 |
NINTH INTERNATIONAL
|
TRAVEL TIPS AND INFORMATION ABOUT OAXACA
The IOHIO is a non-profit organization with a mission of documenting and protecting the historic organs in the State of Oaxaca. Its staff does not have the resources to provide assistance with travel arrangements to reach Oaxaca nor with hotel reservations. Information is provided below to help prospective attendees better envision the Festival experience and to get started planning their visits.
Some facts about Oaxaca
The state of Oaxaca is in southern Mexico; its capital, the city of Oaxaca, is located in an extensive central valley that has an elevation of around 5,000 ft. As a result, the tropical climate is moderated considerably; February falls during the dry season and averages a high of 84 °F (29 °C) and a low of 54°F (12 °C).
The city of Oaxaca has been named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It has many beautiful churches and buildings dating from colonial times, and is the most ethnically diverse state in Mexico (16 indigenous groups). It is also known for the quality and variety of handicrafts produced in the area. As a result, tourism is one of the main industries in the state, and the population welcomes visitors with enthusiasm and courteousness. Many Oaxacans in the tourist industry speak several languages; English is usually one of them.
The Valley of Oaxaca had three branches in the shape of a “Y”: the Tlacolula Valley to the east, the Etla Valley to the northwest, and the Ocotlán Valley to the south. Agriculture and handicrafts are the primary occupations of the villages throughout the valley. Two of our field trips will visit the Tlacolula Valley and two more will pass through the Etla Valley on the way to the mountainous region of the Mixteca Alta. Participants will have free time on several days to explore the city but should consider adding a couple of days to their visit if they want to explore further afield on their own.
Getting to Oaxaca
Most flights to the city of Oaxaca come from Mexico City, which has flights arriving from many major airports in the world. Currently Continental Airlines provides one round trip flight from Houston to Oaxaca every day, arriving at night and returning to Houston the next morning. Your travel agent or favorite travel website can help you find the best itinerary. When you arrive at the Oaxaca airport, take the airport transport to your hotel (costs less than $10.00 USD)
Do I need a passport and visa for Mexico?
All U.S. citizens must have a passport book (not the new passport card) to enter Mexico and return to the United States by air. At this time a visa is not needed in advance; each visitor is issued a tourist card upon arrival in Mexico, which must be turned in upon departure. Citizens of other countries should consult the appropriate authorities in their country and/or the Mexican Embassy.
Travel Tip: Carry a copy of your passport with you and leave the original in your hotel.
Transportation during the Festival
Whenever transportation is included in the Festival fees, participants will be taken to the event in comfortable, air-conditioned vans driven by professional drivers. The historical center of the city is small and quite “walkable” and taxis are inexpensive, so participants can easily reach the Festival activities held in the city on their own.
What clothing should I bring?
The weather will be warm and sunny at midday and cool in the evenings. It may be especially chilly in some of the churches, so bring layers of clothing. Remember that you will be visiting functioning churches in traditional communities and shorts or skimpy tops would give offense. In fact, shorts are not worn in the city except, perhaps, around the pool/bar in hotels. Bring a pair of comfortable walking shoes for the visit to Monte Alban, the city tour, climbing up winding stone staircases to the choir lofts, and just walking around Oaxaca. You will also need sunscreen and a broad-brimmed hat (or buy one in the market) or a visor for the sun, which is very direct compared to that in North America and Europe, even in February.
Health issues
Do not drink the water. Don’t drink anything that is not from a sealed bottle anywhere in Oaxaca. Even use it to brush your teeth. Mexican citizens drink bottled water, too, because the local supply is unsafe. Restaurants and hotels provide bottled water, and it is easily purchased at little shops or pharmacies.
The food is safe, but…If you have a delicate stomach, ask your doctor about acidophilus or something similar to reinforce your intestinal flora. Oaxaca restaurants try to be very careful—after all, they depend on tourism—but nevertheless, you will be in a different ecological zone.
Altitude and mountains. Our field trips will take us on curvy mountainous roads, so if you are prone to car sickness, you can bring Dramamine or buy it here. The altitude in Oaxaca City is approximately a mile high.
How about credit cards and getting pesos?
Credit cards are welcome in all the major tourist hotels, restaurants, and shops. However, smaller venues will want pesos. The best way to get Mexican pesos is through an ATM machine, which are plentiful in the city. Traveler’s checks are no longer accepted. U.S. dollars are also a problem for locals. Tips are customarily 10% (in pesos, not foreign currency).
Travel Tip: Make sure your bank knows you will be out of the country so they don’t suspect fraud and deactivate your cash card when you start taking out money. Also alert your credit card companies.
HOTELS RECOMMENDED IN OAXACA (prices in pesos)
*Hotel Anturium
10 blocks from the IOHIO
s/600, d/ 750 breakfast not included
http://www.anturium.com.mx/ hanturium@prodigy.net.mx
*Casa Arnel
8 blocks from the IOHIO
s/ $450, d/ $450, special IOHIO price, breakfast not included
http://www.casaarnel.com.mx/ oaxaca@casaarnel.com.mx
*Hotel Azucenas
10 blocks from the IOHIO
s/ $625, d/ $675, continental breakfast $44
www.hotelazucenas.com admin@hotelazucenas.com
Casa de las Bugambilias (B & B)
1 block from the IOHIO
rooms from $935 to $1,550 includes breakfast
www.lasbugambilias.com bugambilias@lasbugambilias.com
*Casa Colonial (B & B)
Not close to the IOHIO but extremely charming
s/$800, d/$1475 includes a luxurious breakfast,
www.casa-colonial.com reservations@casa-colonial.com
Casa Cue
2 blocks from the zocalo
s/$600, d/$800 breakfast not included
www.hotelcasacue.com
Casa de los Frailes
around the corner from the IOHIO
s/$980, d/$1,180, includes continental breakfast
www.casadelosfrailes.com hotelcasadelosfrailes@yahoo.com.mx
Hotel Las Golondrinas
6 blocks from the IOHIO
s/ $550, d/$600, breakfast not included
http://hotellasgolondrinas.com.mx/ lasgolon@prodigy.net.mx
Hotel Maela
around the corner from the IOHIO
s/ $495, d/ $615, breakfast not included
www.mexonline.com/maela.htm maela@prodigy.net.mx
*Hotel Marques del Valle
on the zocalo
s/$893 d/ $1,005 (standard), breakfast not included
http://www.hotelmarquesdelvalle.com.mx/ reservaciones@hotelmarquesdelvalle.com.mx
*Hostal de la Noria
5 blocks from the IOHIO
s/$893 d/$1006 (special rate for the IOHIO) breakfast not included
www.hostaldelanoria.com hostal@lanoria.com.mx
Casa Ollin (B & B)
4 blocks from the IOHIO
s/$1,070. d/$1,475, breakfast included
www.oaxacabedandbreakfast.com reservations@oaxacabedandbreakfast.com
*Hotel de la Parra
on the zocalo
s/$1071, d/$1318 (special rate for the IOHIO) includes continental breakfast
www.hoteldelaparra-oaxaca.com reservaciones@hoteldelaparra.com
*Hotel Principal
4 blocks from the IOHIO
s/$325, d/$550, breakfast not included
hotelprincipal@gmail.com
*Hotel La Reja
close to the IOHIO
s/$850, d/ $950, continental breakfast included,
www.hospederialareja-oaxaca.com hospederialareja@hotmail.com
*Hotel San Agustín
8 blocks from the IOHIO, close to the zócalo
s/ $580, d/ $680, (special rate for the IOHIO) breakfast included if hotel paid in cash www.paradorsanagustinhotel-oaxaca.com sanagus@prodigy.net.mx
Hotel Casa Vertiz
one block from the IOHIO
s/$950, d/950 breakfast not included
www.hotelvertiz.com.mx reservaciones@hotelvertiz.com.mx
*These hotels have collaborated with the IOHIO by offering courtesy rooms to our festival artists.
We recommend that you make your reservations soon, because the Festival takes place during peak tourist season. The hotels listed above include a range of prices. You can also search online.
Copyright ©
2012 Instituto de Órganos Históricos de Oaxaca, A.C. • Web Design by Ambidextro |