GETTING THERE
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Getting to Tepoztlán |
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Visitors from the US If you are coming from the US, you will need a current passport to return. Passport forms and information are available on the US Department of State website. Two important travel tips if you are coming from the US and do not have a direct flight on your return from Mexico City: first, make sure you have a long layover (~2 hours), since you will go through immigration, collect your checked bags, go through customs, recheck them, and go through airport security screening with your carryon luggage again, all during that layover. Second, if you buy anything that you can not normally carry onto a US flight at duty free (say, an over 3 oz bottle of liquid), you will have to put it in your checked bags during this process, or it will be confiscated when you are re-screened. If you are flying The closest international airport is the Mexico City International Airport - Benito Juárez (MEX). Aeroméxico, Méxicana, Delta, United, American Airlines, Continental, and other airlines fly into MEX. It is highly recommended that you arrive at MEX in the early afternoon on Friday February 15th, at the latest, since we would like you to avoid the inconveniences of arriving in a big city at a late hour, and attempting to embark on a highway journey late in the evening. The airport has a hotel, restaurants, money exchange services, and bank machines. Transport from the Airport The airport has two terminals: terminal 2 is brand new. At the moment, only Delta and Aeromar are arriving at terminal 2, but by the time of the party, other airlines (including Continental and Aeroméxico) are slated to fly into terminal 2. If the roof and exterior walls look like swiss cheese, you're in terminal 2. If you arrive in the evening, you may want to stay in Mexico City your first night. To get to your hotel in the city, you should take an official airport taxi (do not hail one off the street or take one from the roving, nonuniformed drivers caling out "Taxi?"). Taxis can be hired from the bright yellow taxi stand just outside customs in terminal 2. In terminal 1, as you exit customs, look to your left--you may see two taxi stands there ("authorized taxi sito 300" and "authorized taxi portotaxi"). Depending on your country of departure, you may enter the airport at another point--if so, look for exit E2 (likely to your left), where these taxi stands are located. Only cash is accepted - Mexican pesos (MXN) or US dollars (US$1 =~ MXN$10.80). The dispatcher will assign a fixed fare based on your destination (to the city center, ~MXN$80; to Polanco, ~MXN$142).
Printable map of Tepoztlán, showing hotel and party sites Getting to the party location The ceremony will be held at a hotel called Casa Bugambilia, in the neighborhood of Valle de Atongo, Tepoztlan, Mexico. There are small signs pointing towards Casa Bugambilia on most of the main streets in town. It is number 007 on Callejón de Tepopula [map]. When you are on Av. Revolución, continue past the cemetery on your left, and turn left just after you go over a low stone-and-brick overpass, at the small cross on your left (the cruz de atongo), onto Camino a Meztitla. Follow this road past the Posada del Valle on your left (#5), and bear right onto Camino a Tecuac (following the signs to Casa Bugambilia). Watch for the sign for Casa Bugambilia soon on your right (valet parking will be available near this entrance). The hotel is near the end of a narrow driveway, a short walk, on the left. The hotel phone is (739) 395-0158.
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![[map]](bugambilia map.jpg){kind=link}
Nota bene
Banks
There is a Banamex in Tepoztlán with an ATM. Most US bank cards can be used there to withdraw pesos.
US cell phones
Your US cell phone may or may not work in Mexico City, depending on the carrier (we find that Verizon works fine, though no text messages, for some reason). If you are dialing on your US cellphone from Mexico, and want to call another US number (even the cell phone of another person with you in Mexico), you may need to dial it as an international call (001-area code-number). The ring tone is more of a beep. Coverage in Tepoztlan is spotty, due to the mountains. Make sure that your carrier covers international calls, or get a prepaid phone card, if you plan on talking a lot.
taxis
In recent years, there has been a spate of taxi related crimes in Mexico City. As a result, foreign tourists are advised to only ride in taxis that are associated with a "Sitio" (meaning 'Taxi Rank') in the capital. It is not a good idea to hail cabs from the street, day or night, especially the ubiquitous green VW beetle taxis. Even though cabs are everywhere, do not hail a roving cab. Instead, use registered hotel cabs or call a radio cab (restaurants, hotels, museums etc can hail a cab from their "sitio" or call a radio cab for you). Get the number of the cab they are sending and wait for that particular cab (check the number). Expensive but relatively safe 24-hour radio taxi service is available at 5516-6020, 5571-9344, and 5571-3600. Taxis in Tepoztlan and the rest of Mexico's provinces are generally regarded as safe to hail off the street, but you will need to speak some Spanish.
altitude
Mexico City is at an altitude of over 7300 feet and the air is thinner than you are probably used to. Light-headedness, mild headaches, breathlessness and tiring easily are common. Drink a lot of water, rest often, and take it easy on the alcohol.
drinking water
In many areas in Mexico, tap water is unsafe to drink. Bottled water and beverages are safe although many restaurants and hotels serve tap water unless bottled water is specifically requested. Keep in mind that ice may also come from tap water.