Most flights into Oaxaca airport come from Mexico City. Currently, there are
fourteen daily flights to Oaxaca from Mexico City, on Aeroméxico (flights
AM3111, AM501, AM3223, AM3225, AM505), Mexicana de Aviación (flights
MX111, MX1511, MX217, MX223, MX1173, MX225, MX 1505), Aviacsa (flight 6A241)
and Líneas Aéreas Azteca (flight ZE401), and all flights from
the USA require changing planes in Mexico City (except for Mexicana flight MX111
from Los Angeles). Also Continental Airlines flies non-stop from Houston to
Oaxaca (flight CO2094). Two
Mexican airlines will give a discount on tickets booked through the airline
or its official agents, provided you furnish the meeting booking code:
Mexicana : 15% on national and international flights of category C, Y, B or M from anywhere to Oaxaca, 8-20 June. Covers registrant, spouse and 12-21-yr-old children. Booking code: SU0602N11.
Aeromexico : 10% on national and international flights of category J, Y, B or M from anywhere to Oaxaca, 9-23 June. Booking code: YDC-10HW-01704.
Facilities for persons with disabilities are scarce in the airport, but the whole terminal building is at ground floor level, so there is no need to use staircases, and there are ramps for leaving the terminal building and reaching the car park. Special arrangements for boarding and deboarding from the plane should be made with the airline. For more information on Oaxaca airport and facilities, consult: http://www.oaxacainfo.gob.mx/medios.html and http://www.tomzap.com/OAXairport.html
It takes about 5 hours to drive from Mexico City to Oaxaca, mostly on fast autopistas where tolls are charged.
It's a 12-kilometer, 20-minute drive. You can buy tickets at three booths (look out for “TAXIS” signs) in the airport, before you emerge from its doors, for both regular "taxis" and "colectivos". That is safer and less likely to be exhorbitant than standing on the sidewalk outside the airport doors and getting into any old waiting taxi. Like American shuttles, colectivos carry several passengers along a standard route, but they are not recommended because they follow an unattractive and circuitous route; the cost for colectivo transport to any of the conference hotels is 60 pesos per person. Taxis can carry up to three passengers to the conference hotels, for 200 pesos per taxi (e.g., 67 pesos per capita for three people), and are recommended.
Ask for a taxi in your hotel reception on the day of departure. They charge only 100 pesos to carry up to three passengers to the airport. Radio-linked taxis will converge on the hotels on the day we all depart.
If you don't already have any pesos, you should be able to get them by using your regular bank debit card in the cash machines inside the Oaxaca Airport: Banamex and Citibank.
Tours
Options for local tours are available in “Tourismo el Convento”,
in the Misión de los Angeles compound, and information on tours is also
available in the hotel lobby
Canadian citizens do not require a visa to enter Mexico.
U.S citizens can enter Mexico with an "Affidavit of Citizenship". This can be obtained with a driver's license at a U.S. international airport for $5, or potentially, from any notary public who has the form (I can post the form on the web). Do this in advance or allow extra time - it takes 5 minutes if there's no line. The affidavit is easier to carry and not as big a nuisance to replace if it's lost or stolen. Upon your return to the US, the customs guys will make a frowny face and suggest you get a passport, but that's it. You can even carry two of them for the price of a 2nd notary seal. A passport is probably required for children who don't have government issued photo IDs. You usually don't need to carry your passport in Mexico, so if you bring a passport you may want to leave it in the hotel .
Citizens of other countries do require a visa, including many countries in Latin America. You should contact the Mexican embassy well in advance to inquire regarding this issue.
Mexican Embassy in the US (Web page information on Visas is not habilitated, you must call)
http://www.sre.gob.mx/delegaciones/embajadas/eua.htm
http://www.sre.gob.mx/eua/English/Defaulte.htm
Mexican Embassy in Canada
http://www.embamexcan.com/CONSULAR/VisaInfo.shtml
http://www.sre.gob.mx/delegaciones/embajadas/can.htm
To obtain the address of Mexican embassies in other countries go to
http://www.sre.gob.mx/delegaciones/dire.htm
You must also notice that if you are not a US or Canadian citizen or legal resident, and your flight into Mexico includes a stop or a connection in US territory, you need a US visa .
Travel tips from Phil Stoddard and others
Mexican hotel rooms often have only a single 2-prong electrical outlet in some odd location, such as behind the TV. The conference rooms are no better supplied. You'll need an extension cord (2-prong) if you want to use your laptop computer while it's on the charger. I'd suggest you bring two 12' cords, and people sharing a room should bring a splitter. The quality of electricity in Mexico is highly variable, you may want to bring a surge protector for your laptop or other appliances .
Sandals (or sneakers) are fine for activity in Oaxaca and most archaeological sites. Consider nicer shoes (or dress sandals) for the banquet at the Camino Real. Hiking boots would be useful for nature excursions, especially if you get into the steep and slippery cloud forests in Veracruz or Chiapas. It got cold at night in Oaxaca in November (~45° f), but should be warmer in June. Even so, be sure to bring warm sweatshirt or light jacket for evening outings. Nights are cooler at high altitudes. A hat is good for outings, sunglasses are a must, and sunscreen is recommended for the fair skinned (remember the altitude).
Bring an empty duffel bag so you will have room to carry beautiful and inexpensive handcrafts back home in your suitcase.
It's easy to have your laundry done at Mision de los Angeles - just leave outside your room in the designated plastic bag by 7 am, and it will be returned clean by evening. The cost is reasonable, so feel free to pack light.
Money changers (Casas de Cambio) abound at the Mexico City airport - exchange rates vary 2%. Best exchange rate in Nov 2003 was 11.07 pesos to the U.S. dollar. If you like to travel light, bring enough U.S. money to exchange at airport to get where you're going, then use cash machine after that (one is near the conference hotels). Cash machines at the airport are fair but don't give the very best rate. You can pay for many things in U.S. dollars but you'll get less than market rate on the exchange. Many cash machines in Mexico have the option of dialog in English. As elsewhere, be careful when you use them, do not accept help from strangers and don't use one at night in an empty place if you are by yourself.
One can get to Oaxaca by taking a bus direct from Mexico City Airport to Puebla, and a 2nd bus to Oaxaca. The drive from Puebla to Oaxaca passes through spectacular terrain including montane cactus forest. The bus to Puebla, Estrella Roja, departs every half hour outside door 8. Ticket costs $130 (about $13 US). 4 or 5 buses go from Puebla to Oaxaca daily – You can check prices and schedules for this or any route in SE Mexico at www.ticketbus.com.mx
Oaxaca and Puebla are safe, but Mexico City is very dangerous. If you want to leave the airport at Mexico City contact Rogelio's advice ( rogelio@ecologia.edu.mx ) before you go. To avoid being robbed or kidnapped do NOT take a taxi unless from an officially designated cab stop or a referred driver. Likewise, do not take a city bus unless you are willing to be robbed. When in Latin American cities, I carry a 2nd wallet with some local currency and a few useless cards. My main wallet stays in a pants pocket that I don't reach for reflexively.
If you want to rent a car to facilitate your explorations, we'd suggest reserving one in Oaxaca (Budget or Hertz). Driving inside the city of Oaxaca is more intense than in Miami, but not unreasonable as Latin American cities go (i.e., kind of like Seattle's U-district at rush hour). Before driving anywhere in Mexico, whether in the city or the remote countryside, you must learn the word "Tope" which is Spanish for "Slam on your brakes because we have placed a large speed bump here in the middle of nowhere". If a passenger in your car shouts "Tope! Tope! Tope!" that means you are about to hit one of these concrete obstructions at high speed, which, unheeded, will wreck your car and possibly compress your spine by 10 cm. Nowadays topes are mostly signed as “Reductor de Velocidad”.
Mexican toll highways ( autopistas ) are highly recommended for travel either by bus or with a rented automobile, but unfortunately they only connect major cities and other autopistas. Usually four-lane, and with adequate shoulders, they are a lot quicker and in better condition than the alternative free roads (carreteras federales). Even so, autopista that traverses the Tehuacan desert to Oaxaca is sometimes partially obstructed by rockfalls. Most carreteras federales are quite narrow, with only two lanes (one in each direction) and often no shoulder. Unlit vehicles, rocks, pedestrians and animals on the roads are common on carreteras federales, even during the day. Driving on carreteras federales at night is especially dangerous, when pedestrians and unlit bicycles can take you by surprise.
The Mexican tourism ministry, SECTUR, maintains a network of Ángeles Verdes (Green Angels): bilingual mechanics in green uniforms and green trucks who patrol major stretches of highway daily during daylight hours looking for motorists in trouble. They make minor repairs, replace small parts, provide fuel and oil, and arrange towing and other assistance by radio if necessary. Service is free; parts, gasoline and oil are provided at cost.
Tap water is unsafe to drink but bottled water is provided in every hotel room - also use it to brush teeth and to rinse fruit, toothbrush, contact lenses, etc.
Don't eat raw leafy greens except at the fanciest restaurants that purchase hydroponic lettuce grown on filtered water. Anything raw should be peeled, or washed then rinsed off with bottled water. I usually get some G.I. bug on trips to Latin America but had no problems this trip (maybe I've had all the common ones already, but I like to think that my caution paid off). American travelers often carry Imodium to stop diarrhea. Imodium can cause you serious harm by delaying the exit of harmful and pathogenic microbes from your intestine. If you get Montezuma's revenge, doctors advise you not to use this stuff unless you have to be on the plane or bus home. It's usually wiser to stay near a toilet with a good book and drink soup & juice to stay hydrated (electrolytes are critical and a little sugar increases fluid absorption).
Every restaurant serves excellent limeade ("limonada preparada") made with sparkling water ("agua mineral"), lime juice, and a little sugar. Avoid "limonada natural" which, lacking bubbles, may be made with unsafe tap water. For the same reason, order all drinks without ice ("sin hielo").
Good eats at Mexico City Airport: I can recommend "Teriyaki San", upstairs in main concourse between E and F at the far end of the row of eateries. Their "Teriyaki Soba con vegetales" is cheap and delicious. The wait is about 5 minutes. For a more formal (but not fancy) restaurant look for “Wings” at the south end of the terminal near domestic arrivals, or near Gate B.
Malaria
Given the high elevation, urban development and dry climate of Oaxaca city,
the risk of contracting malaria there is minimal or absent. The risk increases
as you enter the tropical lowlands of the State (and other states), particularly
in rural areas. Information on malaria in Mexico and its treatment can be consulted
in:
http://www.mdtravelhealth.com/destinations/mamerica_carib/mexico.html
The centrally located swimming pool at Mision de los Angeles has no fence, no lifeguard, and little chlorine. It has a big, very shallow area that would be good for small kids with attentive parents. Pool water, like tap water, should stay out of the mouth. The small playground is lovely but some parental attention is in order as the swing's massive hardwood plank could take out a small child. Nobody sues in Mexico, so nobody worries about liability. Exercise common sense and there should be no problems. Oh, one thing you might not expect: lots of candy for kids contains hot chili pepper flakes.
Should be warm in June (average high 83 ° F, average low 60 ° F, mean 72 ° F), with some chance of short rains or thunderstorms (average precipitation in June 6.7 in). If you want to check local weather before you take off you can go to the Weather Channel web page ( www.weather.com/outlook/travel/local/MXOA0069?from=search_10day ) and get Oaxaca's weather, or go to the Mexican National Weather office web page at http://smn.cna.gob.mx/smmpt/estadosrm/ciudades/oaxaca.html
Beaches
Looking at the map, it seems like a short drive between Oaxaca City and the coast. But be warned, the roads through the Oaxaca mountains are narrow, tortuous and undivided, so it may take twice as long to get there as you expect. Nevertheless, there are beautiful views as you traverse the mountains and the Oaxacan beaches are a treat.
Phil Stoddard's generic packing list
passport (or affidavit of citizenship)
bank card
cash
2nd wallet for pesos
book to read
notebook
pens (3)
business cards
fuzz shirt or sweatshirt
umbrella
rain suit
Tevas - plastic for rain
shoes for banquet
hiking shoes
socks
t shirts
button-down shirts, short (2)
button-down shirts, long (2)
jeans (1)
nice pants (1)
shorts (1 or 2)
underwear
swim suit
sun screen
hat (flattenable)
sweatpants for PJs (got cool)
toothbrush
dental floss
toothpaste
deodorant
hairbrush
razor
shampoo (hotel provides this too)
any medicines you need
binoculars
computer
computer charger
two 2-prong 12' extension cords
(maybe a splitter too)
talk files on CD & on 100 MB PC zip disk
digital camera, battery & charger, download cable
daypack
empty duffle bag
Mexican bird book
Spanish-English dictionary
Mexico travel guide book
insect repellant (optional but useful if you make to Chiapas or cloud forest around Veracruz)