Mexican Bus System: Safe and Comfortable Travel
Tara A. Spears
I’ll admit it: I was afraid to ride a bus in Mexico. The biggest reason was that it was so unusual to me-a foreigner who had never lived anywhere that had transit buses- therefore I had driven myself everywhere since I was 15. Another reason I avoided taking a bus was because I didn’t speak the the language, I would rather be lost in my locked vehicle than embarrass myself trying to ask, “Where are we?” on a bus. I know, I know, such foolish reasons.
Once I got the nerve to take a short bus ride within Puerto Vallarta to observe how it was done, it was ok. Next I took a bus from PV to La Penita and enjoyed relaxing. Now I embrace the Mexican transit system because it is safe, comfortable, and less expensive than driving your own vehicle.
It was not an easy beginning for the autobus transit system in Mexico in the 1930s. At that time there was relatively little demand for transport, the roads were dangerous, there were no terminals or repair shops. Each of the original partners starting a bus company had to serve as driver, mechanic, and administrator. Today the Mexican bus services are exceptionally efficient.
Although there are several classes of bus service in Mexico, the most popular among visitors (and those interested in traveling comfortably) are first and executive class which transport customers in comfort and safety, on high-specification, quiet, modern air-conditioned buses. Luxury buses, or autobuses de lujo, are a step above “first class,” which is pretty good anyway, and have service levels such as primera plus (first plus), diamanté (diamond) and uno.
How to purchase bus tickets: Although each town that has service has a ticket office, the easiest-and cheapest way to purchase tickets is online. I find that being able to use google translate invaluable! I’ll try to ease the way for you by explaining the key factors. The online booking is very similar to purchasing an airline ticket: choose your starting and ending points, travel date(s) and get a window that shows available bus times.
ADULTO ⇢ the regular, standard price for adults over the age of 12. To purchase these, you must choose to pay with a credit card or at the terminal. Most bus lines offer a discount for purchasing in advance and online- wonderful value and you can reserve your preferred seat at the same time. Usually there is also a discount price if you purchase a round trip ticket.
NIÑO ⇢ the price of a ticket for a child between the ages of 4 – 12. Kids 0-4 are free but they have to sit in your lap.
INAPAM ⇢ This means you’re, literally, a card-carrying member of the National Institute of the Elderly. Next week I’ll explain the steps required to get your ‘senior card’ in order to qualify for a reduced fare.
Besides choosing the different features available in the buses, something else you should be familiar with before getting into bus ticket purchasing are the different bus stations (and corresponding terminals) in most large cities. This information may seem irrelevant or trivial, but when you’re booking a mode of transportation that will be taking you, beyond your control, to another strange city in a country you’ve never been to in the first place, where the language is nothing like the one you learned in school, you want to be 110% sure you’re making the right choices. When trying to figure out where to start my bus trip, I try to look up stations on a map in order to select the terminal closest to where I want to be in that town. 
While waiting to board your bus you’ll frequently see a large window with a line of people forming a quay from it. This is the counter where you check your bags. It isn’t clear from translating the signs but unlike airlines, it’s pretty much mandatory to surrender your baggage.
The reasons it’s good to check your gear: 1. The bus company is going to make you store your bags, anyway. (Seriously, I think the meaning of “optional” got lost in translation.) Anything larger than a backpack will need to go under the bus, and it doesn’t matter when your bus leaves. 2. It’s secure. The luggage room is attended and located about five feet from where the buses pull up. Your tickets are checked, your bags are tagged to match, and the guy who checked your bags is also the guy who puts the bags on the bus. When you arrive at your destination, you can’t retrieve your bag without the matching tag stub. Very secure. 3. Luggage check is free. You may see signs that say something about how checking your bags is the most secure way to travel, only $30 pesos. This fee applies only if the terminal needs to wrap your items. (such as shopping bags or other non-packaged items.) Otherwise, if all you have is luggage, just give a tip to the worker loading your stuff. As the items are placed under the bus, a numbered sticker is affixed and the bottom half given to you for when you retrieve them. 4. Checking your bags is one less thing to mess with. By letting go of the things that can slow you down, both mentally and physically, traveling in Mexico becomes so much more pleasant. Now you can enjoy the vistas from you comfy captain’s chair.
Approximate pricing: Most common destinations for those staying in Jaltemba Bay are to go south to Puerto Vallarta for $616 pesos (about $33 US), or to visit the cultural center of Guadalajara in four hours for about $25. A jaunt from La Penita to Mexico City is trickier because it is necessary to go to Tepic and transfer to another bus for the last leg of the trip. 
Overall, I can’t believe how efficient, comfortable and affordable it is to travel by bus in Mexico. I find it especially stress- reducing to let someone who knows where they are going navigate- I have spent years being lost when I drive. It’s a relaxing and safe way to explore this wonderful country!
