MexArt

Weather Alert: It is chilly. You'll want long sleeves and fleece, especially in the mornings and nights. It takes a while to warm up. There's no heat inside, so be prepared to bundle up inside too. Warms up to 70-75 in the middle of the day.

Burro

Botanical Gardens

San Miguel de Allende Chorro
Chorro

Horseback Riding

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. Students traveling or staying in Mexico after the duration of the Rollins-MexArt trip should be aware of the number of days on their visitor's visa. Upon entrance to Mexico, a visitor can request up to 180 days on his/her visa. 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.

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: December is the coldest month in San Miguel. Be prepared for cool-to-cold evenings and nights and pleasantly warm days. Temperatures can be erratic during this month, so wear layers. We do NOT expect rain to fall, although some days could be gray.

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

Optional Extras
Camera, Film	Walkman/Diskman
Journal	Medication/Vitamins
Books

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. Meals range in price from $2 to $15, but for budget minded travelers, a decent meal can definitely be had for $3.50 to $5.