Mexico Program Fees and Information

Read how your fees are spent or compare our prices with other volunteer organisations.

View our prices in other volunteer locations's or combine your stay in Mexico with stays in other locations as part of a combination stay.

What you receive

• Pick-up service from the nearest bus station
• Orientation upon arrival
• 24 hour support by English speaking personnel
• Accomodation
• Regular follow-up meetings
• Beginners Spanish language classes
• An introduction to teaching techniques
• An introduction to Mexican culture
• Mexican cooking classes
• Latin dance classes
• Local mobile phone or SIM card

Apart from our fees, you must pay for:

• Your flight to the nearest airport
• Vaccinations
• Airfares and all transportation to your project location
• Health insurance
• Food and other personal expenses

Application Process

Our application process typically takes two or three weeks, but can be speeded up if there is a need for that. When we get the "Initial application" from you, we will send you and Application Form.

(1) Complete the Initial Application Form:
The first stage of the application process is to fill out the brief initial application form. Upon receiving this we will send you the full application form.

(2) Complete the Full Application Form:
Fill out the application form. After receiving this we will assess your suitability, place you on one of our programs and send you our Volunteering Contract.

(3) Placement info:
After you have read, signed, and agreed with our conditions and fees, an Invoice for your $250.00 USD deposit will be sent to you. If you accept the placement you should pay the non-refundable deposit fee to reserve your place on the program. Our in country coordinator will contact you to arrange the details of your Project

(4) Program Fee:
This rest of the program fees must be paid 30 days prior to your arrival to Travel to Teach, Mexico. (The $250.00 USD deposit will be discounted for your total fee).

(5) Communication:
Once you have made your traveling arrangements you should mail your time of arrival and the means of transportation and we will confirm pickup.

Project Duration and Arrival Dates

You can join us for any amount of time, from a week to three months. We do recommend a trip of three months since it offers the best value. Regardless of the length of your stay, you will be able to learn some Spanish and you will have time to get to know a new culture, come to know its people, and form relationships that will outlast the duration of your stay.

All of the projects are ongoing. Primary Schools and Kindergartens follow the semester schedules, which start in September and finish in June with two two-week vacation periods: one in mid March (Semana Santa) and one in December (Navidad). The rest of the projects go on throughout the year except for December and all national holidays. We suggest that you keep this in mind when deciding on the dates you will be joining us.

There are always community projects going on while schools are out, for example during the December holidays help is needed in orphanages or the various homes for the poor this is a time when we have the opportunity to play Santa Claus. You can also use this time to do what the locals do and travel to other parts of the country.

Dates of arrival You may arrive at any time and date that suits you, however we recommend that you plan your arrival between Thursday and Sunday so that you get to know the city, take your Teaching Techniques Course and you are ready to start your projects the Monday after the introduction.

Getting Here

There are direct buses to Xalapa from the Mexico City Airport at 17:30, 19:00 and 20:45hrs. Travel to Teach will advise and support you with all your travel arrangements. Purchase your plane ticket and confirm your date and time of arrival with Travel to Teach. We can then, upon request, make arrangements for a representative to meet you at the Xalapa Bus Station (CAXA).

Mexico City Airport Map

Reception

We will meet you either at the nearest airport or bus station, depending on how you choose to travel here. We will spend the first few days with you, so we can better introduce you to Mexican culture, language, history, social and economical situation and to get you acquainted with our programs. Travel to Teach representatives will prepare you for your placement by going through materials and discussing possible lesson plans and teaching techniques.

Food in Mexico

Food is paid for by our volunteers, with the exception of volunteers doing a Homestay where meals are included as part of the fee.

Tap water in Mexico is not safe to drink, but bottled water can be found everywhere. Most prepared food, even that found in street stalls is safe to eat. However, everyone has different levels of tolerance for food, and you should be careful to choose your food wisely.

Mexican cooking is tasty, colorful and seasoned. Xalapa is blessed with an array of different types and choices of restaurants and food stalls. These range from cheap and basic to expensive and luxurious. Food can be found everywhere, with street stalls and small "abarrotes" (small family run marts) on every corner. There are a couple of big Grocery Stores in the city, and they sell all types of fresh meat, fruits, vegetables, canned foods, unprepared pasta, etc. with international brands as well as locally produced products.

There are a few health stores in Xalapa, which sell both prepared and unprepared food. The number of vegetarian restaurants is limited, but there are a few, and they are known to serve delicious cuisine. Cooking on your own is by far the cheapest and more reliable way to get exactly what you want.

Volunteer Work

The hours of volunteering vary depending upon your project type. A typical placement will involve working for 3 to 4 hour a day with weekends free. Depending on your knowledge and interests you can also assist in and take part of a variety of different activities.

Living

You will be in a clean and friendly enviornment in any of our lodgings but don’t expect any luxuaries. We currently have two types of housing available in Xalapa. You can stay in an apartment, studio or rented house, or you can choose to do a Homestay* which means you would be living in a Mexican Home as part of the family (Fees are slightly higher for this type of living arrangements and 3 meals a day are included).

* We highly recommend staying with a family if you are doing a short temr stay since it gives you the opportunity to integrate yourself into the culture and to learn the language faster.

We will supply you with the telephone numbers of our local T2T English speaking personnel, a local cell phone or a local SIM/chip if you bring your own cell phone.

Safety in Mexico

If you decide to travel overland by bus from Mexico City to any of our projetcs, we recommend that you should be conscious of the risks involved in the transportation system from the airport to the bus station. We suggest that you follow these rules:

• Do not leave the airport to pick up a taxi in the street; buy the ticket for the registered taxis inside the airport building
• Do not accept the services of anyone who offers to get you a taxi and help you with your luggage inside the airport building. The registered airport porters are identified with a badge, a uniform and a trolley (like those with 2 wheels) used to transport luggage

It is not recommendable to carry only cash, or to hold only one Bankcard. These are subject to agreements between bank institutions, and change continually, so could find yourself in great difficulties at not being able to withdraw money when you need it. We advise you to use Traveller´s Cheques and carry a minimum amount of cash.

Vaccinations

See your doctor at least 4-6 weeks before your trip to allow time for immunizations to take effect. You will need vacinations for:

• Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG).
• Hepatitis B
• Rabies,
• Typhoid
• Yellow fever for travelers to Mexico who will be going outside urban areas.

Also visit the WHO's (World Health Organisation) Travelers health information

Insurance

Please purchase health and travel insurance independently. You need health insurance that will cover medical treatment and repatriation in case of accident or illness.

Visas

U.S and most European Union passport holders do not need a tourist visa for Mexico and may stay up to 90 days. Other passport holders should check with the Mexican Embassy/Consulate in their country.

For more detailed information take a look at the official Mexican Immigration Site.

Living Expenses

You may be wondering just how much money you'll have to save up to prepare for your trip. Travel to Teach will send you a cost of living sheet depending on the city that you will be working at so that you have a better idea of how much you will be spending.

Certification

You will get a Travel to Teach certificate stating the time and place you have been teaching.

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