Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM)

I know that the TEC is a highly reputated school, but I found that it was a big party trip for most people on this exchange. Of course, I should have known better,the campus was in Mazatlan, close to the beach. The atmosphere on a small recluded campus can be fun, but it is important to realize that the culture of the host country might be missing... Foreigners are gatthering together and make groups which is fun, but it depends what you're looking for. Travelling in Mexico is cheap and easy, lots of things to see and do. As the other exchanges I made with the UNAM and the UCR, find a place to stay is not that hard, it's cheaper and you'll meet other kind of people.

I think doing an exchange is a wonderful opportunity. The only thing is that I found that international students tend to get together, and talk english... Not so good when you want to learn another language!

No. If you are on exchange, you're probably going to pay the school fees at your home university. Transportation is expensive. Get your visa arranged long time before leaving, and don't sign any contract on an apartment nor leave a deposit.

It was way too much expensive for foreigners.

Downtown Mazatlan, the Altazor Café: cool place to relax, to get a coffee or a beer, the service is good and they have good music. Not to be missed: Bora Bora! It's THE club in Mazatlan, but it's expensive, so it's for once in a while. Isla de la Piedra is close, and it's a good beach with not that many tourism. You have to get there by boat. Of course, there is a lot to see in Mexico. It was my first exchange, but the second, in Taxco is much more typical, more "mexican". Guanajuato, San Miguel, Oaxaca, Cuernavaca, Durango, Tequila, Guadalajara, Isla Mujeres, Tulum, Chichen Itza Puerto Escondido are some of the places you can't miss. Even Guatemala is not too far and the "Lago de Atitlan" is beautiful.