Travel Around

Monterrey>>Travel Around

Information	The staff rooms at Missouri and at Huasteca campuses have a selection of maps, travel guides and tourist info. It may be looked at and borrowed and works on an honor system. Please feel free to leave items of interest for others to use, read or share. This is a collection that is intended to grow.
Maps	The Guia Roja is an excellent guide and is available in book format for Monterrey (the city), Mexico (the country) and most major cities. These are available at Oxxo, 7-11 and Sanborns.
Travel Agencies	Refer to the PTA phone book
Bus Station	It’s downtown. You can get anywhere from Monterrey. There are 1st, 2nd and ejecutivo class buses. Some have sleeping berths. There is a ticket office in San Pedro, but it does not serve all bus companies. You can also buy tickets in Centrito (across the parking lot from Gigante). Sometimes a 25% discount is given to teachers with ID.
Airport	Taxis to the airport are cheaper than from it. You must take a registered airport taxi for ~200 pesos. Some airlines offer transport to the airport, travel agents can arrange a pick up to go to the airport. This is easy and dependable for early morning flights. Taxis can be reserved by the travel agency. Golden Taxi is a reputable taxi. The number is 8372-1360.
Crossing the border	Refer to the Orientation Booklet
Papers you need to carry with you	You should travel with a copy of your FM-3 and other documents with you at all times. The original should be kept safe as it is worth $500 US if you lose it. It is a good idea to make copies and keep one in your car. When you travel, take your FM3 copy, or tourist visa, all car papers, your ASFM ID and your insurance. Mexican insurance does not cover you in the US. (But you can call your insurance agency and have them cover you for your trip). Insurance companies to look into are Sanborns Auto Insurance in McAllen ( 1-956-686-3601) and International Gateway Insurance Brokers (they can be found on the web). An account of sorts can be set up with them for US insurance. Once set up all you need to do is call to get insurance. If you travel by car you need to make sure that you have the paper that accompanies your sticker on your windshield.
Customs	Refer to the Orientation Booklet, Travel by car. The guards will check that the numbers in your papers and windshield sticker match up. If you get a red light, it sometimes helps to tell them you are a teacher and show your ASFM ID card. If you have been shopping, it is best to remove price tags, etc. and put any purchases in a backpack or suitcase. It costs about $360 pesos (return) to take the toll roads to the border. They are great highways and much safer (toll rates do change from time to time). Refer to the Orientation Booklet, Arrival by plane
Taxis	The places where all the taxis get together are called "sitios". All these sitios have Ecotaxis, the green and white taxis that you see in the street. They are very cheap and you can find them very easily. However, if you need one for a specific time it is very likely that at that time you won’t find them. If you want to call for a cab try these… -Jaime - see Patty Fernandez at Missouri for info. -Sitio San Agustín-- at San Agustín Mall -- Tel: 8363-1974 -Sitio Soriana-- at San Agustín Mall -- Tel: 8363-5730 -Sitio Roble-- near HEB --Tel: 8335-4888 Minimum fare: 8:00 pesos/ Open "almost" 24 hours. -Ecotaxi --Tel: 8355-7832 Radio Taxi – 8372-5153 Make sure they are metered, if not, ask for the fare ahead of time. Taking a cab home from a bar/disco late at night is NOT guaranteed to be safe. Women should be cautious when traveling at night alone in a cab.
Where to go	Near Monterrey Santiago--Presa de la Boca (a reservoir), Matacanes river, Cola de Caballo (a waterfall) etc. are via the Carretera Nacional. Grutas de Garcia - caves--take the highway to Saltillo. La Huasteca canyon--beyond the high school campus. Real de Catorce--a quaint little town. San Miguel de Allende--a beautiful colonial town about 8 hours from Monterrey. Rent cabins near Cola de Caballo from Antiguo Aserradero 370-9111, office across river in Mitras. Bioparque Estrella--a safari park on the Carretera Nacional. Parque Estanzuela--a great park for hiking with waterfalls, is located off Carretera Nacional. Monterreal--cabins in a pine forest located 2 hours from Monterrey Saltillo--handicrafts and woven goods, market, great museum. There are many other interesting places 2-3 hours driving from Monterrey. ASFM teachers have been travelling all around. Two former ASFM teachers shares pictures taken while traveling in Mexico in the following links: Travelling in Mexico 1, Travelling in Mexico 2, and Images of Mexico. There are also many other things to do in Mexico.