Things You Need to Know:

Meeting Location:
The first day of your itinerary is your arrival day, meaning you can arrive at Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez (MEX) at any time on that first day. Our hotel in Mexico City provides very comfortable accommodations. Connect with your guide as you arrive at the hotel. If you arrive late at night, please ask reception to leave a message for your guide that you have arrived.

You will formally meet your team in the evening on Day 1 for a team dinner. On Day 2, we will have our official team Gear Check and Guide Briefing over breakfast. During this time, your guides will go over all the specifics of your expedition and climbing schedules, how to pack for the upcoming week, and any updated logistics. If you have any questions, this is a great time to ask them.

Tourist Visas: Citizens of most countries, including the United States and Canada, can secure a visa on arrival in Mexico for stays lasting fewer than 180 days. It is your responsibility to research visa requirements for your passport’s issuing country.

Getting There:
Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez (MEX) is the starting point for our adventure. Flying into Mexico City is relatively straightforward as it is served by many major airlines with flights from Asia, North and South America, and Europe daily. We ask that you keep us informed of your travel details by forwarding us a copy of your flight itineraries, both inbound and outbound. A CTSS representative will pick you up at the airport, so please advise us well in advance of any changes to your arrival time and flight number. If you experience a delay in traveling, let us know immediately.

Domestic Transportation:
Your domestic transportation within Mexico is included in your expedition.

Money:
It is better to have more money than you need than not enough. Most things are covered on the trip once you land in Mexico. Bring cash to cover expenses for a potential early departure (not frequent, but sometimes this occurs), miscellaneous expenses like extra hotel nights, meals in town, if arriving early or departing late, shopping, alcohol, specialty coffees, bottled water or snacks, staff tips (customary, but optional), etc. In-town meals during the climb are at your own expense.

Generally, we recommend bringing $1,000 – $1,500 USD plus a credit card to cover all potential expenses, though it is unlikely that you will need all of this. Large denominations (20s, 50s, and 100s) are better, and you can change money at change houses when you arrive. There are also quite a few ATMs around town where you can use your card to take out local cash at a good rate. Please let your credit card company know you will be traveling so you can use your card without triggering a fraud alert.

Tipping:
Tips are customary in Mexico. Tip between 10-15% for meals, round up taxi fares, hotel bellhops receive $1-$2 USD per bag, and housekeepers customarily get about $1 USD per day.

We recommend tipping $400-$600 USD for the guide team.

Electrical:
The Mexican electrical grid runs at 127V and 60Hz. Check your device specification (especially in the Hertz specifications) and plan on bringing an adapter to ensure compatibility. Mexico has adopted the same plug configurations as the United States Type A and Type B.

Tap Water & Sanitation:
It is recommended to opt for bottled water or treat your own tap water while traveling in Mexico, especially in the more rural regions surrounding our climbing routes.

Do your best to stay healthy before the expedition even begins. Use good sanitation practices throughout the trip. This includes using hand sanitizer regularly before eating, after using the bathroom, shaking hands, etc.

Language:
The majority of Mexicans only speak Spanish, with English being somewhat common in high tourist areas. It may be difficult to find an English speaker if you are traveling away from the group.

Vaccinations:
We strongly encourage all travelers to be properly vaccinated for common diseases, including COVID-19. You may need your vaccination certificate on file.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains a list of recommended vaccines, which can be viewed on the CDC’s travel website.

Be careful around dogs in the city and on the trail, as they may carry rabies. The rabies vaccine is expensive, and most people don’t receive it as a standard vaccine. If you do a significant amount of adventure travel, you may want to look into receiving the rabies vaccine.

Accommodations:
All hotels are double occupancy unless you have chosen the single rooming option and paid the add-on fee. If you want single rooming, please let us know, and we can add the fee to your balance to cover this added expense. Sometimes hotels are full during the climbing season and may not have enough space to accommodate single rooming, but we will do our best.

Gear Storage:
You can store any items that you don’t need on the climb at the compound in Tlachichuca. It is best to lock this duffel to make sure people are not tempted to get into it, although we’ve never had issues with this.

Cell Phone Coverage:
There is cell service during much of our trip in Mexico but roaming charges can be expensive, so please consult your carrier to determine data/calling rates prior to departure. Another option is to purchase a local SIM or rechargeable phone while in Mexico City. There may be a satellite phone with the team on the climb, but don’t expect to be able to use it on an unlimited basis as we typically reserve it for emergencies. We can make it available to the team at $3/minute.

There is WiFi in hotels before and after the climbs.