Puebla is located 107 km. S.E. of Mexico City. Round Trip Tickets from the U.S. to Mexico City run from 350 -500 dollars or so. Flights from European destinations can run from 700 to 1500 dollars. Flights to Puebla can be higher.

Continental Airlines flies directly to Puebla from Houston, Texas or alternatively there is a direct bus service to either the 4 Poniente or CAPU bus stations in Puebla (1 hour 45 minutes) from the Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City. This bus costs 194 pesos (approximately 15 U.S. dollars) each way.

Taxis from Puebla's bus stations to the UDLAP campus cost around 80-95 pesos. Add another 20 or so if you want to get to the Cholula zocalo. Taxis from the Puebla airport are around 150 pesos (12 dollars).

Some info on Mexico City airports:

Mexico City InternationalAirport

Bus schedules:

From Mexico City to Puebla

Puebla is a city of 2 million people located 120 km east of Mexico City. It has a national airport but with reduced traffic. Practically all foreign visitors arrive through Mexico City airport.

Transportation from the Mexico City airport to Puebla: there is comfortable bus service by "Estrella Roja" which runs from Mexico City airport to the city of Puebla every 30 minutes (from 6:00am to 0:30am). These leave from the airport zone E-1, one floor above the International Arrivals. Search the sign "zona de autobuses" and go through the tunnel. The fare is 170.00 pesos The ride takes about two hours (really 1:45 depending on traffic). Those wanting to see the volcanoes (once outside the optically thick Mexico City's atmosphere) should sit on the right hand side of the bus.

Buses departing on the hour (13:00, 14:00, 15:00, etc...) arrive at the Puebla bus station, known locally as CAPU, while those departing on the half-hour (13:10, 14:30, 15:10, etc...) arrive to the Puebla bus station of "4 Poniente" located nearer to Puebla's downtown. A sign with "CAPU", or "4 Pte" is placed in the bus front window at Mexico City airport, so you will easily identify the correct bus (but you should also ask when buying the ticket). The last bus from the airport to Puebla/CAPU is at 23:00 hrs, and the last to Puebla/"4 Poniente" is at 00.20 hrs.

Please click here for a complete timetable.

We recommend the bus to 4 Pte which runs on the :10 and :40 of every hour.

Little map of the Puebla area:

http://www.inaoep.mx/~ws2006/imagenes/mapa_llegar.gif

Money:

As of February 3, 2012

1.00 USD = 12.6717 MXN
1.00 EUR = 16.6793 MXN
As is always true with money, rates could change, but these conversions are relatively stable.

Check http://www.xe.com/ucc/ for more up-to-date rates.

As far as we can tell, there are many events and activities taking place at the same time as the forum, so it is best to try and reserve early. Very early. Not kidding.

Below is a selection of hotels. There are others as well. Please do your best to make reservations on your own and then let us know what you have done. It is good to have an ear on the ground to be sure that things work as you anticipate. We were saved from some very serious mishaps last year by doing a double check of all reservations before the event. Please help us help you by letting us know where you will be staying.

www.estrelladebelem.com.mx
Incredibly beautiful bed, breakfast, and spa. Recently remodeled, right in the heart of San Pedro Cholula. This is the luxe locale. Expensive. 1600-2100 pesos a night, including gourmet breakfast. If you can afford it, highly recommended. They have six rooms.

Their rates are for one or two guests per room, with breakfast, taxes and parking included. On your arrival, the hotel offers complimentary wine, charcuterie, a selection of cheeses and freshly baked bread from the house.

ESTRELLA DE BELEM is located just 5 min. away from UDLAP.

Contact and Booking:
Tel. +52 (222) 2 61 19 25
Fax. +52 (222) 2 61 17 25

Hotel Las Americas de San Andreas
The outside of this place looks quite sketchy. We went to other places before we checked this one out. The lesson here was don't judge a book by its cover. Not only is this the closest hotel to the UDLAP campus, it is also the least expensive of the lot. While it won't win awards for design or style, it is a perfectly comfortable place to rest and sleep. It has about 56 rooms arranged around a garden courtyard with a small pool in the middle. While the rooms close to the street are noisy and we wouldn't recommend them (unless you like street sounds), the rest of the place is quite tranquil and acceptable.

Pricing for 2012 (prices are in Méxican Pesos)

Habitación sencilla (cama matrimonial):

1 persona $215

2 personas $250

Habitación doble (2 camas matrimoniales):

2 personas $350

3 personas $385

4 personas $420

Habitación doble renovada (2 camas matrimoniales):

2 personas $395

3 personas $430

4 personas $465

They do not have a website but they do have a telephone. Many folks stayed here last year and loved it.

Contact:

Jesus Narvaez

Tel. +52 (222) 247-09-91 ó 247-22-75

gnarva5 (at) hot mail

14 oriente no.6, San Andrés Cholula, Puebla.

Hotel Posada Señorial

This Hotel is more expensive than the Hotel Las Américas but is located right around the corner, and is a good value for its location and enhanced services.

Pricing (in Méxican Pesos):

From Sunday to Thursday:

De 1 a 2 personas (cama matrimonial): $515

De 3 a 4 personas (2 camas matrimoniales) $565

De 1 a 2 personas (cama queen size) $707

De 3 a 4 personas (2 camas queen size) $808

Fridays and Saturdays are $50 more

Contact:

Tel: 247 00 49 / 247 66 77 / 2477479

gerencia@posadasenorial.com

reservaciones@posadasenorial.com

Av. 5 de mayo No. 1400, San Andrés Cholula Puebla. CP 72810

www.laquintaluna.com
A very nice hotel located in San Pedro Cholula about 10 blocks from campus. 1,650-3,200 pesos a night. Nearby some nice restaurants, a jazz club, the pyramid, and good souvenir shopping etc. Also you can reserve over the net with a credit card if this appeals to you.

www.hotelcasacalli.com
Located in the center of San Pedro Cholula on the zocalo, prices about 35-47 dollars a night (450 pesos for one person, 500 with breakfast. 500 for 2 persosns, 600 with breakfast). Good restaurants, the center of town, yet not noisy. Staff can apparently be a little bit unconcerned but has had good reviews nonetheless. In reality after the Hotel Las Americas , this may be the best deal for the money. A very acceptable place, with an absolutely central location. Highly Recommended. (+52.222.261.5607) Reserve and pay on the internet as well.

http://WWW.VILLASARQUEOLOGICAS.COM.MX/eng/cholula.asp
Villas Arqueológica, in the flower fields south of the pyramid. Charges about 920-1,200 pesos per night. Indoor-outdoor dining; swimming pool, expansive gardens, tennis courts. Very nice place and uniquely located. Highly recommended.

Probably 350 pesos per day, but you can get by for much less.

Food is available on the UDLAP Campus and also in town. Fruit juices, tacos, Licuados (smoothies) helados (ice creams) etc, abound. There is an incredible Mercado in the center of San Pedro Cholula that needs to be experienced. Fruits, vegetables, meats, flowers, staples, etc.

Plenty of Central Mexican cuisine to be had. Basic U.S. staples including fast food can be found nearby. Chinese, Hindu/Vegetarian, Lebanese, French, and Italian also are represented in Cholula as well as some very special restaurants that defy a simple description, but should be experienced as the food is very good.

Buses cost 5 pesos.

They can take you from UDLAP to San Pedro Cholula, where most of the hotels are (7 minutes) or to Puebla (25 minutes) for the same fee.

A taxi to the centro historico of Puebla costs about 80 pesos. It also costs about that to get to and from the bus station.

A taxi to the center of Cholula from UDLAP should be about 35 pesos and about 60 round trip.

A note about taxis:

Most taxis are very safe, but they don't work with meters. You negotiate the price before you get in the car. While sometimes the taxi people can take advantage of the foreigner, and charge a slightly higher rate, the majority of the taxis in the Puebla area don't present such problems. In Cholula and Puebla, Taxi Fam is a reputable company that provides a professional service. The telephone number is 01 800 822 22 22. It's free to call!

This is not true however in Mexico City and you should be very careful when taking taxis in Mexico City. Not only are they apt to overcharge you, they could rob you and hurt you. Please, get a SITIO (secure taxi called by phone. One reliable service is TAXI EJECUTIVO at 56601122) or ride the subway (metro). It costs three pesos a ride and is very convenient and safe. A very good way to see Mexico City. Efficient and effective.