Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
than buses. While countries are trying to improve train travel, currently it will be cheaper and easier for you
to get around by bus.
Buses
Bus transportation is the cheapest option in South America. There's no real train network in the region and
flights are expensive, so the majority of people take the bus. There are a lot of tourist buses in South Amer-
ica, but even on those, you are going to be traveling with a good number of locals, as buses are the mainstay
here. Simply put, long- and short-distance buses are the best way to get around unless you are really pinched
for time (in which case, flying is your only other option).
As Michael Hodson of goseewrite.com says, “Traveling by bus is the most convenient way to get around
South America. Your day-to-day transport there is going to be in buses and minivans.”
Buses generally cost between $8 USD and $80 USD per trip. Domestic bus travel costs around $10 USD,
while international or fancier buses cost $80 USD. For example, a twelve-hour bus ride in Argentina might
cost $50-60 USD, while in Bolivia the same journey might be $20 USD. Generally, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia,
and Paraguay are cheaper and you can get fares for as little as $1 USD per hour of travel. In the larger coun-
tries of Chile, Argentina, Colombia, and Brazil, which use full-service, double-decker sleeper buses, expect
to pay on the higher end. These prices refer to second-class travel—nice coaches, amenities, and first-class
seats will be more expensive.
Argentina boasts an outstanding short- and long-distance bus network. The more expensive buses gen-
erally offer high-quality service, and for distances longer than 200 km, it is common to have food served
on board as well as wi-fi and alcohol. There is generally a good amount of legroom, and many buses have
seats that recline horizontally into beds (
camas
), making the experience a lot like traveling business class on
a plane. The best category, with completely reclining seats, is normally called
cama suite
, but other names,
such as
tutto leto
,
executive
, or
salón real
are also in use. Somewhat cheaper seats only recline partially
(
semi-camas
) or not at all (
servicio común
).
Information about buses and timetables can be found on the website of Omnilíneas (omnilineas.com).
In Brazil, long-distance buses are a convenient, economical, and sometimes (usually if you buy the most
expensive ticket) rather comfortable way to travel between regions. You should check distance and time
while traveling within Brazil; going from Rio de Janeiro to the south region could take more than twenty-
four hours, so it may be worth going by plane if you can afford it.
There is no one bus company that serves all of Brazil, so you need to identify the company that connects
your two cities in particular by calling the bus station of one city. ANTT, the national authority for land
transportation, has a search engine for buses (appweb.antt.gov .br/transp/secao_duas_localidades.asp), but
it is only in Portuguese. Big cities, like São Paulo and Rio, have more than one bus station, each covering
certain areas of the city. Be sure to check in advance for which bus station you are going to.
Bus prices are quite expensive in Colombia, although long-distance trips rarely cost more than $55 USD
one way. Long-distance bus travel tends to be very slow because main highways are two-lane roads with
lots of truck traffic. Fares are sometimes as high as $100 USD. Budget airlines are often cheaper than buses
in Colombia, so make sure to check the airline websites listed below for fare information. The websites for
the bus companies are:
expresobrasilia.com
copetran.com.co
