long it will take to get there. Rush hour takes significantly longer to move through the city. Download Google maps to help orient yourself if needed.
To get to Teotihuacan, we will be boarding a bus together at the North Bus Terminal to the Pyramids. We will give you tickets. Be sure to hold onto them, especially your return ticket. We will need to go through a quick security check before getting on the bus; security will check your bags and pat your down.
It’s a little bumpy getting out of the city, but once on the highway, it’s smooth sailing. We will make a few stops along the way and the bus will wind through the narrow streets of San Juan Teotihuacan. When we get to our stop, the bus driver will say “Piramides” and most people will get off. The bus lets us off at the intersection of Ave Piramides and Rt 132 in front of Puerta 2. The bus will pick us up on Rt 132 at the corner of Ave Piramides. Look for a blue bus sign and have your return ticket handy. Return busses come every 10-20 minutes but stop at 6pm.
Hotel
We are staying at Hotel Catedral, right in the center of the city. There may not be temperature control for heat/AC/fan in the room. Evenings are cool (40s and 50s), and you can open the windows to cool the room down if needed. (Days are usually around 80.)
Don’t drink the tap water (or ice) or use it to brush your teeth. The hotel provides a small bottle of water for each person each day when they clean your room. You can purchase more water as needed.
You should also be aware that plumbing in Mexico City is sensitive and toilet paper should go in the trash next to the toilet rather than be flushed.
The hotel has free WiFi and some sort of breakfast. Soaps, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and body wash are also provided. Towels and hand towels will be provided, but washcloths are not typically used so bring your own. Hair dryers are not in the room.
There is only one key for each room; coordinate with your roommate.
This is a city, so there will be noise and music at night. If you are sensitive to noise, please bring ear plugs or other noise cancelling device.
Outlets are the same in Mexico as the US.
Each room will have a safe. You’ll create a 4 digit code for the safe. Test it out first so you don’t accidentally lock your valuables in for good. Have someone in you room write down the code. We suggest storing your passport, extra credit card, and extra cash/pesos and electronic devices in the safe.
Telephone and Internet Service
You will need a way to communicate with us while in Mexico City; check with your cell phone plan ahead of time to see if your plan covers you in Mexico. If not, you may need to purchase a travel pass or make a temporary change to you plan. (My pay-as-you-go plan from Verizon allows me to pay $5 a day for a travel pass which gives unlimited talk and text in Mexico; you just need to be sure to load a balance that will cover the days we will be there.)
To dial into the US, you’ll need to dial +1 for the country code (not just 1). The plus is often found by holding down the “0” button when you’re dialing on your phone.
There are places in the city with WiFi, you’ll just need to be on the lookout for it. Our hotel has WiFi also.
In case of emergency, dial 911.
Communicating
If your speak Spanish, great! We know enough to get around, but we may ask for your help translating. If your don’t know Spanish, realize that many people will not speak English or know only a little. Brush up on your travel Spanish before the trip. If you feel uncertain about your Spanish speaking abilities, you may want to download google translate app and its Spanish dictionary for use on the trip. Know the pleasantries, but be able to understand and answer phrases like “Where are you from? Where are you going? What would you like to drink? What would you like to order?” You would want to be able to ask “which way” or “where is” and understand basic directions.
Food Restrictions
If you have any food restrictions, allergies, or preferences, be sure you know how to clearly say these things in Spanish.
City Speed
Things move at a slower speed in Mexico City, so prepare yourself ahead of time and practice patience. It may take longer to get a menu or your meal than you expect. You may need to ask for the bill. Places may or may not be open during their posted hours. We may sit on the runway for a while or have to wait in a long line. Just be willing to relax and enjoy the wait. I don’t want our group to fit the stereotype of pushy, impatient, demanding tourists.
Local Restaurants
It’s difficult to accommodate a group our size at a restaurant, so find a friend or two and head out to meals on your own. Like in any big city, you should take safety precautions and avoid traveling alone, particularly at night. There are so many awesome choices for restaurants in this area. You can easily walk to a great place for your meal.
Some places we recommend for dinner in nearby Condesa are Azul and Temporal (no vegan options at temporal though). Prices here are very similar to eating at a trendy restaurant in the states, maybe slightly cheaper. We’d recommend reservations for these places if you can, but if you don’t mind waiting, you may be able to get a table anyway. At the Hotel Parque in Condesa, there is also a great rooftop restaurant and bar (you’ll need to specify if you’re there for dinner or drinks). The restaurant overlooks the park, and the bar/lounge area overlooks a courtyard.
Some similarly priced recommendations close by would be Specia, Patagonia, La Bodega, Rojo Bistrot, Merotoro, and Contramar. For vegan only options, try Vegani, Veguisima, or Por Siempre Taco on Manzanillo. There’s also a chain of Falafelito throughout the city. Many more things close by! Just do your research or adventure in to a new spot. If you’ve got a place in mind, it’s a good idea to look at the menus online or outside the restaurant to get a sense of the pricing and options.
Be aware some places charge 15 pesos if you choose to eat the pastry/bread they bring out.
Oxxo is a corner store, if you need to purchase quick snacks or more water. There are also 7-elevens nearby. (We recommend splitting the cost of a few large bottles of water with your roommate.)
Teotihuacan
The pyramids are a spectacular site and your experiences with them evolve as you move through the complex. If you’re up for it, the Pyramid of the Sun is a long climb with awesome views of the area. The Pyramid of the Moon, though a short climb, is a steep climb, with stairs getting steeper as you go, up to two feet. The top of this pyramid is probably the best photo spot at the site, with a stunning view of the Pyramid of the Sun with the mountains in the background.
Just southeast of the Pyramid of the Sun and near Gate 5, is the park’s museum. It’s free with your entry ticket, but you’ll need to leave your water bottles outside. It’s worth a visit.
At the south end of the complex is the Temple of the Feathered Serpent, which has some of the most detailed sculptures at the site on its face. You will need to climb up the front then down in between the pyramids to see these. Across from this area, you’ll find the park’s restaurant and bar. It’s convenient and offers a bit of shade.
If you’re a bit more adventurous, you can eat at La Gruta, a cool restaurant in a cave, just outside Puerta (Gate) 5, cross the street and follow Avenida del Puente (on the left if you’re back is to Puerta 5). You should see a black sign on the left for La Gruta as soon as you’re on that little street to the left. Follow the little road/path and signs to get there. It’s a very short walk from Puerta 5 to the restaurant. It’s all about the ambiance.
There’s also plenty of spots for a picnic and informal food options at the entrance near the bus stop. You’ll find stands near that entrance for water and other drinks. You’ll also see vendors inside and outside the complex selling souvenirs.
Bathrooms are near entrances only. They don’t always have toilet paper, soap, or running water; so this is where a couple tissues and a tiny hand-sanitizer might come in handy.
Please refer to physical considerations sections for some important safety concerns. Hydration, sun protection, and sturdy footwear are critical for your safety.
Travel Safety
Mexico is the largest city in North America by population. Like most big cities, we want to take common-sense safety precautions while traveling. While we will be doing plenty of exploring together, we ask that any exploring outside our group excursions be done in groups of 3 or more and that you always let someone else know where you plan to go or text your location. It's best to have someone who is comfortable speaking Spanish in your group. Female travelers especially should not travel alone.
While neighborhoods like Roma Norte/Sur, Condesa, Centro Historico (where we are staying), Zona Rosa, Juarez, Escandón, San Rafael, Coyoacan, and Polanco are considered "safe," you'll need to watch out for scams and think about how you are storing your cash and credit cards. A fanny pack can look trendy, but it can be an easy target for a pick-pocket in a crowded area. Even storing your phone or wallet in your back pocket might not be a good idea. You might want to consider a hidden travel belt to store your essentials. Some scams to watch out for in any city are people spilling something on you or causing a commotion while another person grabs your wallet, cashier's giving you less change back than you should receive, someone offering you something for free, taxi's charging tourists more (stick with Uber), or ATM machines that steal your credit card info (stick to cash machines at banks!) Tepito (10 blocks north of our hotel), Ciudad Neza, Iztapalapa, and Doctores (between Roma Norte and Centro Historico) are considered higher crime areas.
In general, stay alert to what is happening around you, leave valuables in your safe, know where you are and how to get where you're going, use extra caution at night, and try to learn some basic Spanish before we leave.
The hospital closest to our hotel is Hospital General Gregorio Salas Flores. For the police, dial 911. For an ambulance, dial 066. For the tourist assistance hotline call 800 008 9090.
COVID Considerations
There are some important things to be aware of and plan for related to COVID-19. First, it is likely that someone on our plane will have covid and likely that someone in our group will get COVID on the flight if we do not follow safety precautions. All students should plan to test for COVID the day before we leave. You should not come on this trip if you have COVID or show symptoms such as fever. Not only does it put you in a potentially difficult situation, but you may put others in danger. It's one thing to have COVID while you are in your own home, but quite another to have COVID in another country, especially when you don't speak the language or know the area.
We suggest talking to your health professional about the possibility of a booster shot at least 2 weeks before our departure. We would also suggest wearing a mask in public places and following proper hand washing protocol for the two weeks leading up to the trip to minimize the chances of getting sick (and getting others sick). In the airport and on the plane, plan to properly wear a KN-95 mask, change the mask every 4 hours, and consider bringing disinfectant spray/wipes to wipe down your buckle, and seat tray. We would like to keep the whole group as safe as possible. You may want to bring a covid test or two with you to have on the trip as well.
If you become ill with COVID on the trip, you will be required to quarantine in your room for 5 days. If this happens on Day 5 of our 7 day trip, you will need to pay for a hotel room for those additional days, while the rest of us head home. You will also be responsible for arranging food and healthcare for yourself during this time and potentially pay the cost of changing your ticket back to the US. This idea is beyond unpleasant for all of us, so please take precautions for yourself and others.
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