Beach & Sun
All Inclusive
Bicentennial Route
Haciendas
Business
Colonial Cities
Hotel Chains
+ Themes
Transportation
Getting around in Mexico is simple. The country offers good conditions that make it easy for you to move from place to another without difficulty. There are many airlines that connect the main cities and beach centers. Aside from the various functional airports, in regards to the highway system, it's possible to reach practically any part of the country using it. So if your choice is to rent a car and move around freely, you will be able to do so without any difficulty. The same applies for traveling by bus since the bus network in Mexico is very extensive and it will be convenient for you to travel to or from any points. We should mention that the vast majority of bus stations are located in the center of each city, with the exception being in the large capital cities where there are multiple terminals located at various points.
EVERYTHING ABOUT AIRPLANES
Mexican Airlines
The main airlines are Aeromar, Aeromexico, Aerocalifornia, Mexicana, Azteca Airlines, Aviacsa and Magnicharters.
Not all of them offer the same destinations, but you can reach any of the capitals or main cities in the interior as well as the beach destinations.
What you should do is confirm which destinations each airline flies to. Their headquarters are in Mexico City.
Although there are no set rules regarding prices, the earlier you buy your ticket the better price you will get.
The regularity of the flights is like that of the rest of the world – better schedules are offered to the destinations to which more people are traveling.
Low-Cost Mexican Airlines
As has happened all around the world, there are also low-cost or budget airlines in Mexico. They are a good alternative for getting around the country since they link different destinations with regular airlines and the price is almost always very attractive.
The following are the low-cost airlines that you will find in Mexico: Internet, Volaris, A Volar, Clic, Alma and Republic Air.
The hub for several of these airlines is in the city of Toluca and connects various destinations around the country. This airport is 45 minutes from Mexico City and some of these airlines offer complimentary connections or for a small fee.
For example, you can get a flight from Toluca to Tijuana for $700.00 pesos – just 60 dollars or 48 euros.
International Airlines
As we mentioned before in the menu Planning Your Trip, these are the airlines that have direct flights to Mexico City:
The following airlines have direct flights to Mexico:
From South America:
Aeromexico, Mexicana, Aerolíneas Argentinas, Avianca, Copa Airlines, Lan Chile, Lloyd Aereo Boliviano, Taca, Varig.
From Asia:
Aeromexico and Japan Air Lines.
From Central America and the Caribbean:
Mexicana, Avianca, Copa Airlines, Cubana de Aviación, Taca.
From Europe:
Aeromexico, British, KLM, Air France, Iberia, Lufthansa.
From North America:
Aeromexico, Aviacasa, Mexicana, Air Alaska, Air Canada, America
West, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines,
Northwest, United Airlines, US Airways.
Cancun is another destination that has important international airline traffic as well as regular charter flights. Arriving through Cancun is another option that can connect you with the destination of your interest.
EVERYTHING ABOUT CARS
Renting Cars:
The major car rental companies have extensions in Mexico and offer you a wide variety of vehicle options. You will generally find them in airports and 5-star hotels, but occasionally they are also located in bus terminals.
They also have varying coverage. If the route you are taking has the same pick-up and drop-off point for the vehicle, the process is very simple. But if you wish to drop-off the car at a different place than that of pick-up, you need to confirm that the company has offices there. If they do not, you will need to look into another drop-off option or use other means of transportation to arrive at your desired destination.
To rent a car, you will need to show your passport and driver’s license as well as a credit card.
Prices vary and depend on the number of days, type of vehicle, etc.
Your Own Vehicle
Those individuals who decide to enter Mexican territory with their own vehicle must go through a process called, “Temporary Vehicle Importation.” This applies to cars, trailers and water vessels.
The procedure can be done 2 ways. The first is at the border, where you will fill out your application and pay the fees. The second, and simpler, is on the Internet at one of two websites: www.banjercito.com.mx or www.aduanas.sat.gob.mx. In this way, you have the ease of doing it from your home and the permission will be mailed to your home address.Gasoline
There are 2 classes of gasoline:
Magna starting at $6.79 per liter (.60 USD / .45 euros)
Premium starting at $8.36 per liter (.70 USD / .57 euros)
Diesel is used mainly for buses and very few cars.
Highways
The highway network throughout the country is extensive. You will encounter turnpikes, free highways and secondary roads.
The toll roads vary in their prices. There are stretches ranging from $20.00 pesos (1.70 USD / 1.3 euros) to $120 pesos (10 USD / 8.2 euros).
It is important to keep your proof of payment, since by paying the toll you are entitled to an insurance of Civil Responsibility and Third-Party Damages (Responsabilidad Civil y Daños a Terceros) for as long as you are driving on the paid stretch. This is the case so long as you ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE for the accident. This insurance covers you in the following:
1. Damage you may cause to the highway.
2. Damage caused to other vehicles traveling on the same highway, including the medical costs of its occupants and/or pedestrians that are injured as a result of the accident.
3. The medical and funeral costs of the occupants your vehicle (excluding the driver).
The benefits of using the turnpikes, apart from the security, are that they shorten the time it takes to reach your destination and they offer you the service of Green Angels (Angeles Verdes), an association of the Secretary of Tourism and that radio patrols the turnpikes of Mexico bringing highway assistance. If you need to reach them, dial 078 to reach an attendant.
The free highways do not have these services, but they do offer you the option to discover and visit small towns that appear along the way. The highways, depending on the area and the amount of traffic, tend to be in decent condition.
When you drive on free highways, you should pay attention to the following:
- Be careful with children as they sometimes play along the highway.
- If it is a rural area, you may encounter animals on the road.
- Before arriving at a town, you may encounter speed bumps on the road.
- When there is little traffic, townspeople sometimes forget to use turn signals or enter the highway without seeing you coming towards them. This can be easily resolved by respecting the speed limits, paying attention to the road and traveling by day.
Parking and Parking Meters
Unless it is marked otherwise, you can park without problems on the streets of our country. Of course, it will always be easier to find a place to leave your car in the provinces than in Mexico City since there the excess of cars occasionally results in serious conflicts. There are many parking lots, but the prices vary a lot. The most expensive are in the airports and large hotels where you might pay between 50 to 80 pesos per hour (4-7 US$ / 3.4-5.5 euros)! Apart from these places, the average is 12 pesos per hour (almost 1 dollar or .8 euros). The form of charging is, obviously, by the hour, and if you go beyond this time they charge a portion of the hourly fee.
Many times you will see buckets or boxes along the sidewalks prohibiting you from parking. These spaces are known as territory of the “franeleros”, people who take care of the space and in exchange ask for a tip that you should give them when you leave the place. Giving them 10 pesos (.9 US$ or .7 euros) is more than enough.
Traffic Rules
The traffic rules are the same as in most of the world, although many times here people run red lights and do so even more when there is lots of traffic. Just as in the rest of the world, there are good and bad drivers. For that reason, it is always better to follow the rules: use turn signals, watch and obey the lights, etc. Our recommendation is to drive relaxed, since after all – you’re on vacation! The pedestrian has the right-of-way, although there are always people who forget that or whose need to get somewhere fast is above their common sense. If you are a pedestrian, always look twice before crossing any street.
EVERYTHING ABOUT BOATS
Cruises that arrive in Mexico
There are various cruise lines that stop in Mexican ports. In order for you to disembark, on the ship they will provide you with all the necessary information and documentation.
Ferries:
In the Mexican Caribbean, you will find the following ferries:
To Cozumel Island: Ferries leave from the dock at Playa del Carmen. The price of the trip is about $110.00 pesos (9.5 US$ / 7.5 euros) depending on the company you select.
To Isla Mujeres: Ferries leave from the marine terminal in the port of Cancun. The prices of the trip is approximately $70 pesos (5.7 US$ / 4.8 euros)
Both routes have various schedules.
To Isla Holbox: You will need to take a bus from Cancun to Chiquila. There are not many buses or ferries, but there are enough to get to and from the island. The price of the bus trip is $60 pesos (5.2 US$ / 4.1 euros) and of the ferry is $40 pesos (3.4 US$ / 2.7 euros).
On the Sea of Cortez, you will find the following ferries that leave from La Paz, Baja California Sur, and go to Mazatlán and Topolobambo – both of which are located in Sinaloa.
La Paz – Topolobampo – La Paz $680 pesos (59 US$ / 47 euros), departs daily at two different times: 3:00p.m. and 11:00p.m.
La Paz – Mazatlán – La Paz $770 pesos (67 US$ / 53 euros), departs on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 3:00p.m. and on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 4:00p.m.
We recommend that you always verify the schedules.
EVERYTHING ABOUT BUSES
There is not a city, beach port or small town that doesn’t have a bus station.
Getting around by bus in Mexico is one of the best means of traveling the country. It allows you to reach all destinations, you have a wide variety of schedules and bus lines providing service and generally you will arrive in the city center. The exceptions to this are in large cities like Guadalajara or Mexico City which has 4 bus terminals that depart to all corners of the country.
You will find the buses well-equipped for long distance trips with wide seats and some even have special night routes to prevent backaches.
Tour the Gulf of Mexico and the Southeast with our Bus Pass:
Mexico4travellers.com offers you a bus pass that tours 8 states along the Gula and Southeastern Mexico. It’s at your convenience and following your own itinerary, but with the security of having bus access as many times as you need it (that is to say, unlimited use).
4 Bus Lines are at your disposal, with air conditioning, remotely-controlled speed limit, satellite television, restrooms, reclining seats, qualified drivers and security while on board the unit.
Choose the option which best meets your needs:
7 days: 180 US$
14 days: 246 US$
21 days: 336 US$
Bus Lines
Counting all the bus lines would be complicated, since there are so many accross the country. We suggest that you go to the bus station and choose the line that most accommodates you and that fits your budget.
1st and 2nd Class Buses
1st Class buses are completely equipped and have air conditioning that is sometimes even too cold! It’s not too much to take a sweater or light jacket on board. They also have television and some offer something light to eat. They do not make stops during their routes.
2nd Class buses are less comfortable, but you will also find that for short trips (1-2 hours) they are a reasonable solution to the problem of transportation.
Tourist Buses
There are more and more cities offering this tourist service. If you ask at your hotel or hostel, they can tell you if it exists in the city and where you can find it.Mexico4travellers offers you, beginning in April, taxi service throughout the country. You can sign up for it and prepay on our website. You can then request a taxi through our call center with 24 hour a day service in 3 languages (Spanish, English and French). That way you can get around safely, quickly and at any time you decide to!
In the security menu you will find tips for using taxis safely.
The Subway (Metro)
There are 3 cities that have subways (known as metros): Guadalajara, Monterrey and Mexico City.EVERYTHING ABOUT TRAINS
The railway network is vast in Mexico, but it is designed more for transporting cargo and merchandise than passengers.
There are, however, 3 different tourist trains. The most important of these is that which runs through Copper Canyon in the northern part of the country from Chihuahua to Los Mochis or from Los Mochis to Chihuahua. It’s a beautiful landscape that is sure to leave you charmed.
You can do the entire trip in one day, or better yet make some stops to see up close the indigenous Tarajumara community, trek around, or simply fill your eyes with the beauty of the canyons. The cost is $1450 pesos (126 US$ / 100 euros) for 1st Class Express and $726 pesos (63 US$ / 50 euros) for Economy Class.
Tequila also has its own tourist train. If you are in Guadalajara, this could be an alternative in your travels since the train spends one day running through the agave farms (the plant from which tequila is made). Along the route there are mariachi bands and, of course, tequila. The cost is $850 pesos (73 US$ / 58 euros).
Southeastern Mexico also offers a route through the Mayan regions. The cost for the week-long trip rounds off at 2,500 US$.
OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION
Bicycle
Although many Mexicans participate in the sport of mountain biking along routes, this is not a very common form of transportation.
If you decide to bring your bike or to rent one here, we suggest you always use a helmet and take extreme precautions since there are no specific lanes for bicycle traffic.
Mexico City has a bike route that can be a good option for seeing different parts of the city.
Using bicycles is more common throughout the rest of the country and in small towns. But regardless, you need to be very careful with cars.
If you want to bring your mountain bike, you will find good routes in nearly every state.
Microbuses, Peseros, Colectivos, Minibús
These are all names for similar collective transportation that runs through urban areas or small towns. Getting onboard one of these can be an experience of its own! The price depends on the distance you plan to use it. It is a very inexpensive form of transportation and you will find them all over the country.
Urban Buses
This is another alternative for getting around inexpensively. In Mexico City there is the Metrobús that runs the entire length of Insurgentes Avenue. It would be a good option for moving around.
Streetcars and Trolleys
Some cities have this service which follows an established route with specific stops. They are also inexpensive.
Cda. de Seminario #22 Local C Col. Olivar de los Padres, Álvaro Obregón, C.P. 01780, México, D.F. Teléfonos: +52 (55) 5668 8709 / 1718 0181 / 1718 0192