43rd ISYA-2023

From July 17th to August 4th 2023

INAOE, PUEBLA, MÉXICO

Logistics and Venue

 

 

VENUE

 

 

 

TRAVELLING TO PUEBLA and INAOE

 

Getting to Puebla - INAOE from Mexico City International Aiport
  • From the Mexico City International Airport to Puebla, there is a comfortable bus service by "Estrella Roja", which runs from Mexico City airport to the city of Puebla. These buses arrive at the "Paseo Destino" station. Estrella Roja leaves from zone D at the airport, next to International Arrivals (zone E). You can pay for the bus ticket in a kiosk in front of the bus departing zone. The fare to pay is 304 pesos. The ride takes about two and a half hours. Those wanting to see the landscape (once outside Mexico City!) should sit on the right-hand side of the bus.
  • Buses departing from the airport to are generally scheduled each hour from 1:00 am to 12 pm. Please see the updated timetable of Estrella Roja https://www.estrellaroja.com.mx/destinos  for more information.
  • Once in the Paseo Destino Station, you can ask for a secure taxi called "Taxis Ejecutivo Paseo Destino" that operates in the station. The taxi fare is about 200 pesos, and the ride takes about half an hour. Tell the taxi driver to drop you at INAOE in Tonantzintla, commonly called "El Antiguo Observatorio".
  • We strongly advise against taxiing from Mexico City airport to Puebla as the fare will be astronomical.
  • Suppose you are highly adventurous and insist on driving to Tonantzintla. In that case, the basic instruction is to go to the city of Puebla (120 km East), then, after entering the town, head to Cholula (8 km West) and then to Tonantzintla (5 km South).
  • To make life easier, exiting the Mexico City International Airport take "Boulevard Aeropuerto" to the South. After 3 to 5 km, take "Calzada Ignacio Zaragoza", a broad freeway road, towards the East. After some 15 km, it leads to the beginning of the motorway. Make sure to Take "Puebla cuota" and NOT" Puebla libre" (a rather bad road).

 

Getting to Puebla - INAOE by bus
  • If arriving at CAPU, we recommend getting an official taxi. You can take the yellow and white taxi called "Taxi Seguro", the fare is about 200 pesos to Tonantzintla and the ride takes about half an hour. Tell the taxi driver to drop you at INAOE in Tonantzintla, commonly called "El Antiguo Observatorio".

 

If arriving at the International Airport of Puebla
  • The International Airport of Puebla in Huejotzingo (PBC) is 25 km from the city of Puebla, the state capital; daily operations are on a 24-hour basis. Its official name is Aeropuerto Internacional de Puebla Hermanos Serdán. Inaugurated in 1985, the airport is one of the newest in Mexico and serves primarily the Puebla and Tehuacan regions. The airport offers car rental, taxis and ATM services; there is parking for cars, but no hotel on the premises.
  • Airlines and destinations you can fly from Hermanos Serdán International airport (PBC) are:
    • Volaris: Cancun (CUN), Tijuana (TIJ) , Monterrey (MTY)
    • Viva Aerobus: Guadalajara (GDL), Monterrey (MTY)
    • United Airlines: Houston (IAH)


Taxis

  • There is a taxi stand called "Transportes Terrestres" in the airport, tell the driver to take you to your destination. The fare is about 300 pesos to Puebla or Cholula. If you need a receipt, you can ask for a "recibo" to the taxi driver.

Useful Telephone numbers:

  • Puebla International Airport: 52 227 102-5080
  • Taxi "Transportes terrestres": 52 222 750-3654

 

 

Santa Maria de Tonantzintla

It is the town of the municipality of San Andrés Cholula, the headquarters of the "Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Optica y Electronica (INAOE)".
It is located 5 km from Cholula and about 15 km from the City of Puebla.

Santa MaríaTonantzintla treasures one of the jewels of the Mexican indigenous baroque, the exuberant Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, characterized by magnificent interior ornamentation of polychrome plasterwork.

The word "Tonantzintla" comes from "Nahuatl" and means "Place of our beloved mother". During pre-Hispanic times there was a shrine dedicated to mother Tonantzin, a fertility goddess related to mother earth.
With the arrival of the Spanish, the shrine was replaced by the Christian church, and the town's name was changed to Santa María de Tonantzintla in honour of the Virgin Mary.

In the town centre, it is located about 100m from the INAOE, and there you can visit, in addition to the church, its square, craft shops and some small typical food restaurants and cafes.

 

 

Cholula

Cholula is one of Mexico's most historically significant towns and is richly ornamented with colonial architecture and ancient landmarks. Situated on Puebla's western flanks, Cholula comprises two distinct areas and diverse subdivisions of lively "barrios" (neighbourhoods). Explore the town's barrios and learn about the busy local calendar of brightly coloured religious festivals and saints' days. Visit Mexico's largest Pyramid and a fascinating archaeology park.

San Pedro Cholula is where you'll find a wide selection of churches, museums and an archaeological zone. Start the day with a visit to the Plaza de la Concordia, known as the "Zocalo", to grab a quick breakfast of traditional street food from the vendors that line the Plaza. Check out the Doric columns, known as the "Portales", on the Plaza's west side. Head north to find the Museum of the City of Cholula. Learn about the region's habitation, stretching back to 1,000 BCE.

Don't miss seeing the PirámideTepanapa, also known as the Great Pyramid of Cholula. In terms of volume, this ancient structure outsizes the Great Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt. The archaeological site is a testament to the city's ancient history, which includes centuries of Toltec and Olmec rule. Learn about the Spanish ambush of the town and the Cholula Massacre, which was part of Hernán Cortés' plan to conquer the Aztecs.

See some of these early colonial churches, such as the "La Virgen de los Remedios" Sanctuary, which is situated on top of the Great Pyramid, and the San Gabriel Monastery on the site of the former Quetzalcoatl Temple.

San Andres Cholula is the heart of the town's vibrant nightlife. Explore the neighbourhoods of this district to find exciting clubs and bars, as well as fantastic local dining. Rise early to see clear views of the town's surrounding volcanoes Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl.

Cholula is situated 9 miles (14.6 km) west of Puebla, the capital city of Puebla state. Reach the town in less than an hour by bus, taxi or car from the capital city. Get around on foot or by bike in this compact town.

Weather in Cholula

 

 

Puebla

The City of "Puebla de los Angeles", now "Puebla de Zaragoza", is located in central Mexico, 120 km southeast of Mexico City and 280 km from the Gulf of Mexico. It is located in the central-western area of the state of Puebla, in the Valley of Puebla-Tlaxcala. It has one of the most beautiful landscapes in Mexico, having the natural scenery of the Popocatepetl volcano and his lifelong companion Iztaccíhuatl.

The City of Puebla is a strategic communication and commerce spot, offering visitors the benefits of a city that is modern, entrepreneurial, competitive and committed to the development of the country; while offering a large number of cultural, natural and historical attractions that only a city with more than four centuries of history can offer. During your visit, you should take advantage of the Cathedral, considered one of the most beautiful in the world, with the tallest towers of all the cathedrals on the continent. The famous "Capilla del Rosario" (Our Lady of the Rosary Chapel) has been called the Eighth Wonder of the World since its opening on April 16, 1690. The "BibliotecaPalafoxiana" is the only ancient library of the Americas recognized by UNESCO as a Memory of the World in June 2005.

Some important historical events have occurred in the city of Puebla, making it an essential reference in the history of Mexico. Most importantly, it was the site of the Cinco de Mayo Battle on May 5, 1862, in which the Mexican Army defeated the French Army, considered the strongest at the time.

You can also enjoy Puebla's cuisine, one of the most varied and exquisite in the world, with dishes such as Mole Poblano, ChilesenNogada, Chalupas and Cemitas.

For further information, please visit the official web page of Puebla:

Puebla Official Page (https://www.visitpuebla.mx/en/)

Helpful links:
https://www.britannica.com/place/Puebla-state-Mexico
https://destinationlesstravel.com/things-to-do-in-puebla-mexico/

Weather in Puebla