Guadalajara Info for New Residents
EMERGENCIES
Emergency Numbers:
066
A note of caution: this service does not function as well as 911 in the U.S. In Mexico, public services sometimes work, sometimes don’t. In emergencies, people usually rely on friends or private services if they can afford it. (Some people pay a monthly fee for membership in a private ambulance service in case they ever need one.)
Another option for ambulances is to call the hospital you want to go to, and they can send one. Again, this isn’t always reliable, but is more reliable the more upscale the hospital.
A final option is to call the police.
U.S. Consulate Guadalajara:
Progreso #175, Col. Americana, Guadalajara 44160
3268-2100
http://guadalajara.usconsulate.gov/index.html
Be sure to register with the consulate when you get to Guadalajara so that they can contact you in case of emergency or evacuation.
If You Get Pulled Over:
Never give the police your license. Show them your license so they can get the information they want, but don’t give it to them otherwise they will ask for a large bribe to give it back to you. Tell the officer to give you a ticket. Paper tickets don’t really mean anything here. They are not electronic and the police don’t keep track of them. The police officer might threaten you with impounding your car, but if it is yours and is current on the paperwork, they can’t do that. They are really just looking for a bribe. Tell them “Vamos a la delegación para hablar con mi embajada.” (Let’s go to the delegation to talk with my embassy.) You should keep a copy of your driver’s license, your FM3, and your marriage license (if you share a title with your spouse) in your car to show police so that you don’t have to give them the originals.
Remember, it is illegal to talk on cell phones while you’re driving in Mexico.
The following is a list of other important numbers in case of emergency:
Alumbrado Público
(33) 3818-3600 ext. 3203/3206
Ambulancia Aérea y Terrestre
(33) 3616-9616/3615-2471
Ambulancias EMME
(33) 3818-0600
Angeles Verdes
078
Antirrábico Municipal de Guadalajara
(33) 1201-8425/1201-8426
Bomberos
(33) 1201-7700
Caritas de Guadalajara
(33) 3617-6122/3617-6555
Centro de Rehabilitación Infantil, Teleton de Occidente
(33) 3134-2526/3134-2525
Centro de Rehabilitación Integral DIF Jalisco
(33) 3848-5000
Coesida
(33)3853-3159/3853-3723
Consejo Estatal para la Prevención y Atención a la Violencia Intra Familiar
(33) 3699-3882
Cruz Ambar Guadalajara
(33) 1370-9110
Cruz Roja Mexicana
(33) 3345-7777/065
Cruz Verde
(33) 3614-5252/1201-7222
Denuncia Municipal Guadalajara
070
Desarrollo Integral de la Familia DIF Guadalajara
(33) 3848-5000
Drogadictos Anónimos (Grupo Amanecer 24 hrs.)
(33) 3696-0023
Emergencia
066/(33) 1201-7222
Emergency Response (ambulancia áerea y terrestre)
(33) 3854-7777/3854-4000
Escuadrón de Rescate y Emergencias Médicas
(33) 3818-0505
Grupo Jóvenes Alcohólicos Anónimos
(33) 3586-7797/3665-3065
I.S.S.S.T.E.
(33) 3633-0044/3633-0312
Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS)
(33) 3823-9261/3812-4868
Life Care (ambulancia áerea y terrestre)
(33) 3615-0058
Locatel (24 hrs.)
(33) 3134-4982
Movimiento Buena Voluntad (24 horas Neuroticos Anonimos)
(33) 3638-9055
Parques y Jardines
(33) 3818-3600 ext. 3451
Policía Municipal de Guadalajara
(33) 3619-3975/060
Policía Municipal de Tlaquepaque
(33) 3345-5900/3635-8828
Policía Municpal de Zapopan
(33) 3656-5656
Policía Municipal de Tonalá
(33) 3284-3038/3284-3039
Policía Preventiva
(33) 3673-3831
Procuraduría Federal de Consumidor
(33)3615-7383/3615-7393
Radio Patrullas
080
Reporte de Fugas de Gas L.P.
(33) 3668-3800
Robo de Vehículos
(33) 3633-1436
Secretaría de Vialidad y Transporte
(33) 3819-2427/3819-2428
Seguridad para el Turista
01-800-36-32-200
Seguridad Pública de Guadalajara
(33) 3836-3600
Servicio de Agua Potable y Alcantarillado
(33) 3668-2482
Teleton
(33) 3134-2526
Tel-Sangre
(33) 3030-6327/3636-7667
Unidad Estatal de Protección Civil
(33) 3675-3060
BANKING
Banks that don’t charge ATM fees:
Bank of America in the U.S. has a connection with the Santander Banks in Mexico. If your account is with Bank of America and you take your money out of Santander, you will not have an ATM fee. There is a limit of what you can take out per day, $500 USD, so depending on what the exchange rate is you can take out more or less pesos.
Getting your student loan check back to your US bank account:
It is always best to take it yourself, but if that is not an option, you can electronically wire it, which will cause you to lose about $150 USD in the process, depending on exchange rates. Another option is to hide it in a magazine and Fedex it back to family who can deposit it for around $25 USD.
Credit Cards:
It is better not to use them in Mexico. Numerous people have had their credit card numbers stolen at restaurants, grocery stores, and seemingly innocuous places. If you do use them, make sure you contact your bank in the U.S. first and tell them you are living in Mexico so they don’t freeze your cards.
CHILDCARE
Honeycomb: Colomos #2726, Col. Providencia, Guadalajara 3641-3432
(Maybe 10 minutes from ICB campus.)
FUN ACTIVITIES
Colomos Park:
Large forest with lots of trails as well as a Japanese garden and horse back riding. Small entrance fee. Located on Ave. Patria just west of Ave. Americas. There’s internet service in the patio near the Japanese gardens.
Metropolitan Park:
Large park with several paved trails. Great place for picnics. You can rent trampolines and bicycle-like contraptions for wheeling around with friends. There are also several workout areas with bars, rings, and sit-up benches. Located just behind the Galerias mall on Av. Beethoven.
Primavera Forest:
Natural forest with hot springs. Popular place for hiking, camping, and bathing in the hot river. Take Ave. Vallarta out of town toward Nogales. Follow signs for Bosque Primavera.
Guadalajara Zoo:
Considered by some to be the best in all of Latin America, this zoo offers an impressive collection of species on the corner of Periferico Norte and Calzada Independencia Norte. Hours are 10am-5pm, Wednesday through Sunday. Entry costs range between 72 and 28 pesos depending on if you are an adult or a child and if you opt for the safari or only the zoo. See the website for more information, <www.zooguadalajara.com.mx>.
Movies:
Movie tickets are quite a bit cheaper here than in the U.S., and at Cinepolis theaters (the main theaters found in malls) tickets are half price on Wednesdays. Check out the VIP option (about double the regular price); the chairs are more luxurious, and you can have dinner served to you while you watch.
El Centro:
Downtown Guadalajara is worth seeing. You can sit in the plaza and people watch, or visit the cathedral, the state legislative building, the Degallado Theater, or the Hospicio Cabañas, once an orphanage, now a museum and cultural center. There’s a double decker bus for tourists that will take you around to the main sites. You can get on and off whenever you like.
San Pedro Tlaquepaque:
Beautiful furniture, jewelry, and handcrafts made in Mexico and displayed in Spanish colonial homes. Fun to browse; furniture and some other products can be very expensive. Be sure to have lunch at the restaurant “El Patio” to hear mariachi music while you eat. The district is located off Niños Heroes and Blvd. Marcelino Garcia B.
Tonala:
Mexicans handcrafts in a cheaper, more humble setting than Tlaquepaque. Tianguis (Stores set up their goods in the street under tents.) on Thursdays and Sundays. Very busy and crowded on tianguis days; parking is a mess. To get to the Tonala shopping area, take Lazaro Cardenas south out of the city and exit at the sign for Tonala. You’ll arc up a long off ramp and then go straight into the town. The shopping area begins at the first traffic light.
HEALTH
Dentists:
Dr. Hilda Tavizon (Mom)
Cecilia Cárdenas D.D.S. (Daughter) [Licensed in U.S., English spoken]
Manuel M. Diéguez #903, Guadalajara 44610 (Near Colomos and Ave. Americas)
(33) 3642-1871, (33) 3560-5074
contact@ceciliadds.com, www.ceciliadds.com
Dra. Alicia M. Davila Fernandez
Calle 5 No. 182-B Col. Seattle Zapopan, Jalisco
3364-2429, 3633-1799
Clinica Dental San Francisco
Dr. J. Gonzalo Montes Frias
Calle 28 de Enero #115 B, Zapopan (Corner of Juarez, near Cathedral of Zapopan)
3633-2199
Hospitals:
If you have health insurance through the school, you should have a list of hospitals you can go to. If you have another type of insurance, check with them first to see if they have a list of hospitals you can go to. The following are a list of some of the good hospitals in GDL, depending on whether or not your insurance will cover you:
Angeles del Cármen
3813-0042
Emergencies: 3813-2546, 3813-1224
Angel Leano
Medical students get 50% discount with I.D.
Centro Médico Puerto de Hierro
3848-4000
Mexico-America
3648-3333
Real San José
1078-8900
Emergencies: 1078-8911
San Javier (Emergency room treatment is good)
3669-0222
Santa Maria Chapalita
3678-1400
Doctors:
Dr. Navarro on the main UAG campus offers free medical services to students. His office is located at the back of the stadium, and he accepts walk-ins. Be sure to bring your student ID. His office hours are supposedly 8 a.m.-3 p.m., but you probably won’t find him there until 10 or 11 a.m.
Optometrists/Ophthalmologists:
Costco has free eye exams for members.
Alejandro Garcia [English spoken]
Oftalmologo
Near corner of Lopez Mateos and Manuel Acuña
3077-5066
Dr. Rene Castro Gonzalez Cirujano
Oftalmologo Especialista en Enfermedades de Vitreo y Retina
Santa Monica 430 (between Manuel Acuna and H Cairo Col. Centro)
3614-9482, 3614-5882 Cell: 044-333-808-3044
Marco Orozco (Spanish only)
333-189-3367
Ob/Gyns:
Dr. Zavala [English spoken]
Victoria #1531(near Pablo Neruda & Victoria)
333-444-14264
Dr. Luis Gerardo Orozco Ibarra (at San Javier Hospital)
(33) 3813-3229; 3813-3230
Homero No. 200 (Esquina Av. Mexico)
dr_Igorozco@yahoo.com.mx
Dr. José Luis Grefnes
Angulo #1855
3613-5574
Cell: 044-333-677-3413
044-333-677-3413
Dra. Judith Garcia Fletes
Ave. Jorge Alvarez del Castillo #1542, Chapultepec Country.
(Office is right by Hospital Country at end of Lopez Mateos.)
Cell: 044-333-105-5234 Office: 3280-1999
Pediatricians:
Dr. Franky
Angulo #1855
044-333-440-0981
Dr. Jorge Acedo [English spoken]
Justo Sierra #2438 Int. 104, Sector Hidalgo
3616-1391, 3616-7587
Gastro-Intestinal:
Dr. Montenayor
3rd Floor Bld. B, office 5150
Puerto de Hierro (off Patria)
3848-5455; 3848-5488
Veterinarians:
Pablo Antonio Rodarte [English speaking]
Victor Hugo #552 (off of Naciones Unidas)
3682-2817
Hospital Veterinario Vetpets: open 9-9 including weekends plus 24 hours for emergencies. Very reasonable prices.
Pharmacies:
The best selection and the best sales/discounts on medicines are at the Farmacias Guadalajara. They’re all over the place, easily recognizable by their blue sign with the outline of the cathedral on it.
INSURANCE
Car Insurance:
Lloyd Insurance
Mariano Otero #1917 Plaza Turquesa
333-122-2200
Mexican Insurance out of Nogales, Arizona
Sanborns Insurance
Costco is now providing Mexican Auto Insurance as well
www.bonitawest.com/Costco/frm Home.asp?&cm mmc=BCEmail 399B- -SERVICES- -1- -AutonIns
Health Insurance:
LAWYERS
Lawyer:
Leopoldo Valeriano Sánchez [English spoken]
Volcán Edna #1475, Residencial Moctezuma (Media cuadra Tianguis del Sol)
Zapopan 45050
3628-0090, 3628-0084, cell: 33-3954-2489
There’s a lawyer on the main UAG campus that offers free services to students. Go to the international office with your student ID.
LOCKSMITH
Locksmith:
Rigoberto Lepe CH.
24 hour service; will service houses and cars (including cars with microchips and high security); can make duplicate keys as well.
Primary phone (cell): 044-333-677-9078
Nextel ID: 52* 218137*4
Additional telephone numbers: 3658-0320; 3342-9119; 3613-7439
MISC. INFORMATION
Bookstores for Students:
The papeleria across the street from ICB on Aztecas has many books
There is a student book sale on campus at the beginning of every semester
Sandi’s: English bookstore located on Tepeyac.
Cooking Hints:
Remember you are at a higher altitude and may need to make adjustments in your recipes. Some helpful websites include: myrecipes.com, kraftfood.com, foodnetwork.com and many, many more.
Housekeepers:
You can find a housekeeper by talking to neighbors or go to the nearest coto (gated community) security gate and ask them. Cleaning ladies always leave their name and numbers with the security guards. Depending on the area you live in and how big your house is, cleaning ladies usually cost 120-250 pesos daily. They will cook, clean, iron, and babysit.
Maps:
The Guia Roji is the best map for getting around the city. They come in different shapes and sizes and can be bought at Sandi’s (the English bookstore on Tepeyac) or a Guia Roji store.
Marriage Counseling:
Christian marriage counselor who received his degree in family and marital counseling in the US and speaks English. Contact Lynn at 331-534-3073.
Pastor Ray De Lange of English Fellowship of Guadalajara. Contact him at 331-445-4779.
Med Student Wives’Club:
Great resource and support group for students and their families. Contact Yari at cyaritza@hotmail.com or Stacie at stacie_stils@hotmail.com
Phone Numbers:
The yellow pages have an English section at the front with emergency numbers and helpful information.
Other helpful numbers:
020-To make national phone calls via operator
030-You can call this number to find out the current date and time.
040-Information. You can call this to find out telephone numbers of registered businesses and individuals.
Spanish Help:
The school has a medical Spanish course that is on Saturday mornings for $140 USD per semester. A trustworthy Spanish tutor: Mario. He usually charges around $100 pesos per hour. His number is 333-190-2220.
Security:
Theft is a big problem here. Never, never leave your laptop in car, and don’t leave any bags sitting on the seats. If you have to leave a bag in a car, put it in the trunk.
Visa:
You CAN NOT stay here on a tourist visa. Your classes won’t count, and you won’t be able to go to the hospital. Get your student visa.
REAL ESTATE
Realtors:
Patricia Aguirre [English spoken]
Halcon #1337, Col. Morelos, Guadalajara 44910
3344-8088, 3344-8099)
Renting:
A lot of landlords ask for a fijador, which is basically someone who will cosign. For med students it is often difficult to find one, so offer to rent for 6-12 month increments. This can also be used as a bargaining tool. Free legal services are available for students at the main UAG campus (see “Lawyers”) to look over contracts.
RESTAURANTS
Taqueiros:
Located on Ave. Patria just north of Ave. Vallarta. (On your right if coming from Ave. Vallarta.) Great Mexican food and fun atmosphere.
Chilapeña:
Just down from Taqeiros, same side of the road but closer to Vallarta. Cozy, family run restaurant that serves great Mexican food for a great price. Open from 8 in the morning until midnight.
Little India
Raj Singh is the owner of this fine, modestly priced establishment located on Miguel de Cervantes, No. 149 (entre Lopez Cotilla y La Paz) Colonia Minerva, Guadalajara, 33-3630-9315, 331-471-4486, little_india@hotmail.com
Las Vias:
Located at the corner of Ave. Patria and Inglaterra. Famous for their tortas and the best aguas frescas around. You can sample each one of the agua flavors before choosing.
i Latina:
Rich Asian fusion food in a lively, eclectic atmosphere. Very popular at night and fills up fast. On the pricier side but worth it.
Inglaterra #3128, Colonia Vallarta Poniente, Zapopan
Antica Venezia:
Best Italian restaurant around. Located on the corner of Pompeya and Terranova, next to La Mar restaurant.
VIPS:
You’ll see these all over the place. They are Mexico’s version of Denny’s. Decent Mexican food at a good price, and you can stay as long as you want.
Chili’s:
Usually found in nicer malls (Galerias, Gran Plaza, Pavillon) as well as Plaza del Sol.
Outback:
Usually found in nicer malls (There’s one in Galerias.).
Applebee’s:
Usually found in nicer malls, and there’s also one on Ave. Patria near the main UAG campus.
Street Stands:
If you are tempted to tryout a taco stand here is a question you need to ask yourself that will help you pick wisely for your digestive system. Is it busy? If there are many people eating there it is probably safe.
SCHOOLS
There are private schools on almost every corner. They usually run anywhere from $1,800-$5,000 pesos a month. At the beginning of the year you also pay a subscription fee, uniforms, and activities fee (around $2,000 pesos each), or you can look for a state school (some are good, some are bad) that costs around $500 pesos for the entire year.
Bilingual Schools:
The American school, Lincoln School, Anderson School, Washington School, Kennedy School, Cornerstone Academy (http://www.cornerstone.com.mx/), German School of Guadalajara.
SHOPPING
This is a U.S. website, but it has UAG thread. You can buy items from and sell items to other students.
Costco & Sam’s Club:
Located across the street from each other at the intersection of Ave. Vallarta and Rafael Sanzio near the Galerias mall. Unlike the U.S., both Costco and Sam’s allow 2 people to split memberships.
Groceries:
Major grocery stores include Soriana, Mega, Superama, Chedraui. Of course, Wal-Mart, Costco and Sam’s also sell groceries and many other items from the U.S. Chedraui and Wal-Mart are usually the cheapest, and Wal-Mart has good sales.
Tianguis:
Check with your neighbors to see if there is a local tianguis (market). Vendors set up in different neighborhoods on different days of the week, and you can buy fresh fruit and vegetables (usually better quality than those in grocery stores), dairy products, fresh tortillas, meat (probably not recommended since it sits out all day), clothes, and other miscellaneous items.
Import Stores:
There are some food items that can’t be found at regular grocery stores. There are 4 stores in the area that sell US items, 1 that sells Asian food, although they are more expensive. You will pay 2 to 3 times the amount than you would back home, but if you need it, you can find it.
Aladino’s: Located on the corner of Monte Video and Pablo Neruda (Near ICB).
La Casita: Located on Terranova.
Goia? (not as great): Located on Ave. Mexico, southeast of ICB.
Asian Market: Located on Lopez Mateos near intersection of Jose Maria y Vigil
SuperLake (in Ajijic, a town on Lake Chapala 45 minutes south of the city): has just about everything. Located on the carretera, just east of Wal-Mart.
TIPPING
Here are a few general rules:
Restaurants: 10%
Baggers at grocery stores: 2-3 pesos
Gas station attendants: 3-5 pesos
TRANSLATORS
If you ever need someone to translate for you, contact English Fellowship of Guadalajara and we will assist you.
TRANSPORTATION
Taxis:
If you take a taxi, make sure you negotiate the price before you get in the car. By you getting in confirms a price. Some taxi’s have the meter so ask them to set it or they won’t. Older ones don’t so you need to negotiate. A very reliable taxi driver is Emmanuel his cell is 3310769292 he is honest and often arrives early.
Gas Stations:
It is very nice that you the gas men pump for you, but don’t get lazy. Stay aware. Always make sure they say “cero” which means “zero”. And make sure the pump numbers are on zeros. Some attendants will start cars out with some money already on the pump. They charge you then they pocket the difference.
Mechanic:
There’s workshop on the southeast corner of Ave. Patria and Ave. Vallarta that does oil changes and other things. Decent work, fair price.
“Los Cuñados”
Sr. Cipriano Torres
3627-1167, 3343-7153
UTILITIES
Paying Bills:
You need to keep track of how often each bill comes and about how much it costs. Sometimes a bill just won’t show, and then a month later your power will be turned off or they’ll over charge you. Keep track. Bills can usually be paid at Oxxo, Soriana, and banks, but to be sure check the bill itself. It will list the locations at which you can pay. And be careful: if you’re late paying, you’ll probably have to pay at a company office instead. Below are the main offices closest to ICB:
Gas:
(Depends on what company your landlord is with.)
Plaza Bonita (right next to Plaza Mexico), Zona B Local 29.
3813-2700
For gas leaks call 3668-3800
Electricity:
Closest office to Providencia is Gral. Eulogio Parra #1760
When the electricity goes out, you can call 071 to report it to CFE (the electric company). They may or may not help, but at it might make you feel better.
Megacable:
Plaza Patria
Water:
Tap water is not potable, so people have large water jugs (garrafones) delivered to their home. Ask your neighbors or the company when the trucks come to your neighborhood. These are the three main companies:
1. Ciel 3836-4616 (Owned by Coca-Cola)
2. Santorini 3678-6633
3. Bonafont 3366-2584
In addition, you will have to pay for the public water. To get to the closest water office to ICB, take Terranova south from Pablo Neruda. Then take Jose Maria Vigil left (west) just past Pisa. The water company is on your left. If you get to Lopez Mateos, you have gone too far.
Vonage vs. Skype:
You can get Vonage back in the U.S. for $25 USD a month. You bring the box here and hook it through your internet. It is a local (US) phone number. It works just like a regular phone line, always on. People can call you at any time and you can call them. The downside is the monthly fee and it runs on your internet.
Skype can be downloaded to your computer for free and you can talk to other members on Skype for free. If you want to call someone’s landline or cell phone you have to buy credits or you can open an account for a one time $29.50 subscription fee and then $30 USD a year for the phone number and unlimited calling. The down side is you have to keep your computer on. However, there are some Skype land line phones and even Skype cell phones that you can use, that can be purchased. The prices range depending on how “techy” you want to get. When you open an account to call landlines you can choose which country and state you want for a primary number to be.
Satellite TV: Sky is a pretty good satellite TV company. It costs $450 pesos a month, but you get more channels and more than half are in English. You can find their stand in the central area at the Galerias Mall. Their website: www.sky.com.mx
Cell Phones:
Cell phones in Mexico don’t function at all like they do in the U.S. You can’t buy a plan that will allow you to talk long distance, day or night with unlimited minutes. You also have to pay to receive calls at times if the person calling isn’t from your same cell phone company. You have to pay from to call from a cell phone to a landline than from a cell phone to a cell phone, and you have to pay more to call from a cell phone long distance. Some packages (usually 1 year contracts) with TelCel give you the option to have 10 friends, and you can call them for free up to 5 minutes. Most people pay as they go; they load minutes on their cell phone at Oxxo and when they run out, they buy more. Texting is popular because it uses less minutes than calling.
If you are going to stay in Guadalajara, Moviestar, Telcel, or NexTel will work, but if you plan on doing any travelling outside the city, you need Telcel. Most people have Telcel rather than Moviestar. Nextel is more limited because it doesn’t operate like other cell phones; it is a radio operated system.
If your (Telcel) phone is lost or stolen, you can go to one of their main hubs (One is in Gran Plaza, 3rd floor.) and pay a small amount to get your same number transferred to a new phone.
Dialing Phones:
Dialing phones and cell phones can be very confusing because the area codes change depending on whether or not you are calling a landline or cell phone, and whether it is with the same company or not. In general, these are the rules:
When calling cell to cell, put (33) in front. Most people include this in their phone number when they give it to you. (Ex: 331-256-5656; 33 is actually the area code for Guadalajara.)
When calling cell to landline, you can just use the 8 digit landline number. (Ex: 3673-7565)
When calling long distance from cell to landline, you need to put 01 in front of the area code and number. Same goes for long distance from landline to landline.
When calling landline to cell, you need to put the state area code (044) in front of the number.
Internet:
There are two companies: Prodigy Infinitum (only internet & phone) and Megacable/Telecable (cable, internet, phone). You get a lot more for your money with mega/telecable. (It is named Megacable or Telecable depending on which part of the city you live in, but it is the same company.) You can open a business account with Telecable for better speed, but it is more expensive. No matter what service you have, the internet will probably go down when it rains.
If you have any suggestions or updated information for this packet, please contact us using our web site contact form.