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DOCUMENTATION:
All travelers MUST have a valid
passport OR an original birth certificate accompanied by a photo i.d.
Participants will enter Mexico on a tourist visa. Forms are passed out on the
plane to be filled out and handed in at immigration. The visa
is a small piece of paper that should be kept with one's passport. It
cannot be lost during one's stay in Mexico as it is required and collected at
the airport at the time of exit from the country.
It is a good idea to keep a
photocopy of one's passport on file at home and with the traveler in case of
loss or theft.
All individuals under 18 years of
age not traveling with BOTH parents to Mexico, are required to have a
notarized letter signed by both parents indicating that their child has
permission to go with one parent or with no parents. The
state department states that a minor traveling to Mexico alone or with only
one parent should have evidence of the relationship and permission of the
parents or legal guardians not present for the child’s travel. Having such
documentation on hand will facilitate entry and departure.
If a child’s last name is different from that of his/her parents, the
student should also have the birth certificate or official documents
confirming the parent-child relationship (i.e. birth certificate or adoption
papers).
FORMS
Health History and Medical
Release Form: All participants must have a signed health history
and medical release on file in case of hospitalization or emergency treatment.
Participants should consult with personal medical insurance policies to ensure
that students are covered while traveling in Mexico.
PACKING
San Miguel has an informal
atmosphere. The less clothing packed, the better! All clothing and
items should fit into one bag (duffel or suitcase). Laundry can be done as
needed at local laundromats, so pack lightly. Please note that travelers may want to pack an
extra empty bag or leave ample space in one bag in order to take home
souvenirs. Shipping from Mexico to the U.S. is costly and unreliable at
times.
Weather: March is the
spring in San Miguel. Be prepared for cool-to-cold evenings and
nights and pleasantly warm-to-hot days. Temperatures can be erratic during this
month, so wear layers. We do NOT expect rain to fall.
| 2-3 pairs of pants |
1 hat |
| 5-6 shirts |
suntan lotion |
| 2 sweaters / sweat shirts |
sunglasses |
| light-medium heavy jacket |
personal items (soap,
toothpaste, toothbrush,
hair brush, shampoo, deodorant, etc...) |
| 1 bathing suit |
| 1-2 nicer outfits for evenings out |
backpack for day use |
| 1 pair of pajamas |
Spanish-English dictionary |
| 7-10 sets of underwear & socks |
Notebook, pen |
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| Optional Extras |
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| Camera, Film |
Walkman/Diskman |
| Journal |
Medication/Vitamins |
| Books |
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MONEY:
The peso has been varying from 10.8 to 11.3 pesos per
U.S. dollar. In the last month or two it's been in the 11.1 range.
There are Casas de Cambio all over San Miguel for changing dollars or
traveler's checks into pesos. There are also bank machines for
extracting money from debit, bank or credit cards. Check with your banking
institutions for exchange fees or machine fees.
The dollar does go further in Mexico than in the
United States. However, visitors often become overwhelmed with the urge
to SHOP while here.
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