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For your convenience, we have listed important contact information to keep at your fingertips.
Seen at right: The VLA Telescope
Photo by Sean Mathis
AREA CODES
El Paso - 915
Southern New Mexico - 575
Mexico Country Prefix - 01152
Operator (from Mexico) - 95-800-462-4240 or 09
EMERGENCY NUMBERS
For All Emergencies - dial 911
El Paso Fire Department (non emergency) - (915) 771-1000
El Paso Police - (915) 564-7000, www.elpasotexas.gov/police
Texas State Police - (512) 424-2000, www.txdps.state.tx.us
New Mexico State Police - (888) 442-NMSP, www.dps.nm.org
TRANSPORTATION
Airports El Paso International Airport (ELP) - (915) 780-4700, www.elpasointernationalairport.com
Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) - (505) 244-7700, www.cabq.gov/airport/
Las Cruces, N.M., Airport (LRU) - (575) 541-2471, www.las-cruces.org/facilities/airport/
Ruidoso Sierra Blanca Regional Airport, N.M - (575) 336-8111, www.airnav.com/airport/KSRR
Airlines That Service El Paso International
American - (800) 433-7300, Gates A-1 and A-2
Continental - (800) 525-0280, Gates B-9
Delta - (800) 221-1212, Gates B-1 and B-2
Frontier - (800) 432-1359, Gates B-10
New Mexico Airlines - (888) 564-6119 (see ticket counter)
Southwest - (800) 435-9792, Gates B-3 to B-6
United - (800) 241-6522, Gates B-11
USAirways - (800) 235-9292, Gates B-7
Ground Transportation
To and From El Paso International Airport - www.elpasointernationalairport.com/grnd_trans.html
Sun Metro (El Paso Bus System) - (915) 533-3333, www.elpasotexas.gov/sunmetro
Greyhound Bus Lines - (915) 532-3265
Las Cruces Shuttle and Charter Service - (575) 525-1784 / (800) 288-1784
Amtrak - (915) 545-2247
Approximate Mileage From El Paso
40 miles to Las Cruces, N.M., via I-25, 45 minutes
87 miles to Alamogordo/ White Sands, N.M., via U.S. 54, 1.5 hours
110 miles to Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas, 2 hours
135 miles to Ruidoso, N.M., via U.S. 54, 2.5 hours
150 miles to Carlsbad Caverns, N.M., on U.S. 62/180, 3 hours
264 miles to Albuquerque, N.M., via I-25, 4 hours
327 miles to Big Bend National Park, Texas, 5.5 hours
Useful Web Sites
GuestLife El Paso - www.guestlife.com/elpaso
City of El Paso - www.elpasotexas.gov
Texas Tourism - www.traveltex.com
Juárez Tourism - www.juarez-mexico.com
New Mexico Tourism - www.newmexico.org
VISITOR BUREAUS AND CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
El Paso Convention and Visitors Bureau - (915) 534-0601, www.elpasocvb.com
Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce - (915) 534-0500, www.elpaso.org
El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - (915) 566-4066, www.ephcc.org
Las Cruces Convention and Visitors Bureau - (915) 541-2444, www.lascrucescvb.org
Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce - (575) 524-1968, www.lascruces.org
TRAVEL TO MEXICO
Due to increased security concerns in Mexico, please check for Travel Alerts at the U.S. State Department’s Web site at http://travel.state.gov. Security information may also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 in the United States, or 001-202-501-4444 in Mexico.
Mexican Consulate in El Paso - (915) 533-3644
U.S. Consulate in Juárez - (915) 611-3000, http://ciudadjuarez.usconsulate.gov
U.S. Border Patrol in El Paso - (915) 633-7034
U.S. Customs (El Paso) - (915) 633-7300, www.cpb.gov.
Duty: U.S. residents may bring back, duty free, once every 30 days, articles for personal or household use up to $800 in value; up to one liter of alcoholic beverages per person over the age of 21; and one carton of cigarettes per person over the age of 18. Cuban cigars are prohibited. The next $1,000 worth of items brought back is subject to a flat rate duty of 3 percent. Do not bring back live animals, plants, lemons, apples, mangoes, some herb teas, pork, ham, uncooked chicken, eggs, or products made from endangered animals. Information: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, www.cpb.gov or (202) 354-1000.
Renting a Car: The standard insurance included with many car rental contracts in Mexico provides only nominal liability coverage, often as little as the equivalent of $200. Because Mexican law permits the jailing of drivers after an accident until they have met their obligations to third parties and to the rental company, renters should read contracts carefully and purchase additional liability and comprehensive insurance if necessary.
New Passport Requirements: All persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Mexico are required to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS card, U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, or an Alien Registration Card. As of June 2009, U.S. citizens must have a U.S. Passport or other approved U.S. Government document when reentering the United States. For more information, log on to the U.S. Department of State Web site at http:// travel.state.gov or call (877) 487-2778.
