Mexico Guide
The north
Planetario Alfa
Opening time: Tues– Fri 3.30–8pm, Sat & Sun 11.30am–8pm
Price: museum only M$40, museum and film M$84
Website: www.planetarioalfa.org.mx
Like some vision from H.G. Wells's The War of the Worlds, the cylindrical form of the Planetario Alfa, Roberto Garza Sada 1000, 8km south of the city centre, rises out of the ground at a rakish angle, providing an unusual venue for Omnimax films. If you've never seen one of these super-wide-vision movies before, or have kids to entertain, it may be worth the trip out here. Otherwise, the few science demonstrations and hands-on experiments aren't really worth the bother. If you do come, don't miss Rufino Tamayo's stained-glass opus, outside the main complex, in the Universe Pavilion. The only way to get here is on the free shuttle bus, which leaves from a dedicated stop at the western end of the Alameda on Washington. Times vary, but it runs roughly on the hour from 3pm to 7pm and also on the half-hour at weekends.