Los Algodones Medical Guide 3 INDEX | PRESENTATION For four years, the Tourism & Convention Bureau of the Municipality of Welcome 6 Mexicali has published this Medical Guide that seeks to be a reference for visitors who come to Los Algodones, looking for medical attention. Why people are choosing Los Algodones as their 8 In this fourth edition, we have gotten together information regarding Health Tourism Destination? 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 outs- How the Medical Lane works? 10 tanding destination that offers integral services in , always keeping an excellent balance between quality and cost. At Customs 14 We put information in your hands about clinics with the most advan- ced technology and infrastructure, laboratories with advance analy- City Map 22 sis procedures, medical specialties and subspecialties for the care of different diseases, as well as information and recommendations to Tips for traveling with pets 26 consider when you come to Los Algodones and return to your coun- try. We hope your visit to Los Algodones be as pleasant as possible and discover for yourself why we are the Dental Capital. What to do in Los Algodones? 28 Tourism and Convention Bureau of the Municipality of Mexicali

San Felipe 34

Emergency telephone numbers in Los Algodones 43

Doctor’s Directory 47 WELCOME Los Algodones is the northernmost city in know a little of all that Los Algodones has to offer. It has been , a small friendly town that has be- designed to make your stay with us more pleasant, practical come the Dental Capital. As Mayor, it is my and effective, giving you the opportunity to find what you need honor to give you the warmest welcome to for your medical care in Los Algodones, as well as important in- a place where you will have the opportuni- formation for an easy return to your country. ty to take a trip through the history and the present of our Valley and being amazed I extend you a friendly invitation to visit Los Algodones and with the warm of its people. I invite you to be witness of the medical services that our city counts with. enjoy it. Welcome to Los Algodones, it will be a pleasure to receive you. An important part of Los Algodones’s economic activity lies on the Medical Tourism, which has gained more strength in re- JAIME RAFAEL DÍAZ OCHOA cent years and has placed our city in the international spotlight Mayor of Mexicali, Baja . due to the quality and cost of its medical services, also by offe- ring the highest technology in this field.

For this reason, I would like to present the Medical Guide of Los Algodones, which will help you as a reference to let you

6 7 8 9 WHY PEOPLE ARE CHOOSING LOS COSTS IN MEXICO AND THE U.S. ALGODONES AS THEIR HEALTH TOURISM DESTINATION? Avarage U.S. Avarage Mexicali Procedure Quality health services Cost (USD) /Los Algodones Doctors affiliated with Mexican and American Medical Associa- Cost (USD) tions, as well as certified by international health organizations Faster medical attention in Mexico than the U.S. or Regular teeth cleaning $140.00 $33.00 Doctors that accept American medical insurances Bilingual doctors and personnel Dental Implants ("All in Six" $29,000.00 $11,385.00 A Medical Lane in the international border crossing between System with Nobel Biocare) Mexicali and Calexico (40 minutes from Los Algodones), for ex- clusive use of foreign tourists coming to Mexicali or surroundings Laser Teeth Whitening $900.00 $220.00 to any medical service affiliated to the Medical Lane The security level that prevails in Los Algodones Root Canal Treatment $1,200.00 $198.00 Lower cost in dental and medical procedures in Los Algodones than in the U.S. or Canada Zirconia dental crown $1,600.00

10 11 HOW THE MEDICAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT LANE WORKS? MEDICAL MALPRACTICES

The Medical Lane is an access at the border crossing between Mexicali Complaints for a medical malpractice must be submitted to the and Calexico only for foreigners that used health services in the Medical Arbitration Commission of the State of (CA- Municipality of Mexicali such as hospitals, clinics, doctors, drugstores MEBC for its acronyms in Spanish), personal way by the complainant, or laboratories that are members of the Medical lane and provide to verbally or in writing and shall contain the following information: 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 Name, address and the phone numbers of the complainant and order to be able to use the Medical Lane, a patient must: the medical service provider. A brief description of the facts complained of. Show and give the Medical Lane Pass at the lane entrance. The Number of user member or registration when the complaint is pass must be filled out correctly and stamped by COTUCO and the filed against a public health institution that assigns registration doctor, hospital, drugstore or laboratory where the patient was number to users. treated or bought the medication The way the complainant wants to be compensated by the medi- Drive a vehicle with U.S. or Canadian plates, or be carried in an cal service provider. authorized car to use the Medical Lane from a hospital or doctor If you are acting on behalf of a third party, you must present the Show identification as passport, driver license or U.S. permanent documentation of evidence of their representation as a relative resident card or otherwise. Present a document that endorses your medical consultation: ID with photograph and signature or fingerprint of the complainant. doctor receipt, medical prescription, medical service appointment Simple and readable copies of documents that support the com- card, etc. In case you just get a prescription filled, you must present plaint facts (notes and prescriptions, appointment booklet, etc.) the drugstore receipt for a minimum purchase of $400.00 pesos must be added. in medication Only up to 5 people per vehicle will be able to enter to the Medical Lane For further information please contact: The Medical Lane Pass is valid for 15 days after the date it is given Medical Arbitration Commission of the State of Baja California to the patient Paseo de los Héroes S/N local H9-31 Plaza Fiesta, Mexicali, Baja California, 21000 (686) 557-2990 Lunes – viernes 8:00 – 15:00 Para poder identificar los médicos, hospitales,

farmacias y laboratorios que cuentan con Dr. Ernesto Villegas pases para el Carril Médico busque este [email protected] símbolo en el directorio de esta guía www.camebc.com.mx

13 14 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 AT CUSTOMS 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 WHAT IS PROHIBITED TO BRING TO LOS ALGODONES FROM THE U.S.? $10,000.00 dollars Weapons and ammo $800 exemption for gifts and personal articles, including one liter of al- Narcotics/illegal drugs coholic beverages per person over 21 years old every 30 days Alive fishes Protected or endangered species of flora and wildlife, as well as articles For more information please visit: of these species • http://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/canada-mexico-travel Any kind of children images representing them in a degrading or ridicu- lous way; or on attitudes of incitement to violence or destruction WHAT MEDICATIONS CAN YOU BRING BACK TO THE U.S.? Used clothing that is not part of your personal baggage 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 WHAT TO DECLARE WHEN I CROSS FROM THE U.S. TO LOS ALGODONES? suggest as well visiting the next websites with recommendation regarding Vegetable or animal origin products this issue: Money, checks or other negotiable instruments totaling more than $10,000.00 dollars • DEA: http://goo.gl/GWALA • FDA: http://goo.gl/9ufQBu For more information please visit: • CBP: http://goo.gl/S3ncXj • http://www2.sat.gob.mx/BienvenidoaMexico For more information please visit the next U.S. government agencies’ websites: WHAT IS PROHIBITED TO BRING TO THE U.S. FROM LOS ALGODONES? • U.S. Food and Drug Administration Narcotics/illegal drugs www.fda.gov 1-855-543-3784 Protected or endangered species of flora and wildlife Pork meat, neither raw nor cooked • U.S. Customs and Border Protection Cuban cigars www.cbp.gov (760) 768-2626 (Calexico Port of Entry) 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

16 17 LOS ALGODONES MAP

San Diego, CA

Restaurant Hotel Information / Información Red cross / Cruz Roja Fire Dept. / Bomberos Hospital Internacional

18 19 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 vete- rinarian 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 Secre- tary of Agriculture (SAGARPA-SENASICA for its acron- yms 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 spe- cies you must comply with the appropriate regulations.

For more information please visit: • http://www.senasica.gob.mx/?id=623

20 21 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 seve- ral 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 vivemexicali

24 Only 8 miles from San Felipe is an awe- In the nearby area known as “Valle Chi- some place called the Valley of the Gi- co” are several cave paintings, which are SAN FELIPE ants, which is named after the species part of the remains of the first settlers Where the desert meets the sea of giant cactus that are native of this of this region. region. This is an ideal place for photo- graphs due to the cactus offer an unfor- Islote de Consag is an impressive rock lo- gettable scene by their height that is up cated just 18 nautical miles west of San To visit the Port of San Felipe is find a It is mandatory to walk by the board- to 56 ft. Felipe. It is the home of several seabirds unique place in the world, it is to feel the walk and witnessing an unusual phe- as well as a unique area for those who warmth of the Sea of Cortez, home of nomenon in the wold the “Bajamar” In Rancho Puertecitos you will find nat- enjoy sport fishing. thousands of species that is the world’s (low tide), which consists of the re- ural pools of sulphurous water, consid- aquarium, as the French oceanographer moval of the tide up to 450 ft from ered medical, relaxing and healthing, Jacques Custeau named, it is to feel the the beach. This event just happen in 3 which can only be seen when the tide greatness of the desert which is house beaches in the world and you can wit- lows. This place is located at 46 miles of the flora and fauna of the region. We ness in San Felipe. south of San Felipe. invite you to take a tour by San Felipe: a Paradise of unmatched natural wealth.

26 27 29 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 For more information please call: ANONYMOUS COMPLAINT: 089 Mexicali +52 (686) 551-98-00/01 HIGHWAY POLICE: (686) 554-2909 From the U.S. 1-888-COTUCO2 ANIMAL CONTROL CENTER: (686) 563-4542

INTERNATIONAL LOS ALGODONES PORT OF ENTRY: (686) 551-5217 www.cotuco.com.mx PUERTO INTERNACIONAL DE ENTRADA ANDRADE: (760) 572-0089 cotucomexicali

INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE MIGRACIÓN: (658) 517-7721

PERMISOS DE IMPORTACIÓN PARA MASCOTAS (SENASICA) (686) 567-8506 / (686) 553-1560

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