Modern Adventure takes the health and safety of our employees, guests, and partners very seriously. Our health and safety protocols during your trip such as physical distancing, masking and other safety practices will be in accordance with up-to-date local regulations in your destination. You will be informed of any specific protocols aheads of travel, and in-destination by our local guides and/or Modern Adventure trip leader.

Our accommodations offer free Wi-Fi, and we recommend using Wi-Fi supported apps such as WhatsApp, FaceTime or Skype as an alternative to making calls from your mobile phone. For US travelers, many phone providers have temporary international travel plans. Check with your provider for options.

In Mexico the power plugs and sockets are of type A and B. The standard voltage is 127 V and the standard frequency is 60 Hz.For guests traveling from the United States of America, you won't need a power plug adapter in Mexico.

If your destination requires proof of a COVID-19 vaccination and/or negative test result taken within 72 hours of travel, you will be required to confirm that you are fully vaccinated with an authorized COVID-19 vaccine, and/or have tested negative for COVID-19, and have the required documentation to prove it. Otherwise you will be ineligible to participate on the trip, and ineligible for a refund.

If you are on prescription medication, you should ask your doctor for a letter detailing your condition and prescribed drugs. This prevents possible issues at customs and helps the local doctor if you need to buy medication while traveling. If you wear prescription glasses or contact lenses, we recommend you bring an extra pair and a copy of the prescription in case of emergency.

September is a good time of year to travel in the region. Expect daily average highs in the upper 80s and lows in the mid-50s. In a typical year, there is very little rainfall in the month, so you can expect sunny skies and warm weather.

Casual clothing is appropriate for Oaxaca. Cotton and other natural fabrics that are lightweight and breathable are best. When visiting inland cities and towns in Mexico, plan for a more conservative style. Sleeved tops and long pants or skirts work well. They'll also be handy for protecting against the sun and mosquitoes. We also recommended a sweater or a warm jacket for cooler mornings outdoors.

You'll have two evenings to spend on your own in Oaxaca. If you want to make reservations at one of Oaxaca’s higher-end restaurants, you may want to bring a dressy option.

While this trip features heavily on food, flavor, and cooking, there will be opportunities to get outside for activities such as hiking, biking, or even some time at the spa. If you plan to take part in any of these activities, make sure you pack appropriate clothing, footwear and swimwear. We’ll also spend time on foot, so make sure to bring sturdy walking shoes. We will travel by private bus between destinations, so you might want to pack along a pair of headphones for the ride. Additionally a bag that closes completely, such as backpack, prevents personal items from falling out when they are being stored in the bus storage compartments. Here are additional items we recommend you to bring:

• Hat (to protect yourself from the sun)

• Sunscreen

• Sunglasses

• Sandals or flip-flops

• Sturdy walking shoes

• Bathing suit

• Phone charger

• Headphones

• Travel pillow

• Ear plugs

We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance. Travel insurance allows you to seek reimbursement for your trip costs; if your trip plans change for unforeseeable reasons, or if you need to get medical help, emergency transport, and for theft, loss or damage of items while traveling. While Modern Adventure does not recommend any policy specifically, we encourage you to compare benefits and options, a few of which are listed below. We recommend that any plan you select includes trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage, at minimum.

• Allianz: https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/find-a-plan

• Travelex: https://www.travelexinsurance.com/travel-insurance/plans/

• IMG Global: https://www.imglobal.com/travel-insurance

• Squaremouth: https://www.squaremouth.com/

• US citizens do not require a visa to enter Mexico as tourists, for stays up to 180 days. The only requirement is a valid US passport. We recommend that your passport is valid for 6 calendar months beyond your planned departure date from Mexico.

• On arrival in Mexico, you will be issued a visitor’s permit, known as a FMM (Forma Migratoria Multiple). Make sure you keep this form in a safe place, as you’ll need it to exit the country. If you lose this form, you may be charged a fee to get a new one upon departure from Mexico.

• Not a US citizen? Please check with the Mexico Embassy or Consulate for information and requirements.

The local currency is Mexican pesos, worth roughly 20 pesos to 1 US dollar. There are numerous ATMs in Oaxaca to access your bank back home. Many restaurants and shops in Oaxaca City accept credit cards; however you will want some peso notes when traveling outside of the main city.

We do our absolute best to make your Modern Adventure as simple as possible. This means almost everything experience we have together will be prepaid. We recommend bringing enough money with you for a few meals on your own, as well as any souvenirs or local arts and crafts you might like to bring back with you.

Most gratuities and tips are included in our trip cost. However there are a few instances when you should consider tipping:

• When dining out on your own, it is customary to tip restaurant staff 10% to 15%

• With taxi drivers, it’s customary to round up the bill to the nearest peso.

• Tipping our local and Modern Adventure guides is at your discretion; to show your appreciation for good service, we recommend tipping each guide $50 to $70 per guest.