Wikimania 2015 bids/Mexico City/Mexico City
Mexico City (Spanish: México, Ciudad de México, or D.F. (pronounced deh eh-feh)) is the capital city of Mexico, and the largest city in North America. Mexico is one of the most visited countries in the world and its capital is a popular destination for tourism and business alike. Mexico City has more than ten centuries of history and has a unique and plentiful variety of experiences. The inhabitants of the city are called defeños or chilangos and are friendly and hospitable to the tourist.
The Greater Mexico City metropolitan area is one of the world's largest and the largest city in North America, with an estimated 20 million people living in the region. It is shaped roughly like an oval of about 60 km by 40 km, built on the dry bed of Lake Texcoco, and surrounded on three sides by tall mountains and volcanoes such as the Ajusco, the Popocatepetl and the Ixtaccihuatl. Mexico City proper (with an estimated population of between 8 to 9 million) is in the Federal District (Spanish: Distrito Federal or D.F.), a federally-administered area (that is, not part of any Mexican state) which acts as the capital of Mexico. The rest of the metropolitan area extends beyond it into Mexico State, which surrounds D.F. on three sides. Legally and practically speaking, Mexico City is the same as the Federal District, much in the same way the city of Washington is the same as the District of Columbia in the United States' capital city. The Federal District is where most tourists will spend the majority of their time when visiting the city.
In addition, Mexico City is one of the most liberal cities in Latin America, and was the first jurisdiction in the region to legalize same-sex marriage (in December 2009). Is a gay friendly city and there are options from the local tourism secretariat for gay-tourism. Abortion on demand is also legal, as well as some forms of euthanasia and prostitution (the latter allowed only in designated districts). Legalized marijuana consumption, for example, is still under discussion in the local congress.
Quick Facts
[edit]- Area: 1,485 km2 (573 sq mi)
- Elevation: 2,250 m (7,380 ft)
- Population (city proper): 8.84 million
- Population (Greater Mexico City): 21 million
- Motto: “La ciudad de los Palacios” (City of Palaces)
Weather
[edit]Mexico City has a subtropical highland climate (Köppen climate classification Cwb), due to its tropical location and high elevation. It has a warm feeling, and the temperature is never too extreme. Maybe at the month of the meeting, we will have light rains in the afternoon.
- Climate: Subtropical highland (Köppen climate classification)
- Spring: March through May,. Average range 10–26°C (50–79 °F), beginning of the rain season
- Summer: June through August. Average range 12–23°C (54–73°F). Rain season
- Fall: September through November. Average range 10–20°C (50–68°F), the rain season ends
- Winter: December through February. Average range 5–18°C (41–64 °F).
Main attractions
[edit]
Mexico City is a huge city and there are many areas to visit, enough to keep anyone busy for years. Mexico has the largest number of UNESCO designated World Heritage Sites of any country in the Americas and is sixth in the world. Our city has three areas protected by UNESCO. Downtown Mexico City has been an urban area since the pre-Columbian 12th century, and the city is filled with historical buildings and landmarks from every epoch since then. Mexico City is also known as the City of Palaces, because of the large number of stately buildings, especially in the Centro.
- Plaza de la Constitución, commonly known as Zócalo in the Historic Downtown is one of the largest public squares in the world, surrounded by historic buildings, including the City Hall and the Cathedral.
- La Catedral the biggest in the Americas. Containing many naves, it's principle althar is made from solid gold.
- Ángel de la Independencia or simply known as "El Ángel" is a monument in Reforma Avenue and Florencia Street, near Zona Rosa. This monument celebrates Mexico's independence in 1810.
- Basílica de Guadalupe Catholicism's holiest place in the Americas, and the second most visited destination of pilgrims from all over the world, especially during the yearly celebration on the 12th of December.
- Ciudad Universitaria The main campus of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Located on Insurgentes Sur Avenue, it is one of the world's largest universities, with more than 270,000 students every semester. In 2007 it was declared a UNESCO world heritage place.
- Coyoacán—historic Colonial Arts district which was home to Frida Kahlo, Leon Trotsky, and Diego Rivera, among others.
- Plaza Garibaldi-Mariachi—The square is surrounded by cafes and restaurants much favored by tourists, and in these and in the square itself groups of musicians play folk music. Most of these groups are "mariachis" from Jalisco, dressed in Charro costume and playing trumpets, violins, guitars and the guitarrón or bass guitar.
- Ciudadela crafts market—The Ciudadela is a Mexican crafts market where cultural groups and artisans from all Mexico distribute their crafts to other parts of the country and the world.
- Alameda and Paseo de la Reforma—Paseo de la Reforma ("Reform Avenue") is a 12 km long grand avenue and park in Mexico City. The name commemorates the liberal reforms of Mexican President Benito Juarez.
- Cineteca Nacional (National Film Archive)—It was the first to screen art films, and is known for its forums, retrospectives and homages. It has four screening rooms, a video and a film library, as well as a cafeteria.
- Torre Latinoamericana (Observation Deck hours, 9AM – 10PM) for stunning views of the city. Its central location, height (183 m or 597 ft; 45 stories), and history makes it one of Mexico City's most important landmarks.
- Torre Mayor—It's the new and highest tower in town, and highest skyscraper in Latin America, and good for more impressive views of the city.
Parks
[edit]
Mexico City is full of various plazas and parks scattered through every neighborhood, but the following are some of the biggest, prettiest, most interesting, or best-known:
- Chapultepec Park and Zoo Paseo de la Reforma. Is a large park of 6 km² in the middle of the city which hosts many attractions, including the city zoo and several museums such as the Modern Art Museum, the Museum of Anthropology, the Children's Museum (Museo del Papalote), the Technology Museum, the Natural History Museum and the National Museum also known as Castillo de Chapultepec, the former residence of the Austrian Emperor Maximilian of the Habsburg.
- Xochimilco, a vast system of waterways and flower gardens dating back to Aztec times in the south of the city where tourists can enjoy a trip in the "trajineras" (vividly-colored boats). Trajineras pass each other carrying Mariachi or marimba bands, and floating bars and taquerias. Xochimilco is the last remnant of how Mexico City looked when the Spanish arrived to Mexico City in 1521 and it was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1987.
- Plaza Garibaldi-Mariachi, in Mexico City is surrounded by bars and restaurants that cater to Mariachi Band enthusiasts. It is where bands come to do public auditions outside, on weekend evenings, simply play for pleasure, or for whoever may pay them. A visit to Mexico is not complete until you experience the fantastic Mariachi Bands. You can also find a great "pulqueria" here (a bar that sells pulque, an interesting fermented maguey cactus drink).
- Parque Mexico and Parque España are two adjacent parks in the Colonia Condesa, which used to be part of a race track. Now they are popular for an evening stroll, and sometimes house outdoor exhibitions or concerts, and are surrounded by cool contemporary cafes and bars.
A cultural city
[edit]Named Iberoamerican capital of culture in 2010,[1] Mexico City is the city with the largest number of museums in the world (without taking into account art galleries), with New York being 2nd, London 3rd and Toronto 4th. The city has a very active cultural life and vast architectural heritage ranging from Aztec to Baroque and Neoclassic examples, contemporary buildings designed by worldwide architects like the Luis Barragán House and Studio.
Museums
[edit]
Mexico is the city with the largest number of museums in the world, to name some of the most popular:
- National Museum of Anthropology. One of the best museums worldwide over, it was built in late 1960’s and designed by Pedro Ramírez Vázquez. Notice the huge, impressive fountain in the courtyard. It gathers the best collection of sculptures, jewels and handcrafts from ancient Mexican cultures, and could take many days to see everything. They also have interesting international special exhibits.
- Plaza de las Tres Culturas in Tlatelolco has examples of modern, colonial, and pre-Columbian architecture, all around one square. Just fifteen minutes away from the Wikimania venue.
- Museum of Modern Art. Here you will find paintings from Frida Kahlo, Leonora Carrington and Remedios Varo, as well as a sculpture garden.
- Dolores Olmedo Museum. An art philanthropist left her former home, grand Hacienda La Noria, as a museum featuring the works of her friend Diego Rivera. At least 137 of his works are displayed here, as well as 25 paintings of Frida Kahlo. The premises also feature beautiful gardens full of peacocks and a weird species of Aztec dog.
- Fine Arts Palace Museum (Palacio de Bellas Artes). A concert hall and an arts center, it houses some of Mexico's finest murals and even the Art Deco interior alone is worth seeing.
- Rufino Tamayo Museum. Contains the works of Mexican painter, Rufino Tamayo.
- National History Museum in Chapultepec's Castle. The Museum's nineteen rooms contain, in addition to a collection of pre-Columbian material and reproductions of old manuscripts, a vast range of exhibits illustrating the history of Mexico since the Spanish conquest.
- Papalote, children's Museum. If you've got kids, they'll love it! Bright, colorful, and filled with educational experiences for children of all ages. Features several science hands-on demonstrations.
- Universum (National University's Museum). A science museum maintained by UNAM, the largest university in Latin America. Take some time to wander around the Campus.
- Casa Mural Diego Rivera. Contains murals of acclaimed artist, Diego Rivera.
- National Palace (Zocalo). You can see some impressive Diego Rivera frescoes. You'll need to carry some sort of ID in order to enter the building.
Se habla español
[edit]The language spoken at our city is Spanish, a language shared with many people in the world. The worldwide Spanish-speaking population is growing more and more due to recent fashion mostly in the United States. In the city many people can speak and understand English. Even if someone does not speak English the capital people usually have a good character and are kind, and surely will be ready to help if so requested.
A diverse city
[edit]Mexico City has had a marked spirit of openness for some decades now. It is a city where many foreigners live, and have more legal freedoms than many other cities in the world. Mexico City is home to many internationally renowned artists, which only broadens the already wide and colorful cultural scene. It is officially a LGBT-friendly destination, offering a space in which a lot of people from different backgrounds can live in harmony with each other.
Get in
[edit]
The main entrance to Mexico City will be the Benito Juárez International Airport (IATA:MMX). Located in the east of the city, it is Mexico's busiest airport by both passenger traffic and aircraft movements and is Latin America's second busiest airport by passenger traffic after Guarulhos Airport in São Paulo, Brazil, and the busiest airport by aircraft movements. This airport is served by 30 domestic and international airlines and offers direct flights to more than 100 destinations worldwide. It provides non-stop services from Mexico City to North America, Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Asia and Europe.
One advantage of Mexico City's bid for Wikimania is its high degree of connectivity by plane. Many airlines have a lot of daily flights to Mexico and some direct to the city. The cost of flights from major cities in North America, Europe and South America is very convenient due to the high number of daily flights available.
The Historical Center, where the accommodation and venue will be can be easily reached from the Airport: Metrobús (BRT bus system, 3.5 USD), Metro of Mexico City (0.3 USD) and taxi or taxi cab (15 USD, more or less). It is a safe and busy airport, even late at night. It has restaurants, shops and bookstores. A huge group of bilingual volunteers of Wikimedia México will help our guests reach their hotels and the venue from the airport.
Estimated travel time from airport to Downtown
[edit]The Mexico City International Airport is relatively close to both the Downtown area and the venue (7.5 kilometers). The dense traffic of the city can delay the arrival to the accommodation and activity venues. Wikimedia Mexico will have the help of volunteers who will assist our guests in the airport and explain to them the best and quickest way to get to the event. If we take into account dense traffic, the ETA to Downtown is:
- In Metrobús and subway: 40 to 60 minutes. This is the best option to reach the Downtown.
- In taxi: 30 minutes. This option is more expensive and subject to rush hour traffic
Flight cost to Mexico City
[edit]| Airfare (USD) | Airlines | № of stopovers | Travel time | |
| Amsterdam | $ 1,590 | Air Canada | 2 | 18h49m |
| $ 1,689 | Delta | 1 | 17h20m | |
| Athens | $ 1,524 | Delta | 2 | 23h |
| $ 1,687 | Air Canada | 1 | 18h40m | |
| Budapest | $ 1,201 | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | 1 | 19h40m |
| $ 1,309 | British | 1 | 18h30m | |
| Frankfurt | $ 1,683 | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | 1 | 15h35m |
| $ 1,743 | Delta | 1 | 15h32m | |
| Helsinki | $ 1,683 | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | 1 | 15h35m |
| $ 1,476 | Air Europe | 1 | 16h45m | |
| London | $ 1,489 | Air Canada | 1 | 14h59m |
| $ 1,427 | Avianca | 1 | 17h01m | |
| Madrid | $ 1,768 | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | 1 | 15h25m |
| $ 1,579 | Iberia | 1 | 20h45m | |
| Moscow | $ 1,631 | British | 1 | 21h50m |
| $ 1,583 | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | 1 | 15h30m | |
| Paris | $ 1,632 | Lufthansa | 1 | 16h10m |
| $ 1,613 | Air Canada | 1 | 17h44m | |
| Prague | $ 1,741 | Air Canada | 2 | 18h40m |
| $ 1,850 | Air France | 1 | 15h20m | |
| Rome | $ 1,382 | Air Europe | 1 | 15h50m |
| $ 1,492 | Air France | 1 | 16h | |
| Istanbul | $ 1,507 | Air Canada | 1 | 21h04m |
| $ 1,510 | British | 1 | 18h40m | |
| Stockholm | $ 1,507 | Air Canada | 1 | 21h04m |
| $ 1,529 | United Airlines | 2 | 21h16m | |
| Vienna | $ 1,496 | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | 1 | 16h25m |
| $ 1,548 | Air France | 2 | 18h30m | |
| Cairo | $ 1,507 | Air Canada | 2 | 21h40m |
| $ 1,572 | United Airlines | 2 | 21h16m | |
| Dakar | $ 2,669 | Air France | 2 | 24h34m |
| $ 3,497 | Delta | 2 | 25h40m | |
| Jonhannesburg | $ 1,565 | Delta | 1 | 22h30m |
| $ 1,738 | Air Canada | 2 | 34h04m | |
| Nairobi | $ 2,654 | Air France | 1 | 27h10m |
| $ 2,837 | Lufthansa | 2 | 26h55m | |
| Beijing | $ 1,680 | Delta | 2 | 33h45m |
| $ 1,617 | Delta | 2 | 22h40m | |
| Hong Kong | $ 1,493 | Delta | 2 | 24h24m |
| $ 1,950 | United Airlines | 2 | 22h38m | |
| New Delhi | $ 1,246 | Delta | 2 | 28h52m |
| $ 1,660 | United Airlines | 2 | 24h30m | |
| Seoul | $ 1,719 | Delta | 2 | 20h36 |
| $ 1,772 | Japan Airlines | 2 | 21h30m | |
| Tokyo | $ 1,489 | Delta | 1 | 18h49m |
| $ 1,557 | Korean Air | 2 | 24h43m | |
| Perth | $ 2,204 | Delta | 2 | 37h01m |
| $ 2,513 | Delta | 2 | 28h40m | |
| Sydney | $ 1,522 | United Airlines | 1 | 24h39m |
| $ 2,272 | Delta | 1 | 19h15m | |
| Chicago | $ 534 | United Airlines | 0 | 4h5m |
| $ 622 | Aeroméxico | 0 | 4h26m | |
| Washington | $ 584 | United Airlines | 0 | 4h35m |
| $ 645 | Delta | 1 | 6h42m | |
| Los Angeles | $ 401 | United Airlines | 0 | 3h40m |
| $ 402 | Aeroméxico | 0 | 3h56m | |
| New York | $ 546 | United Airlines | 0 | 5h26m |
| $ 747 | Interjet | 0 | 5h30m | |
| San Francisco | $ 551 | United Airlines | 1 | 6h24m |
| $ 600 | Aeroméxico | 0 | 4h28m | |
| Rio de Janeiro | $ 1,221 | Tam | 1 | 13h29m |
| $ 1,886 | Avianca | 1 | 12h35m | |
| Caracas | $ 1,065 | Avianca | 1 | 9h15m |
| Buenos Aires | $ 1,865 | LAN | 1 | 18h45m |
| $ 1,385 | LAN | 2 | 19h55m | |
| Montevideo | $ 1,204 | LAN | 1 | 14h10m |
| $ 1,058 | TAM | 1 | 20h24m | |
| Santiago | $ 882 | LAN | 1 | 20h55m |
| $ 1,122 | LAN | 1 | 12h55m | |
| Bogotá | $ 766 | Interjet | 0 | 4h35m |
| $ 1,064 | United Airlines | 1 | 8h46m |
Visas
[edit]According to the National Migration Institute, INM, citizens from the following countries or regions must obtain a visa to travel to Mexico for recreation, business or any unpaid activity for no longer than 180 days.
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A foreign who has any of the following documents shall not require Mexican visa:
- A document certifying permanent residence in Canada, USA, Japan, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, or any of the countries of the [Schengen Area];
- Valid visa from the United States of America
- Card APEC Business Traveler (ABTC) approved by Mexico
- Certificates testifying as a crew member of the aircraft that arrives, or book sea, if a member of the crew of the vessel up to the Mexican port in international voyage. If the above by air crew to enroll in a national ship anchored in port, you must present the book sea, document certifying their enrollment, data from the boat and the Mexican port where this is located.
Currency
[edit]The local currency is the Mexican Peso (MXN), issued in coins on 0.50, 1, 2, 5 and 10 pesos. Banknotes are issued in 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000. The exchange rate varies day to day but it averages $14 MXN = $1 USD.
Money exchange businesses can easily be found on the airport, around Downtown and through Paseo de la Reforma, although the exchange can be done in many banks. By law, almost no establishment will accept payments in anything but Mexican Pesos.
Cost of living
[edit]You will really enjoy your stay because the cost of living is really low in Mexico. If you are a long time Wikimaniac we can tell you without a doubt: this Wikimania will be the cheapest for you. Even though it might seem so, the low cost of living doesn't translate to poor quality of life.
| Product | MXN | USD |
|---|---|---|
| One ride on subway/metro | 5.00 | 0.38 |
| A Big Mac | 42.00 | 3.32 |
| A Big Mac combo | 60.00 | 4.74 |
| One Coca-Cola can (355 ml.) | 8.00 | 0.63 |
| Mineral water bottle | 12.00 | 0.9 |
| Corona beer | 15.00 | 1.2 |
| Starbucks Frapuccino Venti | 45.00 | 3.4 |
| Average restaurant meal | 200.00 | 15.70 |
| Affordable three course meal with soup, rice, beans, meat, salad an water (Comida corrida in Spanish). | 40.00 a 50.00 | 3.13 a 3.72 |
| Music CD | 180.00 | 14.21 |
| Gasoline, 1 liter | 9.82 | 0.76 |
All prices are quoted on USD based on an exchange rate obtained in Oanda.com, March 17th, 2013
Safety
[edit]
Several news outlets have reported on drug-related violence throughout Mexico since years ago. In the name of transparency, we must acknowledge the fact that Transnational Criminal Organizations exist and drug-related violence is real. However, it is important to put forward hard data and then get some perspective on it.
Media outlets are more often than not focused on sales and it's no secret that shock stories and hype are major components in deciding which stories are sold and which are not. So we urge our visitors to consider news about violence and crime in Mexico (and Mexico City) with a grain of salt.
The United States Department of State issues travel alerts and warnings to its workers and citizens so they can more carefully gauge risk in tourism and business trips. Mexico, being neighbor to the U.S.A. is constantly updated (at the moment of writing this bid, it was last updated on January 9, 2014). Quoting the opening paragraph to their last report (emphasis added):
- Millions of U.S. citizens safely visit Mexico each year for study, tourism, and business, including more than 150,000 who cross the border every day. The Mexican government dedicates substantial resources to protect visitors to major tourist destinations, and there is no evidence that Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) have targeted U.S. visitors or residents based on their nationality. Resort areas and tourist destinations in Mexico generally do not see the levels of drug-related violence and crime that are reported in the border region or in areas along major trafficking routes.
In their State-by-State analysis, about Mexico City:
- Mexico City (also known as the Federal District): No advisory is in effect. See also the discussion in the section on Estado de Mexico for areas within the greater Mexico City metropolitan area.
Mexico City is indeed one of the safest cities in the country. Homicide rates, for instance, are lower in Mexico City than in Boston, Pittsburgh, Miami, Chicago, Philadelphia, Oakland and St. Louis.
It's also worth mentioning that several independent media outlets have repeatedly written about particular stories of safety in Mexico. A non-comprehensive list of anecdotal experiences is compiled in this Storify collections and the fact that Mexico was deemed safe for students all around the world including Malia Obama, daughter to U.S.A. President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama.
In order to further increase safety for our guests, we have spoken to Local and Federal Law Enforcement agencies and we have reached agreements to keep Wikimania attendants safe during their stay so they can enjoy our City and make it home away from home.
Although questionings by the police are infrequent, we recommended to take your passport with you. Downtown attracts many tourists and the police usually questions them if there's suspicion of alcohol consumption in public spaces (it's forbidden by law). These questionings are preventive and non-violent (except those rare cases when someone infringes the law and uses force to resist arrest). We trust our guests will respect the law and exercise common sense to enjoy their stay to its maximum.
See also
[edit]- their last report United States Department of State Travel advice and warnings: Mexico
- U.K. Government foreign travel advice: Mexico
Health concerns
[edit]In every trip to a foreign country, one must exert caution regarding health and hygiene. Mexico City has every facility our guests might need to keep their good health: clean tap water, cheap and effective disinfectants for skin and food alike, proper cooking gear and facilities, pasteurized dairy products and easy access to over-the-counter medicine if it is ever needed.
However, we must acknowledge that it's impossible to foresee and cover every possible risk. This is why our team has worked long to ensure the lodgings and venue are highly connected to health services major and minor alike. Minor treatment and common diseases are cheaply obtained, and every major hospital is required by law to accept anyone in need of emergency services, including foreign visitors.
We recommend our visitors to take the following precautions during their stay in Mexico City:
- Eat only hot, cooked food; hard-cooked eggs and properly washed fruits and vegetables.
- Avoid drinking tap water. Bottled water is cheap (0,80 USD, O.55 EUR) and available nearly everywhere.
- Mexico City is a paradise of street vendors' food, but often causes minor sickness to foreign visitors, besides having a higher inherent risk of carrying diseases. Ask to the local team for less risk options.
- Because of its latitude and weather, heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke are possible. Wikimania is proposed to take place during the summer when the temperature averages its highest. We advise our guests to stay hydrated, avoid long exposure to direct sunlight and wear lightweight clothing if the weather calls for it.
- Sunlight intensity is higher in Mexico City than in many other northernmost or southernmost countries. We advise our guests to use sunscreen and avoid long exposure to direct sunlight
As with any other international trip, we strongly advise our guests to ask their physician if additional vaccines, medicine or special needs must be met before traveling. We will take every possible step to ensure our guests will not need to worry about their health during their stay.
Hospitals
[edit]In case of emergency, the following medical options are the closest to the venue:
- La Raza National Medical Center of IMSS: first level and specialties hospital, only fifteen minutes away from the venue and less than 5 minutes in ambulance. One of the largest and more relevant in Mexico, free for social security memberships but priced for everyone.
- Ruben Leñero Hospital. Public hospital with intensive care, trauma support and emergency care, fifteen blocks from the venue. In this hospital can handle any type of illness 24 hours a day.
- Hospital No. 27 IMSS. Hospital of first level with intensive care, trauma support and emergency care, ten minutes away from the venue, three minutes in ambulance.
See also
[edit]- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Health advice for Mexico City. Part of the USA Government
Public transport in the city
[edit]One of the most notable advantages of Mexico over other cities is the cheap cost of public transport. Even other cities of Mexico, the cost of transport in the capital is considerably smaller due to local government subsidies. It also has a variety of options to easily connect the library with all the points of the city.
Metro de la Ciudad de México (Subway system)
[edit]It's a train-like public transportation system operating in Mexico City and parts of the State of Mexico. It has 12 lines, each with a single number and color (numbers 1 through 9; 12, Line A and Line B) and unlike other subway systems, a single icon per station. One ride costs $5.00 MXN ($0.4 USD); tickets may be bought for individual rides or a prepaid-like card (with a cost of 10 MXN plus however much money you want to spend on it). One of its biggest advantages is the ability to transfer between lines with no additional cost, along with its reduced price compared with other subways systems in the world. Service times are from 05:00 to 00:00 Mon – Fri; 06:00 to 00:00 Sat and 07:00 to 00:00 Sun and holidays.
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Mexico City Metro system (STC) -
Metro map (STC).
Tips
[edit]- During rush hour, the subway can be quite congested. Two days of the event will be in normal working days, so you can expect big crowds if you want to use the service those days.
- There are unofficial salespeople inside the Subway, some of them selling music using loud speakers. It's generally not advised to buy anything from them.
- Pickpockets aren't unheard of. Take care of your belongings.
Metrobús (Rapid Transit Bus)
[edit]
Metrobús is a Rapid Line Bus system, with 4 routes, each with a distinctive color and number. It runs through 65.1 km (~40 miles) and has 115 stations, of which 105 are normal, 2 are transfer stations and 6 are terminals. Each ride in the city costs $6 MXN (0.4 USD) and it's card-operated (prepaid card). The direct trip to the airport, with a special bus with a policeman and space for luggage costs $40 MXN (3 USD) Service hours are 4:30 to 00:00 Mon – Fri; 05:00 to 00:00 weekends and holidays.
Buses
[edit]There are two kinds of buses: the small ones minibuses (also known as microbuses or peseros) and conventional buses. They run all around and through the city with established routes. They cost $5.00 MXN ($0.5 USD). Their use is more complex as there are no official maps of all routes.
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Microbuses or peseros -
Buses in the Passenger Transportation Network (Autobuses de la Red de Transporte de Pasajeros RTP )
Taxi cabs
[edit]
Taxi cabs in Mexico city are painted gold and burgundy. They charge an initial fare (banderazo) of 7.04 MXN (0.7 USD) plus $0.86 MXN (0.07 USD) per 250 meters or 45 seconds. Tourist cabs exist, with higher fares usually established by the operator; usually found outside hotels and typical tourist spots; they don't have an established color, but they all have a distinctive sticker on the back window.
Tips
[edit]- Taxis in Mexico city are relatively cheap compared to other cities. When you board, the operator must reset the taximeter and fare
- Public transportation is often a better alternative than Taxi cabs, for safety reasons. The event's staff is more than happy to help you locate and board a safe taxi cab.
Communications
[edit]- Country code: +52
- International calls prefix: 00
- Trunk prefix: 01
- Mexico City area code: 55
Dialing a mexican number
[edit]If you want to call a Mexican number from the USA or Canada, you must dial:
011 + 52 + area code + phone number
To call a mexican number from Europe:
00 + 52 + Area code + Phone number
Landlines
[edit]There's no shortage of public telephones. Some are coin operated and some are card operated (these cards are called Ladatel and cost 30, 50 and 100 pesos MXN). Long-distance phone cabins are rare and becoming extinct.
Mobile phones
[edit]A SIM card/chip can be bought for 50 MXN. These cards are usually prepaid and credit for them can be bought to receive roaming calls.
References
[edit]Notes
[edit]- This section was written with information from Mexico City's articles on Wikipedia and Wikivoyage