General Tour Information
ENTERING MEXICO: Mexico is now requiring a valid passport for entry by U.S. citizens. Citizens of other countries may need a visa and should check their nearest Mexican embassy. Your passport, as a general rule, should be valid for at least six months after the date the tour ends. Tourist cards are required and are obtained upon entry at the border customs.
MAP AND COUNTRY INFORMATION: You can view maps of Mexico in the University of Texas series here. Click on the map’s lower right corner to adjust size. You can review the U.S. department of State background notes on Mexico here.
HEALTH: No specific immunizations are necessary, although up-to-date tetanus protection is always a good idea. Special medications may be unavailable so bring enough to cover your needs for the entire trip. We have found that careful eating habits are important in order to avoid most intestinal problems. In most of Mexico it is unwise to drink untreated water, although bottled water and soft drinks are reliable; our hotel in Palenque has treated water on tap.
CLIMATE: Mexico’s climate is extremely variable. Daytime highs at Palenque could reach the low 90s F. with lows possibly in the 50s F. Rain is possible. We highly recommend bringing a folding umbrella.
PACE OF THE TOUR: This is a fairly relaxed tour. Because we are in humid tropical lowlands we’ll start starts with 5.30 AM breakfasts on most days. We’ll return to the hotel around midday for lunch and the option of a (recommended) siesta — some days we take a 2-3 hour break in the middle of the day (diehard birders can always look around the hotel grounds, which are great for birds). Afternoon birding excursions (two afternoons we simply bird on the hotel grounds) are optional for those who wish more relaxation. Dark comes early in the tropics, so we don’t have any late nights. All meals are at our hotels or in other restaurants.
Walking is mostly on level ground but there are some steeper section (often with steps) within the ruins and one day we walk a fairly steep dirt road downhill (and then get a ride back up the hill in the vans). There is the option, of course, to climb some of the temples at Palenque and to walk a steeper trail down to the museum from the ruins.
ACCOMMODATIONS: Our modern hotel in Villahermosa offers all the standard amenities, while our lodge at Palenque is very comfortable with extensive, birdy grounds and a swimming pool. All rooms have air conditioning and private bathroom, and telephone calls/faxes can be made from the front desk.
DRESS: Informal dress will be appropriate throughout the trip.
TRANSPORTATION: Travel will be in eight-passenger mini-buses with the leader as driver.
SMOKING: We request that you do not smoke in the vehicles or when the group is gathered for meals, checklists, etc. If you are sharing a room with a non-smoker, please do not smoke in the room. If you smoke in the field, we ask that you do so well away from the group and downwind if possible.
GENERAL INFORMATION & CONDITIONS OF WINGS TOURS: Please take a moment to read the WINGS General Information & Conditions. This section contains important information about how we conduct tours, e.g., what is included in the tour price, refund and cancellation policies, pace of the tours and other information that will help you prepare for the tour. Please note that except as noted in the tour descriptions, meals are not included in the cost of our tours in the United States and Canada.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A more complete General Information for Tours to Palenque will be sent to each registrant on receipt of their booking. Final information with instructions for meeting the group, hotel addresses, etc., will be mailed about three weeks before trip departure. Other news will be communicated as necessary.
Updated: July 2006