Now, some random facts about Mexican buses:- There are first class and second class buses, and in most cities, there are also first class and second class bus stations. If you ask at the first class station if there's a cheaper bus, or even ask directly if there's a second class bus or bus station, they'll probably say "no". I lost some money because I learnt that too late. In some places there are even third class buses.
- The first class buses are pretty good, but nothing compared to the ones in Argentina and Chile. But then again, Argentina might have the best buses in the whole world, so that's not a fair comparison.
- First class buses also often have a website with times, prices, and even the option to buy online. All of this is quite surprising, to those who got used to traveling in Latin America - in most countries in the continent that's not the case at all. It is sometimes a bit complicated to find out exactly which company goes where, and I'm not aware of a single website that has a search option for all companies in the whole country. This one is pretty good, though: http://www.ticketbus.com.mx/wtbkd/autobus.jsp
- There's also something called a colectivo, which are vans that usually go out whenever they fill up, and are run by smaller, local companies. It's sometimes cheaper and sometimes more expensive, I haven't figured out if there's a pattern.
- The local buses in most cities I've been to don't have a specific color or number to tell them apart. They just have all the different places they go to written on the windshield. It can get really confusing, and the ability to read fast, especially in the dark, is a must, because if you don't signal them to stop, they won't.
- Surprisingly enough, even in the colectivos it seems I always get the same price as locals. Not once have I felt I was being deceived or charged tourist prices.
- In most colectivos and local buses there's the driver and the ayudante, or the guy that collects the money. A lot of times, the guy that collects the money also sits at the window and shouts the destination at people, trying to convince them to get on the bus. This is much more common in Oaxaca and Chiapas than in the rest of Mexico. Maybe it's the Guatemalan influence...
- Not to get too far ahead of myself, but man, are Mexican buses so much nicer and newer than Guatemalan ones. That's not necessarily a good thing, though. I know many a traveler that missed Guatemalan buses once they crossed over into Mexico.
- I don't know if this is real or just a feeling, but it seems to me that in Mexico, if somebody sat next to you and then a double seat opens up, they'll move over there every time. It might be because I'm a gringo, but I'm not sure. Anyway, that struck me as different.
- As with many other things, urban public transport inside Mexico City is quite different, and it's a whole different type of mess.
- the photo has nothing to do with buses, I know, but hey - there are tuc-tucs in Oaxaca!
