by Helium01

Created on: July 05, 2009   Last Updated: January 08, 2011

While everyone knows that Mexico is that large country south of the border, most don't know about the variety of vacation choices it offers. Many people see the commercialized beach areas of Cancun or Acapulco or the poor border towns. But Mexico has a great variety of areas to explore. This includes modern urban areas, small beaches, rainforests, mountains and deserts.

One of the best ways to see the real Mexico is to do it by bus. Most Americans look at bus travel as only for those who cannot afford airfare. But in Mexico this is not true. Mexico has several premium and deluxe bus systems that far exceed what we find in the United States. They also have what are known as second class buses, which are similar to our Greyhound system.

They are not the little old Volkswagen buses or the old school buses you see on television. While these do exist, they are mainly for transport within small cities. They are not what you will be using for touring the country.

First you must decide how and where you will arrive in Mexico. It is possible to pick up these buses in many of the border towns. There are even some bus lines that regularly cross over into the United States. Another option is to fly into and out of a major city and pick up a bus there.

The bus routes literally cross the country, so there is no one place that makes a better hub than the other. Probably the biggest consideration will be the amount of time you have to spend traveling. The bus stations themselves are also much different than in the United States. They are usually modern sprawling complexes with many amenities. There are restaurants of all types, stores and other facilities.

The buses tend to leave frequently so there is not much of a need to purchase your tickets in advance. You can arrive at the bus station and decide on the carrier and type of bus that fits your schedule without a long wait. The only time an advance purchase is recommended is if you need to make a connection at the other end.

When you are on the bus you will see all the aspects of Mexican geography. If you are adventurous you may even decide to get off at an interim stop that interests you. While you won't be able to use your original ticket to continue on, don't worry. The cost of tickets is quite inexpensive. This gives you a level of freedom that you don't have by flying from place to place.

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