Los Algodones Medical Guide
COTUCO MEXICALI 22 AYUNTAMIENTO
Juntos... ¡Claro que podemos!
Comité de Turismo y Convenciones del Municipio de Mexicali
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INDEX Welcome
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Why people are choosing Los Algodones as their Health Tourism Destination?
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How the Medical Lane works?
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At Customs
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City Map
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Tips for traveling with pets
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What to do in Los Algodones?
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San Felipe
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Emergency telephone numbers in Los Algodones
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Doctor’s Directory
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| PRESENTATION For four years, the Tourism & Convention Bureau of the Municipality of Mexicali has published this Medical Guide that seeks to be a reference for visitors who come to Los Algodones, looking for medical attention. In this fourth edition, we have gotten together information regarding doctors, clinics and providers of health services, which through the years have created an upward trajectory of prestige, honesty and excellent results, contributing in this way to make our city an outstanding destination that offers integral services in medical tourism, always keeping an excellent balance between quality and cost. We put information in your hands about clinics with the most advanced technology and infrastructure, laboratories with advance analysis procedures, medical specialties and subspecialties for the care of different diseases, as well as information and recommendations to consider when you come to Los Algodones and return to your country. We hope your visit to Los Algodones be as pleasant as possible and discover for yourself why we are the Dental Capital. Tourism and Convention Bureau of the Municipality of Mexicali
WELCOME Los Algodones is the northernmost city in Mexico, a small friendly town that has become the Dental Capital. As Mayor, it is my honor to give you the warmest welcome to a place where you will have the opportunity to take a trip through the history and the present of our Valley and being amazed with the warm of its people. I invite you to enjoy it. An important part of Los Algodones’s economic activity lies on the Medical Tourism, which has gained more strength in recent years and has placed our city in the international spotlight due to the quality and cost of its medical services, also by offering the highest technology in this field.
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For this reason, I would like to present the Medical Guide of Los Algodones, which will help you as a reference to let you know a little of all that Los Algodones has to offer. It has been designed to make your stay with us more pleasant, practical and effective, giving you the opportunity to find what you need for your medical care in Los Algodones, as well as important information for an easy return to your country. I extend you a friendly invitation to visit Los Algodones and be witness of the medical services that our city counts with. Welcome to Los Algodones, it will be a pleasure to receive you.
COTUCO MEXICALI 22 AYUNTAMIENTO
Juntos... ÂĄClaro que podemos!
ComitĂŠ de Turismo y Convenciones del Municipio de Mexicali
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WHY PEOPLE ARE CHOOSING LOS ALGODONES AS THEIR HEALTH TOURISM DESTINATION? Quality health services Doctors affiliated with Mexican and American Medical Associations, as well as certified by international health organizations Faster medical attention in Mexico than the U.S. or Canada Doctors that accept American medical insurances Bilingual doctors and personnel A Medical Lane in the international border crossing between Mexicali and Calexico (40 minutes from Los Algodones), for exclusive use of foreign tourists coming to Mexicali or surroundings to any medical service affiliated to the Medical Lane The security level that prevails in Los Algodones Lower cost in dental and medical procedures in Los Algodones than in the U.S. or Canada
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COSTS IN MEXICO AND THE U.S.
Procedure
Avarage U.S. Cost (USD)
Avarage Mexicali /Los Algodones Cost (USD)
Regular teeth cleaning
$140.00
$33.00
Dental Implants ("All in Six" System with Nobel Biocare)
$29,000.00
$11,385.00
Laser Teeth Whitening
$900.00
$220.00
Root Canal Treatment
$1,200.00
$198.00
Zirconia dental crown
$1,600.00
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HOW THE MEDICAL LANE WORKS? The Medical Lane is an access at the border crossing between Mexicali and Calexico only for foreigners that used health services in the Municipality of Mexicali such as hospitals, clinics, doctors, drugstores or laboratories that are members of the Medical lane and provide to patients a pass to return to the U.S. through the Medical Lane that has less waiting time to cross the border than the regular lanes. In order to be able to use the Medical Lane, a patient must: Show and give the Medical Lane Pass at the lane entrance. The pass must be filled out correctly and stamped by COTUCO and the doctor, hospital, drugstore or laboratory where the patient was treated or bought the medication Drive a vehicle with U.S. or Canadian plates, or be carried in an authorized car to use the Medical Lane from a hospital or doctor Show identification as passport, driver license or U.S. permanent resident card Present a document that endorses your medical consultation: doctor receipt, medical prescription, medical service appointment card, etc. In case you just get a prescription filled, you must present the drugstore receipt for a minimum purchase of $400.00 pesos in medication Only up to 5 people per vehicle will be able to enter to the Medical Lane The Medical Lane Pass is valid for 15 days after the date it is given to the patient
Para poder identificar los médicos, hospitales, farmacias y laboratorios que cuentan con pases para el Carril Médico busque este símbolo en el directorio de esta guía
COMPLAINTS ABOUT MEDICAL MALPRACTICES Complaints for a medical malpractice must be submitted to the Medical Arbitration Commission of the State of Baja California (CAMEBC for its acronyms in Spanish), personal way by the complainant, verbally or in writing and shall contain the following information: Name, address and the phone numbers of the complainant and the medical service provider. A brief description of the facts complained of. Number of user member or registration when the complaint is filed against a public health institution that assigns registration number to users. The way the complainant wants to be compensated by the medical service provider. If you are acting on behalf of a third party, you must present the documentation of evidence of their representation as a relative or otherwise. ID with photograph and signature or fingerprint of the complainant. Simple and readable copies of documents that support the complaint facts (notes and prescriptions, appointment booklet, etc.) must be added. For further information please contact: Medical Arbitration Commission of the State of Baja California Paseo de los Héroes S/N local H9-31 Plaza Fiesta, Mexicali, Baja California, 21000 (686) 557-2990 Lunes – viernes 8:00 – 15:00 Dr. Ernesto Villegas camebc@hotmail.com www.camebc.com.mx 13
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AT CUSTOMS WHAT IS PROHIBITED TO BRING TO LOS ALGODONES FROM THE U.S.? Weapons and ammo Narcotics/illegal drugs Alive fishes Protected or endangered species of flora and wildlife, as well as articles of these species Any kind of children images representing them in a degrading or ridiculous way; or on attitudes of incitement to violence or destruction Used clothing that is not part of your personal baggage WHAT TO DECLARE WHEN I CROSS FROM THE U.S. TO LOS ALGODONES? Vegetable or animal origin products Money, checks or other negotiable instruments totaling more than $10,000.00 dollars
For more information please visit: • http://www2.sat.gob.mx/BienvenidoaMexico WHAT IS PROHIBITED TO BRING TO THE U.S. FROM LOS ALGODONES? Narcotics/illegal drugs Protected or endangered species of flora and wildlife Pork meat, neither raw nor cooked Cuban cigars Switchblade knives Sea turtle boots or any other articles of endangered species are prohibited Most fruits are prohibited Do not take U.S. fruits and meats to Mexico. You cannot bring them back
Fines of $50 to $1,000 dlls. may result if you fail to declared agricultural items. Before you go to Mexico, ask a CBP Officer for a list of items you can bring back. WHAT TO DECLARE WHEN I CROSS FROM LOS ALGODONES TO THE U.S.? All items you purchased and are carrying with you upon return to the U.S. Repairs or alterations to any items you took abroad and then brought back, even if the repairs/alterations were performed free of charge Items you brought home for someone else
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You must state on the CBP declaration, in U.S. currency, what you actually paid for each item. The price must include all taxes. If you don’t know for sure, estimate. If you did not buy the item yourself—for example, if it is a gift—estimate its fair retail value in the country where you received it Money, checks or other negotiable instruments totaling more than $10,000.00 dollars $800 exemption for gifts and personal articles, including one liter of alcoholic beverages per person over 21 years old every 30 days For more information please visit: • http://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/canada-mexico-travel WHAT MEDICATIONS CAN YOU BRING BACK TO THE U.S.? To know what medications you can bring back with you into the U.S. please visit the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration website: www.dea.gov; we suggest as well visiting the next websites with recommendation regarding this issue:
• DEA: http://goo.gl/GWALA • FDA: http://goo.gl/9ufQBu • CBP: http://goo.gl/S3ncXj For more information please visit the next U.S. government agencies’ websites: • U.S. Food and Drug Administration www.fda.gov 1-855-543-3784 • U.S. Customs and Border Protection www.cbp.gov (760) 768-2626 (Calexico Port of Entry)
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San Diego, CA
Restaurant Hotel Information / Informaciรณn Red cross / Cruz Roja Fire Dept. / Bomberos Hospital
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Internacional
LOS ALGODONES MAP
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TIPS FOR TRAVELING WITH PETS Bring the pet’s vaccination record and a copy. The record must contain dates that the vaccinations were applied, especially rabies and deworming, and the veterinarian complete information (license number) Provide complete pet’s owner information and address where the pet will be in Mexico. Bring pet’s dry food for feeding. Food rations should be for the day or days of your staying in Mexico. Transport the pet in a clean container without accesories If you bring four or more pets, you must pay the Pets Import Health Certificate into the module of the Secretary of Agriculture (SAGARPA-SENASICA for its acronyms in Spanish) of $2,042.00 pesos The requirements mentioned above apply only to dogs and cats, in case you want to transport/import other species you must comply with the appropriate regulations. For more information please visit: • http://www.senasica.gob.mx/?id=623
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In 2015 Mexicali received around two hundred thousand visitors from the U.S. and Canada that accesed medical services. 200,000 PATIENTS CANNOT BE WRONG
WHAT TO DO IN LOS ALGODONES? As entrance of the Municipality of Mexicali, Los Algodones gives to visitors the opportunity to do different activities in the surrounding and in the cities of Mexicali and San Felipe, where you will find several cultural and recreational areas. From art exhibitions in galleries and museums, parks, restaurants and entertainment, to extreme sports and ecotourism activities. RESTAURANTS Los Algodones has excellent Mexican restaurants that offer delicious food even those that can be found 40 minutes away in the city of Mexicali, where a variety of restaurants from traditional Chinese food of this region are located, as well as the new cuisine of author or fusion that mix Mexican, Asian, American and Baja Med cuisines, using organic products harvested in the Mexicali Valley. For more information please visit
www.cotuco.com.mx 24
vivemexicali
SAN FELIPE
Where the desert meets the sea To visit the Port of San Felipe is find a unique place in the world, it is to feel the warmth of the Sea of Cortez, home of thousands of species that is the world’s aquarium, as the French oceanographer Jacques Custeau named, it is to feel the greatness of the desert which is house of the flora and fauna of the region. We invite you to take a tour by San Felipe: a Paradise of unmatched natural wealth.
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It is mandatory to walk by the boardwalk and witnessing an unusual phenomenon in the wold the “Bajamar” (low tide), which consists of the removal of the tide up to 450 ft from the beach. This event just happen in 3 beaches in the world and you can witness in San Felipe.
Only 8 miles from San Felipe is an awesome place called the Valley of the Giants, which is named after the species of giant cactus that are native of this region. This is an ideal place for photographs due to the cactus offer an unforgettable scene by their height that is up to 56 ft. In Rancho Puertecitos you will find natural pools of sulphurous water, considered medical, relaxing and healthing, which can only be seen when the tide lows. This place is located at 46 miles south of San Felipe.
In the nearby area known as “Valle Chico� are several cave paintings, which are part of the remains of the first settlers of this region. Islote de Consag is an impressive rock located just 18 nautical miles west of San Felipe. It is the home of several seabirds as well as a unique area for those who enjoy sport fishing.
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EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS IN LOS ALGODONES
TOURIST INFORMATION: (686) 551-9800 TOLL FREE FROM THE U.S.: 1-888-COTUCO2 EMERGENCIES: 066 RED CROSS: 066 FIRE DEPARTMENT: (658) 517-7777 TOURISTIC ASSISTANCE: 078 ANONYMOUS COMPLAINT: 089 HIGHWAY POLICE: (686) 554-2909 ANIMAL CONTROL CENTER: (686) 563-4542 INTERNATIONAL LOS ALGODONES PORT OF ENTRY: (686) 551-5217 PUERTO INTERNACIONAL DE ENTRADA ANDRADE: (760) 572-0089 INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE MIGRACIÓN: (658) 517-7721 PERMISOS DE IMPORTACIÓN PARA MASCOTAS (SENASICA) (686) 567-8506 / (686) 553-1560
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For more information please call:
Mexicali +52 (686) 551-98-00/01 From the U.S. 1-888-COTUCO2 www.cotuco.com.mx cotucomexicali