Bus travel in Mexico, explained.
Why traveling by bus in Mexico is safe, cheap and usually very comfortable.
Tell anyone you’re thinking about traveling by bus in Mexico, and they will probably ask you the same questions: “are you sure?”, “is it safe?”, “is it like Greyhound in the US?”.
The answers are very clearly yes, yes and absolutely not.
Mexico is a big country (the 13th largest in the world, actually) but it is also a developing economy. As such, while air travel is important and growing, a huge part of intercity travel is handled by buses. It’s frequent to count one bus for every 10 cars that passes by on the main highways - that’s how widespread bus travel is in Mexico.
I wouldn’t advocate trying to get from Tijuana to Cancun on a bus - that would take the best part of three days, yet bus travel is the mode of travel of choice between Mexico City and the main cities in the surrounding states. Morelia, Michoacán is 4 hours away by bus, and iconic pueblos mágicos, like Tequisquiapan, Querétaro, can be reached in 3h30.
Bus travel is more economical than flying, and it is a lot easier to handle than renting a car. After all, you’re leaving the driving to someone else and can relax or even sleep, while you’re being taken to your destination.
So here are the answers to all the questions you could have about bus travel and Mexico (and even some you didn’t think about).
What classes of buses are available in Mexico?
Intercity buses in Mexico are ranked in four different categories, according to their level of comfort.
Luxury buses
At the top, sits the luxury bus category. These are the most premium buses you can take within Mexico, and the comfort level inside them will remind you of domestic first class on a regular US flight. There are three ample and comfortable seats per row (2 on one side of the aisle, 1 on the other) with ample legroom and a deep recline. Each seat comes with its own screen. Buses are clean, well maintained, offer bathrooms and air-conditioning. Luxury bus service isn’t available on all routes, in fact, most luxury lines link big cities to and from Mexico City. While prices are higher than first class bus tickets, the difference isn’t staggering - in my experience, the tickets were about 20 to 25% more expensive - think USD40 one-way from Mexico City to Morelia, on a luxury bus versus about USD30 for a first class bus. This is very affordable, especially when you think what you’d get in the US for that price.
Front seats on the top deck in a luxury ETN bus. Seats are set up in a 2+1 layout.
Another perk of luxury services is that they tend to have fewer stops (many services are in fact non-stop), and offer an attendant service for checked luggage. Practically, while you have to bring your luggage to the side of the bus yourself, an attendant will take it from you there, put it in the bus cargo section and give you a ticket - which ensures additional safety as only you can retrieve your luggage with said ticket at the end of your trip.
The main companies offering this service are ETN and ADO. Note that ETN is a brand in itself so if you take an ETN bus, it’ll always be a luxury service. ADO, however, is an umbrella name for different subbrands. The regular ADO service (the red buses) is first class service, while ADO Platino (the blue buses) is ADO’s luxury service. Fear not, the service level is clearly shown on the ADO website so you’ll know which service is which before choosing.
First class buses
First class services (“primera clase” in Spanish) sit just below the luxury ones. This category encompasses the majority of services around the country. It’s the level by default when people think about bus travel in Mexico. There are 4 seats per row (2 on each side of the aisle), so this is a little tighter, but not uncomfortable in any way. The legroom and recline vary a little bit by company, but for most, they are very close to the luxury service ones. In other words, it will feel super nice for anyone used to a US Greyhound set up. Gone are the individual screens, but most buses will show a film (in Spanish) on overhead screens during a trip. These buses also offer air-conditioning and a restroom, sometimes even one per gender. First class buses are great for trips around the country. While a luxury service is always better, cost-conscious travelers may safely pick the first class option and be assured of a safe and comfortable journey to their destination.
Typical first-class seating with ample legroom and recline (pictured here: Ovnibus). Seat layout is 2+2.
The main Mexican bus lines offering first class service are ADO, Primera Plus and Futura - each of them being stronger in one part of Mexico than others. You will find a lot of other smaller companies offering first class services on smaller routes, or with a network covering less of the country, such as Ovnibus or Flecha Roja.
Note that some bus companies offer a service just between luxury and first class, described as executive service (“servicio ejecutivo”). ADO calls it ADO GL (the purple buses), Estrella de Oro calls it Pluss. They are basically first class services with (usually) one less row of seats, which means each remaining row gets a little more legroom, but functionally, one could argue they’re just above-average first class services, and not that different.
Second class buses
One step down from first class, you’ll find second class buses (“segunda clase”), also known as economy services (“servicio economico”). In this category, you’ll find a wide range of services, some seeming very close to first class buses, and some using older buses with little to no comfort. While they are usually a little less expensive than first class services, I tend to suggest avoiding these unless they are your only option. Most of these buses do not offer A/C or a bathroom, tend to stop a lot more frequently, and do not offer the same kind of luggage safety you can find in with luxury or first class buses.
If economy buses are your only option (for instance, between Santiago de Querétaro and Bernal), don’t sweat it, these are fine on shorter distances, but the trip will be less comfortable - also, keep an eye on your luggage, especially at intermediate stops, if it is in the bus hold.
A second-class Flecha Azul bus in Bernal, coming from Santiago de Querétaro.
Economy services can be harder to find on the internet - most companies are small and not always online, so for one ADO which lists its economy services online (they call them AU, or Autobuses Unidos), you’ll find many companies whose online footprint is limited or non-existent. I try to list these when they are the only options, so you know they exist and can rely on them as needed.
Colectivos
Finally, at the bottom of the pile in terms of comfort, but highly practical, are the colectivos. Also called combis, these can be official or fairly informal, but they will be a great resource for smaller distances, or to reach small villages that are not served by regular bus service (like Zipolite, or Real del Monte). In the best cases, these will use minibuses like the ubiquitous Toyota HiAce, will have space in the back for luggage, and will offer air-conditioning (I can confirm these unicorns do exist: the Autobuses Delfines minivans -not the buses- plowing the route between Puerto Escondido and Pochutla, that tourists take to get to Mazunte or Zipolite, are part of this rare breed). In the worst case, they will be glorified pick-up trucks with wood benches at the back. They will only take cash, and some will ask for exact change.
It’s hard to find schedules for these, but you’ll usually be able to know their times of operation (usually from sunrise to sunset).
Don’t let this prevent you from using them. They can be a great alternative to other transport, when Ubers aren’t available or taxis too expensive.
Be aware that colectivo sometimes means a shared taxi - a cab you can take with other people for much cheaper, that usually drives on a preset route, and stops on request to pick up or drop off people.
What are the main bus companies in Mexico?
There are a ton of companies offering bus travel in the country, due to its size. The biggest companies with service to and from Mexico City are:
An ETN double-decker luxury bus about to leave for Mexico City, in Tequisquiapan.
luxury services: ETN, Turistar, ADO Platino, Estrella de Oro Diamante.
first-class services: ADO, Primera Plus, Futura, Flecha Roja, Ovnibus, Pullman de Morelos.
second-class service: AU (Autobuses Unidos), a subbrand from ADO, and many local companies.
How cheap is bus travel in Mexico?
Bus travel in Mexico is very affordable. A good rule of thumb for first-class service is to count between $4 and $6 per hour of travel. Mexico City to Puebla via ADO will cost just under $10 one-way, for instance. At this price, you get a comfortable seat with ample legroom and recline, in a clean, modern bus with air-conditioning, restrooms and safe checked-in luggage.
How do I book my bus ticket?
This is a little trickier than getting on Expedia.com and booking a flight. Although some sites, like busbud.com, offer a good number of destinations and bus companies, they do not cover 100% of the luxury or first-class bus services in the country (let alone the second class bus). It may be a good resource to check out which companies are known to link city A with city B, but it is by no means exhaustive.
I like to check Rome2Rio.com as well, as I find their information a little more complete, especially in terms of finding out which companies service with city pairs. Their issue is it isn’t a booking site.
I always mention bus companies for each destination I write about (when applicable), to make it easier for you, dear reader.
Once you know which company serves the route you’re interested in, the next step is to check if they have a website or an app to check timetables and pricing. Most of the big ones do, although not all of them have an English language option. ETN, Primera Plus, Futura, to name a few, offer an English version of their website, and it’s fairly easy to book a ticket on there. Once you have paid for the ticket (via credit card or, for some sites, Paypal), you’ll receive an electronic ticket you can keep in your email and show the driver upon boarding.
An ADO e-ticket you can get from ADO’s app, paid with PayPal.
However, you may decide to do like most Mexicans, just show up at the station and get a bus ticket from an agent at the counter. You’re very likely to be able to get into the next bus leaving (buses are rarely sold out until just a few minutes before departure, except during peak holiday periods) and you have the flexibility to just show up and leave. This is especially true if you’re heading to a major destination like Santiago de Querétaro or Puebla, but even smaller towns like Pachuca are well served (there is an ADO bus leaving Mexico Norte for Puebla every 15 minutes during the day, for instance). At most major stations, paying with a US-based credit card isn’t an issue (but it’s always easier if it is a VISA card).