Travel Information

Below is some important information regarding the meeting agenda, travel and other issues to ensure your safe and smooth travel to Mexico.

1. What to do when you arrive at Guadalajara Airport

Once you exit your flight, please look for our airport greeters. They will be wearing Rivers for Life 3 badges. They will help you board buses to take you to the meeting site at Temacapulin (about 2 hours away). If you have not given us your flight details, please do so immediately.

IMPORTANT: IF YOU DON'T SEE ANYONE WITH A SIGN "RIOS PARA LA VIDA 3/RIVERS FOR LIFE 3" AT INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS, BY THE STARBUCKS, THEN PLEASE CALL ONE OF THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS AND TAKE A TAXI TO THE HOSTAL ROJO.

Contact Numbers:
Carmen- 0443311336296
Mónica- 0443311558122
Yeriel- 0443314618364 
See also the emergency contact numbers in the box below.

Please call one of these numbers BEFORE you take the taxi so we know that you have arrived:

Hostal Rojo:
Address: MORELOS 1561 Colonia Americana, one block of Chapultepec, towards
Downtown

A taxi from the airport to Hostal Rojo should cost around 220 pesos and will take 40 minutes.

Rooms have been booked for Rivers for Life 3 participants on the nights of the 29th and 30th of September.

ARRIVALS ON THE 29TH:
If you are arriving on the 29th please look out for airport greeters. They will help you find the transport to take you to Hostal Rojo. If you do not see anyone with a sign, please call one of the above numbers and take a taxi to the hostal.

BUS LEAVING ON THE 30TH OF SEPTEMBER TO TEMACAPULIN:
The first bus will leave Hostal Rojo at 4pm on September 30th. If you are staying at the Hostal, please make sure to be there in time to catch this bus. The bus will then pick up from the airport at 6.30 PM.

If we do not already know that you are arriving before the 1st of October, it is very important that you let us know as soon as possible. 

 
If something happens and you cannot make your flight, you must call one of the following emergency contacts.

Rocío Zúñiga (9am to 6pm)
IMDEC
Phone: (52) 33- 38104536, (52) 33- 38110944, (then dial "0" for operator - Rocío)
Address: Colonia del Pino 2237 A Fresno. Guadalajara, Jalisco

Humberto Castorena
IMDEC
Mobile: (52) 1- 3314247452 (if outside Guadalajara)
044 3314247452 (if in Guadalajara)
Guadalajara, Jalisco

If you have problems with immigration while you are in Mexico City, please contact:

Blanca Hernandez, Claudia and Silvia Emanuelli
(From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
Organization: HIC-AL
Phone: (55) 55 12 67 26, (55) 55 12 15 86
Address: Calle Tacuba 53, 1st floor, Col. Centro, 06000 Mexico D

Tourist visa fees: You will need to pay a fee of 262 pesos (about $21 dollars) to enter as a tourist. Some airline tickets include this fee already. If not, you will receive a ticket when you enter Mexico. You will have to pay this fee at the bank at the airport before your departure. Please keep your receipt. You will need this receipt for reimbursement from the group sponsoring your travel. You will also need this receipt when you exit Mexico, to avoid paying again.

To complete your customs forms, you can use the following information and contacts.

María González Valencia
Address: 2237 A. Pino Colonia El Fresno. Postal Code 44 900. Guadalajara, Jalisco
Organization: Mexican Institute for Community Development (IMDEC)
Phone: 33 38104536 / 3811 0944
Mobile: 33 11967866

Claudia Gomez Godoy
Address: Madero 710. American Colony. Postal Code 44 160. Guadalajara, Jalisco
Organization: Colectivo COA A.C.
Phone: (52) 33-38254903
Mobile: (52) 33-12808211

If the Mexican customs officer requires you to submit a letter of invitation, please say that you have been invited by the Mexican Institute for Community Development to an international event organized by the University of Guadalajara and Exhibition of Water, Rivers and People, in Guadalajara. Participants from Latin America, please be sure to bring your invitation letter with you.

2. Important note for participants traveling via USA

Restrictions for carry-on luggage
If you are traveling via the USA, it is easiest if you pack all toiletry items in your checked luggage. If you plan to put toiletry items in your carry-on luggage, here are the restrictions.

All liquids, gels and aerosols must be in 3.4 ounce (100ml) or smaller containers. Larger containers that are half-full or toothpaste tubes rolled up are not allowed. Each container must be 3.4 ounces or smaller.

All liquids, gels and aerosols must be placed in a single, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag. Gallon size bags or bags that are not zip-top such as fold-over sandwich bags are not allowed. Each traveler can use only one, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag.

Entry permit for USA (I-94)
When you enter the USA, you will be issued an entry permit called I-94. This is normally stapled to the passport. The airlines typically take this form when you leave the USA. However, since you are traveling to Mexico for a short trip (less than 30 days), you can keep your I-94 form. If you are planning to return home via the USA, you should make sure the airline does not take your I-94 form when you fly to Mexico. You will be readmitted to the USA for the balance of the time left on your I-94/I-94W form.

Period of stay in USA: When US Immigration authorities ask how many days you will stay in the US, please tell them the total number of days from the date of entry to the USA on the way to Mexico up until the final date of departure from the USA on your return trip. The validity of your I-94 form will depend on this information.

Participants from countries that are part of the USA Visa waiver program
If you are a citizen of one of the following countries and are traveling to Mexico via the United States, you must apply online for travel authorization (I-94W) to the USA before your trip starts. Please complete the online application. This authorization became mandatory in January 2009.

Visa Waiver Program countries: Andorra, France, Luxembourg, Singapore, Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Monaco, Slovenia, Estonia, Australia, Iceland, Netherlands, Spain, Hungary, Belgium, Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden, Latvia, Brunei, Italy, Norway, Switzerland, Lithuania, Denmark, Japan, Portugal, United Kingdom, Slovakia, Finland, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Republic of Malta, South Korea, Greece

3. What to bring

The people of Temacapulin have graciously offered to house meeting participants in their homes. All participants will sleep in beds or on mattresses on the floor. A blanket will be provided. We will try as best we can to house people from the same country or region together.

You will need to bring the following items with you.

Personal items

  • Sheet or sarong to cover mattress
  • Extra blanket or sleeping bag if you tend to get cold at night
  • Towel
  • Toiletries: Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, etc.
  • Sunscreen
  • Insect repellent
  • Any special packaged foods and medicines
  • Clothing and shoes suitable for weather that may be cold at night and possibly rainy (see below)
  • Umbrella
  • Rain jacket
  • Swimsuit (optional – there are hot springs in the town)
  • Hat
  • Flashlight
  • Water bottle (you will receive one drinking water container at registration)
  • Paper and pen/pencil
  • Alarm clock and/or watch, if possible
  • Packaged food, drinks, music or anything typical of your home or region to share.
  • Memory stick with your presentation saved on it in PC format, please. No laptops will be necessary for presentations.

Campaign & other items

  • Banners and flags from your movement or country
  • Leaflets / brochures, videos and publications for the Fair.
  • Books. You can exchange books with other participants. These can include books about literature, history politics, or even picture books. These can be exchanged or donated to the planned library for Temacapulin.
  • An offering for a ceremony to honor our colleagues and friends who have died.
  • Music to play if you wish to perform during the open microphone cultural event.
  • A video of your struggle. There will be a video screening room that will show videos each day from October 2-6. If you would like to send a video, please email Ana Rivero at ilan.ana@hotmail.com, with the following information: name of the video, country, time/duration, language, subtitles, and a brief summary (less than 90 words).

There will be a video screening room that will show videos each day from October 2-6. If you would like to send a video, please email Ana Rivero at ilan.ana@hotmail.com, with the following information: name of the video, country, time/duration, language, subtitles, and a brief summary (less than 90 words).

4. Other useful travel-related information

Clothing
Temacapulín is located 1680 meters (5500 feet) above sea level. In October, temperatures typically range in the 60s-70s°F (17-24°C) during the day and 50s°F (12-15°C) at night. Be sure to bring long pants, a sweater and a jacket. Average rainfall in October is about 2 inches (50mm). We recommend that you bring a jacket. There is a chance that it may rain during the meeting, so please make sure to bring suitable clothing and footwear.

Food
We will provide three meals a day for all registered participants. A typical meal could consist of tortillas (flat bread made of corn), beans and enchiladas (tortillas rolled and filled with cheese, meat or vegetables). We will provide several types of food: regular, vegetarian and meals without pork. We will provide refreshments like coffee and water. If you have special tea or coffee needs, please bring your own.

If you have serious food allergies, please write to: logistica@riosparalavida3.org

Gifts for your hosts in Temaca
Since we will be staying in people’s homes in Temaca, we encourage you to bring a small gift to show your appreciation. This could be a package of a special food from your country or a t-shirt or banner from your campaign.

Travel vaccinations
Some vaccinations are recommended by the US Center for Disease Control for travel to Mexico. You can visit this website for more information.

Currency
The currency in Mexico is the peso. We recommend that you convert money into pesos at airports or border crossings. The typical exchange rate for the US dollar to Mexican pesos is about 13 pesos, and about 18 pesos for one euro.

Security
Rivers for Life 3 will be held in the western state of Jalisco. This state has not experienced high levels of crime like that near the US-Mexico border region, which continues to be plagued by high levels of violent drug-related crime. The Government of Mexico has deployed military troops to various parts of the country to control the violence.

We encourage participants to use common sense when traveling to ensure your safety. Keep your money and valuables with you. Beware of your surroundings to avoid having your wallet or purse taken.

5. Resources in Temacapulin

Phone/internet
There is no cell phone access from Temacapulin. Internet access is limited and will be reserved for urgent personal communication. There are a few phones available in the town. You will be responsible for the costs of your own phone calls.

To call landlines in Guadalajara, dial: 52 + 33 + telephone # (8 digits)
To call a cell phone, dial: 52 + 1 + # cell (10 digits)

Voltage
Mexico's electrical system uses a 127-volt, 60-Hz electrical system (similar to the US), which accepts two- or three-pronged plugs. Bring a plug adapter and a voltage transformer to run appliances and cell-phone chargers not manufactured in North America or that do not have an optional voltage switch.

Medical facilities
Access to medical care in Temacapulín is limited. The municipality will provide an ambulance for the meeting. There will be homeopathy and herbal medicine available. A medical clinic is located a half hour drive from Temacapulín. Large hospitals are located two hours away by car. If you have a special medical condition, please be sure to email logistica@riosparalavida3.org. Participants are responsible for their own medical expenses.

Document Distribution
If you wish to distribute documents to participants, please bring multiple copies with you. We will have a limited photocopy service but we will not be able to copy everybody’s documents, so please come prepared with multiple copies.

Media
We are organizing media coverage of Rivers for Life 3. We hope that many of you will participate in interviews. If you cannot be interviewed or appear in photographs for security reasons, please email riversforlife3@internationalrivers.org.

Courtesy
This meeting will be attended by people from a diverse variety of cultures, beliefs and traditions. We encourage you to come with an open mind, respect and tolerance.