New Requirements for Travelers
Under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)
The proposed implementation timeline has two phases:
. On January 8, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document.
. As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible. Ample advance notice will be provided to enable the public to obtain passports or passport cards for land/sea entries.
If you have any questions, please consult your local passport office or on the internet at: http://travel.state.gov/travel/travel_1744.html
GETTING AROUND
•
Car rental is available at the airport from all major companies. Daily
rates without insurance start at about $25 for a compact. If you carry
Mastercard or Visa, you probably already carry insurance that covers car
rental in Mexico.
• Taxis from the airport start at $30. Collectivo taxis run regularly
from Sayulita to San Pancho and La Peñita.
•Pacifico Bus service offers local bus service between the village
square and Puerto Vallarta from 6 am to 8 pm. The current schedule is
posted in the village square at Choco Banana Café.
WEATHER
The weather in Sayulita
is generally a bit
milder than in Puerto Vallarta. November through February is the coolest,
driest period with temperatures around 75-80 degrees F. Nights are usually
cool enough to
need a sweater and jeans. It gets hotter and more humid in April and May.
The rainy season begins in June and continues through September, but there
are may sunny days because most rain storms are intense, but brief.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Occasionally there
are mosquitoes or no-see-ems, especially around sunset if you are near
the jungle. If you need medicine or advice,
visit the pharmacy, which is run by a doctor. There is a hospital in
neighboring San Francisco for emergencies. (a six- minute drive to the
north)
MONEY
The closest ATM is
in Bucerias. For a bank--including changing foreign currency--you need
to go to Mezcales, Puerto Vallarta or La Penita. The liquor store and
Paleteria will change your money for slightly higher
rates.
COMMUNICATIONS
• Public telephones
are located in the Paleteria. Rates to the US are almost $2 a minute.
• There are five cyber cafes within walking distance of the town
square. Hourly rates are about $4 and hour.
VISAS AND OTHER OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS
US citizens can use
a birth certificate and drivers license or passport to enter Mexico. For
visa costs and length of stay, consult the Mexican Embassy or consulate.
Most people say things go easier if you use a passport rather than a birth
certificate or driver’s license.
CHECKING IN AND OUT
Unless you have made
other arrangements, you may arrive anytime after 4 pm. Sayulita time,
which is one hour earlier than Puerto Vallarta time. (If it is 3 p.m.
in PV, it will be 4 p.m. in Sayulita). This time
difference is important to remember if you are leaving Sayulita to catch
a flight at the PV airport. Check out time on your last day is noon.
KEYS
Your key is a lock
box mounted on the wall next to your front door. I suggest you put the
key back in there when you go out, so it won't get lost. And please keep
the little sliding door on the lockbox closed to
keep dust out of it. The combination is changed for each new rentor.The
back doors to the one and two- bedroom apartments only lock and unlock
from the inside.
BATHROOM
The toilets
and septic system will NOT handle any sort of paper—so you have
to put ALL used toilet paper in the waste basket that is next to the toilet.
If you forget, you will see a “hook” you can use to fish it
out before flushing. This is a common practice in Mexico, so I hope you
will understand. It is very expensive to repair a clogged septic sytem.
GARBAGE
There are 2 garbage
cans near the road in front of the property. It is a good idea to remove
garbage from your casita every day so you do not attract ants. If any
food is left out (e.g. food scraps on the kitchen
counter), ants will be there soon. So to avoid this problem, put away
any opened food, and keep floors and counters clean—especially at
night. Fruits and vegetables that have not been cut are okay.
DRINKING WATER
Purified water is provided in a dispenser on the kitchen counter. If you run out of water, there are full bottles in the first floor breezeway in the back of the building.
HOUSEKEEPER
If you are staying
for less than a month, the housekeeper will come to clean your place and
change towels every 3-4 days. She will generally come around noon. If
you are staying for a month or longer, she will
come weekly. It is customary (but not necessary) to tip the housekeeper
and the gardener. A suggested amount is $1 US per day.
TOWELS
In order to keep your rental costs down, Casa de las Frutas does not provide beach towels or beach mats. You may bring these with you or buy them in town at very reasonable prices.The towels provided are not meant to be brought to the beach.
LAUNDRY
There are no laundry
facilites for guests on the property. In town, within walking distance,
there are several places to take your laundry—one good one is next
to the Farmacia on the way into town on
the left just before the bridge.