Guanajuato
The city of Guanajuato, founded in the 16th century, is the capital of the state with the same name and it is one of the most important colonial cities in Latin America. The city was declared as Unesco World Heritage Site in 1988.
Guanajuato astonishes the visitor with the charm of its relaxed atmosphere, its labyrinthine cobblestone callejones (alleyways), picturesque squares and underground streets. While being a small provincial town, Guanajuato has a number of attractions, from beautiful colonial buildings to modern museums, from the mines to the typical food.
This city is located about 350 km (220 miles) northwest of Mexico City and its altitude of 2012 meters (6601 feet) above sea level, ensures that the weather is always nice. The rainy season goes from June to September, which usually means a shower late afternoon. Specifically, during the month of June, the average minimum and maximum daily temperatures are 13° C and 27 ° C (55° F and 81 ° F) with possible light rain.
Guanajuato International Airport, also known as Leon-Bajio Airport (BJX) is located 32 kilometers (20 miles) from CIMAT.
CIMAT
CIMAT www.cimat.mx, founded in 1980, is a public research center within the CONACYT Centers System, dedicated to the generation, transmission and application of expertise in the areas of mathematics, statistics and computer science.
Oriented towards scientific research, high-level graduate education and training, the improvement of mathematical knowledge in society, and solving problems that fall within its areas of interest, CIMAT seeks to contribute to the scientific and technological development of Mexico.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
The nearest airport is Guanajuato International Airport (BJX), with domestic flights from Mexico City, Monterrey, and Tijuana, and international flights from Houston, Dallas, and Los Angeles, in the United States.
From the Mexico City airport, connections are available to Guanajuato airport. Guanajuato can also be reached by bus on either ETN or Primera Plus.
From the Guanajuato International Airport
From the airport, you can get to Guanajuato by taxi. Just down the hall from the arrival area, you will find a booth selling tickets for the taxis. Ask for a ticket to "Guanajuato / La Valenciana" if you are going directly to CIMAT or to our hotel CIMATEL. The taxi ride takes about an hour and costs approximately $590.00 MXP.
CIMATEL is located just opposite the Templo La Valenciana church across the square of the same name. CIMAT, which is located approximately 200 meters from the CIMATEL, can be reached by following the road to the Mina (mine) and Mount Cubilete.
From Mexico City’s International Airport
Once outside the arrival area, go to any of the taxi stands that are located in the terminals. Ask for a ticket to the Northern bus terminal, also known as the Terminal Central del Norte. Make sure you specify this Northern bus terminal because there are several bus terminals in Mexico City, one for every cardinal point. Once there, follow the instructions to get to CIMAT by bus.
By Bus
You can reach Guanajuato (city of Guanajuato in the state of Guanajuato) by bus from Mexico City by departing from the Northern Bus Terminal. The "Primera Plus" or "ETN" line are recommended. Departures start at 7:30 AM and continue approximately every 90 minutes until 9:15 PM. The trip takes 4.5 - 5 hrs. and it costs between $600.00 and $730.00 MXP.
Once you arrive in Guanajuato, take a taxi to CIMAT or "La Valenciana" right outside the bus terminal. The taxi ride takes approximately 20 minutes and costs equivalent to 6 to 7 US Dlls.
SAFETY
Regarding the seismic activity in Mexico, the southwestern corner of the Gulf of Mexico is exposed to intense deep seismic activity caused by the subduction of the Cocos Plate. However, the State of Guanajuato, located in the center of the country, is in an area of low seismic activity. In particular, the City of Guanajuato is in an earthquake-free zone. You can take a look at http://sismos.gob.mx/en/sismos/Zonas_Sismicas_en_Mexico
About crime and personal safety, one has to acknowledge that Mexico has experienced an increase in criminal organization activities in some areas. However, the Mexican government makes efforts to protect major tourist destinations, like Guanuajuato and San Miguel de Allende.
The American travel warning (https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/mexico-travel-warning.html) does not have any advisory in effect for the State of Guanajuato. Nontheless, as in many touristic places, one should always excercise caution, particularly at night by avoiding walking in lonely alleys.
More sites with information about travel and safety:
http://guanajuatotravelguide.com/index.shtml?GTGChapter1.shtml?DALanguage=EN