Tour Guides

What are the Conference official languages?
The official languages are: English, French and Spanish.

Which hotels are closer to the Conference’ venue?
The list of hotels with which a preferential price was negotiated for the participants to the Conference, the distance to the two official venues of the program and a map for greater ease of location, can be consulted here: Lodging

Language
Mexico’s official language is Spanish. In most hotels and touristic services, the staff speaks English.

Visa for Mexico
If you’re travelling to Mexico for pleasure, business or for any other non-remunerated activity, for a period not exceeding 180 days, you must ask for a Visitor Visa, with no authorization to work to any Mexican embassy. If you have a passport issued in any of these countries, you don’t need a visa.

Safety recommendations
You shouldn’t have any problem in Mexico City if you comply with these suggestions:

  • Avoid ostentation: do not wear jewelry or showy accessories when going outside.
  • Always be watchful with your wallet, especially in crowded and touristic places.
  • Keep all your important documents and valuable items in the safe box of your hotel.
  • Carry with you just enough money for daily expenses along with a credit card. You can withdraw any extra money in any ATM.
  • Bring ID with you or a paper copy of it.
  • Avoid dark and isolated places.
  • Use, preferably, UBER or registered taxis (white ones).
  • Request a receipt or invoice as a proof of purchase. If you have any problem related with your purchases or the services that you received, the Profeco (Federal Consumer Protection Office) can help you with it. Call 01 800 468 8722 or contact them via email asesoria@profeco.gob.mx.
  • For any claim made from your country, you can send us an email to the travelers department: extranjeros@profeco.gob.mx or call our local (Mexico city) phone: +52 (55) 5211 1723 / 01 800 468 8722.

Public Transportation in Mexico City
The Mexico City’s subway (Metro) is a train based system public transportation. In 2006, it ranked third globally in number of users with an average of 3.9 million passengers per day. The Metro has 12 lines and a service schedule that goes from 5 a.m. to 12 a.m. on working days, on Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m., and on Sundays and holidays from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. The cost of the ticket is of 5 pesos MXN and access is free for seniors (60 years or older), people with disabilities, children of less than 5 years, youth with an INJUVE ID and police. Check the Metro’s map here.

The Metrobus is a public transport system, based on high capacity buses with modern technology, which allows users to move from one point of the city to another in a fast and safe way, thanks to its high quality infrastructure, its automated payment system, and the quick and continual frequency of their rides. It is a Bus Rapid Transit that combines stations, vehicles, services and high technology into a full system of 190 stations, 17 terminals and 9 yards. The price for the ticket is 6 MXN and access is free for seniors (60 years or older), people with disabilities, and children of less than 5 years. Check the bus routes and schedules here.

Voltage
Voltage in Mexico is of 110V to 60Hz. Plugs are flat and they can be either type A or type B plugs just like the ones in the USA. We recommend you bring an adapter with you as they are not always available in hotels.

Measuring systems
Mexico uses the metric system for distances (km), and degrees Celsius (ºC) for temperature.

Weather
There is a mild climate during winter, and dry and hot during April and May. The rain season starts on May and ends close to October; and it works like this: sunny mornings, followed by cloudy afternoons with rain. Early mornings and nights can be chilly, especially in winter, and the average temperature is 16°C. Check Mexico City’s weather here.Schedules
Normally, public and private offices and stores are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Monday to Friday; occasionally, they have a one-hour lunch break between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Malls open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. from Monday to Saturday and many of them on Sundays too. Banks are open from Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tipping
In Mexico, is very common for people to tip for 10% of the check or 15%, if the service was exceptionally good, in restaurants, cafés and bars; however, in some establishments the tip is already included in the check, so it is recommended to always look through your check carefully. Likewise, people often tip gas station attendants, bellboys and other service providers. No tipping is considered rude.

Phone calls
Check the roaming charges for your cellphone with your service provider. It is recommended to buy a phone card available in convenience stores, newsstands, hotels, travel agencies and airports. To make a phone call, please, follow these steps:

Long distance calls:
To call in Mexico: 01 + area code + phone number.

To call a local cellphone from a landline phone: 044 + area code+ phone number.

To call a cellphone of other state of Mexico from a landline phone: 045 + area code + phone number.

To call to USA or Canada: 001 + area code + phone number.

To call abroad: 00 + country code + city code + phone number.

For a long-distance, operator-assisted call: In Mexico, dial 020; from a foreign phone, dial 090.

For local information (bilingual) dial 040.

Hoy no circula
If you come with your car or rent one, please, inform yourself about the days on which you can drive your cardepending on your car’s license plate.