GETTING AROUND MEXICO

Air Travel

There are more than fifty airports in Mexico with regular passenger flights run by local airlines, plus several smaller airports with feeder services. The main company is Aeroméxico which connects most places to Mexico City, usually several times a day. There are numerous other smaller and no-frills domestic airlines such as Aeromar, Interjet, Volaris, Mayair, Viva Aerobus, and AeroServicio Guerrero, which also cover most major destinations. Competition between the companies keeps prices steady and relatively low: a one-way trip between Mexico City and Cancún, for example, can cost as little as US$60. Internal airfares reflect the popularity of the route, meaning the more popular the trip, the lower the price. Thus the flight from Tijuana to Mexico City costs much the same as the much shorter, but less popular flight from Tijuana to Chihuahua, but even the more expensive routes can be worthwhile for the time they save. While the smaller airlines might be cheaper, there are few discounts and the price of a ticket on a particular flight doesn’t normally vary from agent to agent.

Bus Travel

If you’re traveling around Mexico by bus, buses are the most efficient form of long-distance transport. Within Mexico, buses are by far the most common and efficient form of public transport. The legendary craziness of Mexican bus drivers is largely a thing of the past, and many bus companies have installed warning lights and buzzers to indicate when the driver is exceeding the speed limit. In recent years the government has been trying to improve the safety record through regular mechanical checks and also with random alcohol and drug tests on drivers.

Bus Classes and Comfort

There are basically two classes of bus, first (primera) and second (segunda), though on major long-distance routes, there’s often little to differentiate them. First-class vehicles have reserved seats, videos, and air-conditioning, though an increasing number of second-class lines have the same comforts. The main differences will be the number of stops made, with second-class buses stopping at more places, and consequently taking longer to get to their destination. The fare is about ten percent higher for first-class services. On important routes, there are also deluxe, or Pullman, buses, with names like Primera Plus or Turistar Plus, and fares around thirty percent higher than those of first-class buses.

Bus Stations and Logistics

Most towns have a modern bus station, known as the Central Camionera or Central de Autobuses. Don’t let the word “central” fool you, as they are usually located a long way from the town center. Where there is no unified terminal you may find separate first- and second-class terminals, or individual ones for each company. There is some form of baggage deposit (left luggage) office in most bus stations – usually known as a guardería. Before leaving anything, make sure that the place will be open when you come to collect your bags. If there’s no formal facility, staff at the bus companies’ baggage dispatching offices can often be persuaded to look after your things for a short while.

Combi and Colectivos

Public transport within Mexican towns and cities is always plentiful and inexpensive, though crowded and not particularly user-friendly. Mexico City has an excellent Metro system and there are smaller metros in both Guadalajara and Monterrey. Elsewhere, however, you’ll be reliant on buses. In bigger places combis or colectivos offer a faster and perhaps less crowded alternative for only a little more money. These are minibusses, vans, or large sport utility vehicles that run along fixed routes to set destinations; they’ll pick you up and drop you off wherever you like along the way, and you simply pay the driver for the distance traveled.

Taxis

Regular taxis can also be good value, but be aware of rip-offs – unless you’re confident that the meter is working, fix a price before you get in. In the big cities, there are often tables of fixed prices posted at prominent spots. At almost every airport and at some of the biggest bus stations you’ll find a booth selling vouchers for taxis into town at a fixed price. This will invariably cost less than just hailing a cab outside the terminal, and will certainly offer extra security. In every case, you should know the name of a hotel to go to, or they’ll take you to the one that pays the biggest commission. Never accept a ride in any kind of unofficial or unmarked taxi, and in Mexico City be especially cautious.

Metro Systems in Mexico

Two of Mexico’s big cities, Mexico City and Monterrey, have Metro systems in operation. The Metro can be one of the most effective ways to travel across the cities, especially Mexico City, which has four systems: two rail-based and two bus-based.

Rail Metro and Tren Ligero

El Metro is the main rail-based mass-transport system in Mexico City. The system has twelve lines that crisscross the capital. The Metro connects most major areas of the city together and, where the Metro doesn’t reach, Micros run frequent axis routes from the Metro stations. The Tren Ligero (Light Train) is an extension of Mexico City’s Metro system, connecting the southern-most Metro terminal, Metro Taxqueña, with Xochimilco.

Metrobus and Airport Connections

In 2006, Mexico City’s government began introducing a new Metrobus service. The service is a dedicated bus lane that runs along Avenida Insurgentes. Line 4 of the Metrobus connects the downtown area of the city with the capital’s airport. On the rail-based Metro in Mexico City, you can use cash to buy small cardboard tickets, or you can use a Metro card. For transport on the Metrobus and the Tren Ligero, you must use a Metro card, which can be topped up with credit at machines or at the ticket counter.

Train Travel

Since Mexico’s railways were privatized in 1995, all passenger services have been withdrawn bar one suburban service out of Mexico City and a couple of tourist lines. The Copper Canyon railway in Chihuahua is an amazing scenic journey and one of the country’s top tourist attractions, and the Tequila Express from Guadalajara is also quite popular with tourists in Mexico.

Boat Travel

Ferries connect Baja California with a trio of ports on the Pacific mainland: Santa Rosalía to Guaymas, La Paz to Mazatlán, and Topolobampo. There are also smaller boats to islands off the Caribbean and Gulf coasts: from Chiquilá to Holbox, from Cancún to Isla Mujeres, and from Playa del Carmen to Cozumel. Though more expensive than they once were, all these services are still pretty reasonable.

Driving and Car Rental

Driving in Mexico requires care and concentration. Hitchhiking is possible, but due to safety concerns, the scarcity of lifts, and the vast distances involved, it’s not recommended. Renting a car in Mexico is often an extremely good way of quickly seeing a small area that would take days to explore using public transport. Always check rates carefully to make sure they include insurance, tax, and the mileage you need. Daily rates with unlimited mileage start at around US$60.

You should be aware when driving in Mexico, especially in a foreign vehicle, of the danger of bandits. Robbers may try to make you stop by indicating that there is something wrong with your vehicle; they’ve also been known to pose as policemen, hitchhikers, and motorists in distress. On the other hand, there are plenty of legitimate police checkpoints along the main roads, where you must stop. Robbers mainly target cargo trucks rather than private cars, but it is nonetheless best to avoid driving at night, particularly in the north of the country.

Whatever your chosen transport method to explore the impressive and vast country of Mexico, you can be sure to experience many different kinds of transport methods. Ask us here if you are unsure about how to get from A to B on your Mexico vacation!