21st Century Bus Travel

Forget cramped seats, hot stuffy cabins and feeling every stone and bump in the road.  Bus travel in Mexico is a world apart from bus travel in places like the USA and the UK.

Since the early 1990’s, Mexico has invested diligently in its intercity road network.  As a result, the country is today well connected by a series of modern, safe (often tolled) highways which connect together towns and cities across this vast land: Mexico has nearly two million square kilometers of land space.

In tandem with the country’s investment in roads, a comprehensive network of bus companies have also flourished.  Modern, professionally-run and keen to compete for your business, Mexico’s bus companies are a model for the bus travel business in the twenty-first century.

On the most frequented routes, you have a choice of three service levels: first class, second class, and a luxury “executive” class, which features the most modern buses (usually manufactured by Volvo or Mercedes) configured with just twenty-four wide seats on board: think of business class on an airplane.   The seats on these executive lines recline right back and offer leg rests, too.  The vehicles have modern suspension, speed-limiters, are fully air-conditioned and have at least one rest-room on board.  They also provide a complimentary snack and drink and some routes, like Estrella de Oro’s Diamante service between Mexico City and Acapulco, even proffer a hostess service on-board.

On routes where the executive class buses do not run, First Class buses offer plenty of comfort and safety and make road travel across Mexico efficient, enjoyable and affordable.

There’s another reason to consider traveling by bus in Mexico: it’s really affordable.  In recent years, low-cost airlines have been taking business away from the bus lines with ultra-low ticket prices; however, with the advent of increasing fuel prices and higher inflation world-wide, ticket prices are rising and travelers are returning to the excellent bus network to get across Mexico.

Most bus stations in Mexico are not as pretty as airports (although some of the newer ones, like the bus station serving the colonial city of Morelia, are every bit as attractive as an airport), and you will have to speak some Spanish in order to navigate your way across Mexico using the country’s extensive bus network. In return for your intrepidity, you’ll witness varied and fascinating scenery, have more money in your pocket to spend at your destination, and enjoy a really comfortable road trip.

There is an art to traveling by bus in Mexico and, with some local knowledge under your belt, traveling across Mexico by bus is a rewarding and worthwhile transport option.

Our recently published guide to Traveling by Bus in Mexico is comprehensive and contains all of the information you’ll need to know to take full advantage of Mexico’s extensive and well-run bus services.  The guide also includes a section with key Spanish words and phrases you’ll need to undertake your bus travels in Mexico.