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Buses in Mexico
- Also See: Bus Tables
Introduction
If you are planning to travel by bus, you will find that Mexico's domestic national bus system is an efficient, effective and low-cost alternative to air-travel in Mexico. Keep in mind though, that traveling by bus will take considerably longer than air travel for large distances and you will need to practice some Spanish as most bus company staff don't speak English, either at the ticket sales desks or on-board.
Facilities On-board
First-class and executive buses offer very comfortable travel, air-conditioning, TV, on-board facilities, etc for as little as 10% of the equivalent flight cost (see Classes of service, below). If you are not pressed for time and have a taste for independent travel, why not take the executive class bus to your next destination?
Mexico City as Hub
Mexico City is of course, a central bus hub for many destinations in Mexico. There are four main bus terminals in Mexico City: North (Norte), South (Sur), East (Oriente) and West (Poniente).The Directory Table shows which terminal/s in Mexico City serve each destination as well as distances in Km and approximate travel times in hours.
Classes of bus service explained
Not all routes offer a selection of class of service, especially on shorter journeys. Longer journeys almost always offer a first or executive class option; shorter distances (less than 100km) may only offer an equivalent of second-class, but will be adequate for the journey time. Here are the three main classes of service and what they offer:
Executive: These are luxurious buses; the latest in bus technology and comfort. Inside, the passenger cabin is closed off from the driver's cockpit; windows are double-glazed, the cabin is air-conditioned and the suspension is excellent. You are offered a sandwich and a cold drink as you board, and some services offer complimentary coffee as well. A toilet is available, and TV screens also feature to play a film during the journey. Some companies even offer headphones to avoid forcing everyone to listen to the film. Executive services also offer wide, reclining seats and keg supports - achieved by configuring the seat arrangement to just 32 seats on board with a 2+1 seat arrangement.
First Class: First Class buses offer many of the services offered on the executive service such as air-conditioning, on-board toilet and entertainment, although the seat configuration will be less generous, meaning that there will be less room for stretching out / sleeping.
Second Class: Second Class buses may offer air-conditioning on some routes, but will be less comfortable than first and executive buses, so unless your budget is really tight, try to avoid these for long journeys. Another disadvantage of second class buses is that they take longer to arrive at their destination because they tend to be indirect, some with very frequent stops, possibly adding several hours to your journey time.