I’ve talked before about how great the Mexican bus system is, but this is one method of transportation that keeps getting better. I am writing this blog post on the bus itself, on my 4-hour ride from Zacatecas to Leon. Yes on the bus—they have Internet access now on the executive class ones from ETN and it’s faster than the connection I have in my apartment here. How cool is that?
What’s even crazier is that I picked a seat in the middle of the bus because many of the other ones were showing as occupied. The other riders must be getting on in Leon though because I am the only person on here! I have a private bus and I’m not even in a band.
Unlike most of Central America, you don’t have to endure “chicken buses” here. No dilapidated old school buses with stuck windows. Even second class here is pretty nice and first class is air-conditioned, express, and usually with a movie and snack. Above that though is executive class, which is awesome. Only 3 seats across and 24 on the entire bus, so it’s like business class on an airplane except it leaves on time. Two bathrooms, foot rests, curtains, a movie, seats that recline way back, a snack, a soda/water, and good shocks.
For all this comfort you used to pay about $5 to $8 per hour of travel depending on the route and whether there are toll roads. Now that the U.S. dollar fetches 13 pesos, this 4-hour trip was under $15. Sweet.
You can buy tickets in advance at any station where that particular bus company has an office, but most of the time you don’t even need to if there are frequent departures. You just show up, buy a ticket, and you’re off. At worst you’ll have to wait an hour for the next bus. You can go pretty much anywhere in Mexico on a bus, including to El Norte. In the station I was just in, one company had signs that said “Texas,” “Alabama,” and “Tennessee.” Yeee-ha.
Here’s the best resource page I’ve found for who covers what route in Mexico.
Samuel Peterson
Thursday 9th of July 2009
Wow! amazing first I saw the snap so I think its Airplane seats after that I read the title of post this is awesome bus service & all the facilities are great, & rent is also reasonable. Yes you are right "Mexican Buses Rock".
gary
Friday 3rd of July 2009
I like the 'de lujo' amenities list of the companies' websites, i.e., "vanity mirror," "4 flat screens" and "restrooms for women and children."
mandino
Wednesday 1st of July 2009
hahaha, this reminds me when I was riding a first class bus with a setting just like this one in the article, and while that passenger was sleeping in mid daylight, it's annoying with this kind of space invasion... Makes me wanna spray the hair with glue or something like a gum... I remembered I put that blog of mine there in Baraaza.com where most of my activities are all recorded there..
Maralyn Hill
Wednesday 1st of July 2009
I had an exceptional experience going from Mexico City to Puebla. I love the buses.
Maralyn
Anil Chand
Wednesday 1st of July 2009
Wow! what a luxurious seat in bus. really fantastic information.