 GETTING THERE
Air - The Benito Juarez International Airport is located about 6km
east of the Zocalo and is the only passenger airport in Mexico City. There
are at least 25 airlines providing direct flights from most larger cities in the
Americas and Canada, as well as London, Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam and Frankfurt.
There are official airport carriers in the arrival hall to help carry your
luggage, and the service cost around 15-25 pesos.
Bus - There are four large long-distance bus stations in Mexico City,
including one at the airport with connections to hundreds of large and small
Mexican locations including Guatemala, Belize and the southern US. Each
station is equipped with food stalls, ATM machines and news stands. Bus
fares range from $10 to $150 depend on the destination. Buses in Mexico
City are equipped with air-conditioned and reclinable seats, and are pretty
comfortable. Several bus lines arrive at each of the four stations, and
they give preference to the cities in Mexico that are relative to each station.
For example, you need to go to the East bus station to take the bus to the
Eastern Mexican cities.
Train - Trains in Mexico have been in decline for decades and its
future is doubtful. At present, there are only three trains in Mexico
which run to and from Mexico City from Queretaro (Mon, Wed and Fri at 9 am), and
Tlaxcala and Apizaco (Tues, Thurs and Sat at 8.45 am). Tickets can be
purchased on the train.
GETTING AROUND
Bus - The bus system in Mexico City is quite efficient especially if
you know where you're going. There's a flat rate of about US$0.15 for each
journey and there are many routes. The major bus terminus is located
nearby the Chapultepec Metro Station, from where you can get to almost any area
of the city. In addition, there are also trolleybuses running in both
directions along Lazaro Cardenas (Central Axis). If you're not sure of the
bus routes, you can look at the bus' front window for the display of their
destinations.
Metro & Tren Ligero - Mexico City has an excellent French-built
Metro system which is modern, fast and quiet. There are nine lines that
cover the whole city and avoid congested traffic above. Tickets (US$1.15)
are sold individually and discount is not offered for bulk purchases, although
it's time-saving to buy a large quantity at a time. There is also
travelcard (abono) sold every 15th and 30th of each month which is one sole card
valid for two whole weeks. The last train leaves from each end of the line
at midnight (1am Sat), with the first train start at 5am Monday - Friday, 6am on
Saturday and 7am on Sunday. It's best to work out which way you're
travelling to before setting off as there are maps only at the entrance to the
station, but not inside the system. Direction is indicated by the last
station at either end of the line, and interchanges are indicated by the word
"Correspondencia" and the name of the new line. Tren Ligero is a
recent addition to the system. It runs above ground from Tasquena to
Xochimilco in the south separately from the metro system and has a different
ticketing system.
Taxi - There are many forms of taxi in Mexico City, but it's best to
look for the ones with switched-on meter. One point to keep in mind before
jumping in any taxi is that many street names are repeated over and over again
in different parts of the city. For example, there may be dozens of
streets called Juarez or Hidalgo. Consequently, it is best that you carry
a map or are sure of which area you are heading to. It would also be
especially helpful if you know the name of the official colonia, or urban
district that you're looking for.
Peseros (colectivos) - The peseros or colectivos run along the major
through-routes especially on Reforma and Insurgentes. They are slightly
more expensive than the bus but take you to the destination faster, and cost far
less than a regular taxi. Passengers can get on and off anywhere along the
set routes and they can check for the desired destination from the display on
the windscreen. The peseros usually come in green with white roof, thirty-seater
buses or VW vans.
Car rental - Rental cars are available from the airport as well as
from thousands of agencies throughout the city. Driving in Mexico City can
prove to be an adventure due to the confusing one-way and through-route systems
as well as the difficulty to find a place to park. In any case, the small
local operations offer cheaper rate than the big chains although it isn't
exactly cheap. For instance, a compact car with insurance (recommended)
may cost $60-80 per day. If you already have a car, it's recommended to
choose a hotel with secure parking and leave it there for the duration of your
stay except if you plan to explore the south of the city.
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