Money Exchange:
Many venues do not accept CCs, so having some Pesos is necessary. Banks usually have exchange and there are businesses called Elektra in some of the towns, and ATM’s also can exchange. If you go to a bank, you will be required to present your passport to exchange. The limit is usually 5000 pesos. Lately, 2024, the exchange rate is + – 20 pesos / dollar. So, 5000 pesos is about 250.
At the Airport, there are exchange booths before you get out to the terminals. Do not exchange there, it is the worst rates. Instead, for pocket money, do so after you clear into the terminal.
Phone Planning:
Mexico and Phones. I have Verizon, and my plan automatically engages service in Mexico. Regardless, it will be best to contact your carrier and confirm that you will have service in Mexico. For the target flying sites, we have had great service in all locations. Text limits vary by carrier. If you have problems with service, you can also buy a SIM card for your phone. It’s a bit of a hassle, but some pilots who need to work, while in Mexico, say this is better. If you do not have a GPS device for locations (Spot or Inreach), you can use your telegram to share your location on flights. I just ordered an inreach2 mini for myself. I do not require, but do recommend.
lf someone wanted a nice hotel within 40 minutes of the airport, my friend, Vic Cueto, owned, but recently sold, Casa Armonia in Tlaquepaque. He might join us for a day, I might take him tandem for the second time. Price is not the cheapest, but near the Centro and super nice. Tlaquepaque is IMHO the nicest district in Guadalajara. Lots of restaurants, small shops, nightlife. Near the airport, there are plenty of budget hotels / motels if you just stay the night. Most of us are going in the Van, but Mau and Shiqi look like they might head over for the night on Friday, as they would need to leave earlier than the rest of us.
Mexico – How to prevent getting ill:
My father was a doctor, but specifically the travel medicine specialist for Kaiser in N California. So, I learned everything from the best at this. He also loved Mexico, and we own a condo in Puerto Vallarta.
Avoid:
-
- Uncooked food at small restaurants that might have rinsed vegetables in tap water. If you get ice in a drink at a restaurant, you can ask (¿El hielo está purificado? / Is the ice purified? ) If water is not served in a bottle, ask this. Any bigger or fancier restaurants, this is a given.If a bottle of water is moist, some say to wipe the drinking part of the bottle. I would say, just at small remote venues, they might use unpurified ice.
-
- Instead of rinsing your Toothbrush with tap water, have bottled water there to do this.
- In the shower, do not let the water get in your mouth.
It is OK to eat:
Roadside food cooked is fine. Just do not get raw vegetables with such food. peppers, onions, hot sauce – no problem, just avoid anything uncooked and might have been rinsed.
Just in Case: In Mexico, you can buy Ciproflaxen at any Farmacy. Cipro can fix some forms of Turista aka “the trots”. You can also get Lomotil or Imodium, these are pills that stop diarrhea. I always bring both, but if you want your own, have at it.
I would say about 5 pilots have gotten sick in the last 10 years of tours. If you follow the above rules, it will be unlikely. I got sick only once, but was functional and got better in a day or two with the cipro. It is not contagious.
I have been to Mexico 50 times in my life, and only had the Turista a few times, but not for many years. I am not trying to scare anyone, it is just the precautions you take in any country that does not have tap water treated to US levels.
Equipment:
Required – Flying gear including Hook Knife and Reserve on harness. Instrument that has both a vario and Altimeter. Radio (I supply if you do not have). GPS – at Minimum Phone with Telegram and or WhatsApp. I prefer the telegram app, we can share location in this group. Better, but not required, would be a GPS location tool – Spot or Inreach (know configuration and set up to contact me and Gerardo so that we can locate you if an incident happens).
Phone Service:
Mexico and Phones. I have Verizon and my plan automatically engages service in Mexico. Regardless, it will be best to contact your carrier and confirm or set service, so you will have service in Mexico. For the target flying sites, we have had great service in all locations. Text limits vary by carrier. If you experience problems with service, you can also buy a sim card for your phone, a bit of a hassle, but some that need to work while in Mexico, say this is better.
