Bus, Douglas, AZ To Mexico City
Updated December 2013
Hi
A.L. Thanks for your kind comments and question. I received your
email query (below) about a first class bus trip from Douglas,
Arizona to Mexico City and went on to investigate a straight shot,
direct bus Douglas/Agua Prieta to Mexico City non-stop.
 |
Futura Bus runs bus routes from the US border to
Mexico City Norte Station
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Hello,
I
have been reading your Road Trip Mexico blog - I am trying to get
from Agua Prieta, Sonora to Mexico City as quickly and cheaply as
possible (comfort isn't really a priority in my student budget life
:). I saw that you were able to do the entire trip by bus in 2010...
do you think that this trip could be completed in a day? I was a
little bit confused - did you have only two buses (one to Chihuahua
and one to Mexico City) or additional buses between those? Thank you
in advance for any help, and for the excellent blogging. Best wishes,
A.L
I
happened to be in Tucson visiting family when I received your letter
and I was on my way to Mexico City. I went ahead and made the trip
myself within the week to see just how long a direct trip from
Douglas to Mexico City would take. I hope this description of this
first class bus trip from Tucson Arizona to Mexico City through the
border station of Douglas, Arizona/Agua Prieta, Mexico will help.
 |
Several first class bus lines run bus routes from the
US border to Mexico City Norte Station, Omnibus,
Futura, Tap, ETN, Chihuahuenses, and Tufesa
among them
|
The
Douglas Shuttle makes many daily trips to Douglas, AZ from Tucson.
Several shuttle services run shuttle vans from the area of the
4000th block of South 6th Street in
Tucson. I took the Sahuaro Shuttle, 4202 South 6th , it
is one of the ones I have used in the past. (520-573-1399 or
520-173-1355)
The
shuttle cost $25 USD and takes about two hours to reach Douglas from
Tucson.
If you arrive in Tucson by air on your way to Douglas, call the Suhauro Shuttle for an airport pick-up. Cost $8.00 USD additional.
If you arrive in Tucson by air on your way to Douglas, call the Suhauro Shuttle for an airport pick-up. Cost $8.00 USD additional.
- Bus
Agua Prieta to Mexico CityOnce
you reach Douglas, walk across the border at Douglas/Agua Prieta and
stop at the Mexican Immigration office to get a Tourist Card (FMM,
Forma Migration Multiple). You must carry this form with you if you
will be in Mexico beyond 72 hours and if you travel beyond the border
area.
The
form is good for 180 days, a six month visit. Cost is $25.00
USD or 295 pesos. If you are not a US or Canadian citizen check the
web ahead of your trip for the visa requirements for citizens of your
country.
Pesos/Dollars
After
passing through immigration, find an ATM machine just a block south
at the bank building. Then find the taxis on the corner and
take one for 60 pesos to the Agua Prieta bus terminal. You can ask
the taxi driver to stop at a different ATM
machine
or at a money changer if you still need Pesos. The bus
terminal will take dollars but as you leave the border area, most
places will not take dollars so it is best to get pesos before you
leave Agua Prieta.
 |
Aguascalientes is a good stop for sightseeing on
an Agua Prieta to Mexico City bus trip
|
Bus
Agua Prieta to Mexico City
This
bus trip from Agua Prieta to Mexico City Norte
Station will
take at least 28 hours so the short answer to your question is no,
you can not make the trip in one day. The trip will take a bit more
than a full day and, in fact all told, boarding the shuttle at 9 am
and arriving at Mexico City around 5-8 pm will be more like a day and
a half.
Pack a little food and water but there will be many stops in cities along the way for water and snacks. Below find a list of stops on recent trips (July 2013) ( December 2014)
Pack a little food and water but there will be many stops in cities along the way for water and snacks. Below find a list of stops on recent trips (July 2013) ( December 2014)
 |
Paquime Ruin
Site, Casas Grandes
|
I left Agua Prieta 1:45 pm on Chihuahuenses Bus. Ticket price, 1851 Pesos ($144.00 USD)
Arrive,
Rio Grande, Zacatecas State, 4:30 am 10-15 minute
stop
Fresnillo,
6:30 am 10-15 minute stop
Leon,
11:15 am 10-15 minute stop
Irapuato
12:15 pm 10-15 minute stop
Queretaro,
2:30 pm 5 minute stop
Mexico
Norte Station, Mexico City, 6:00 pm (8:00 pm local time) end
of trip
Note
that there is a two hour time difference. (at certain times of the
year depending on daylight savings )
The actual arrival time at Norte Station was 8:00 pm
The actual arrival time at Norte Station was 8:00 pm
 |
| Aguascalientes |
From
Norte Station, buses serve Mexico in all directions. (See Norte
Station,
Mexico, ) There are ATM machines in the stations, clean rest rooms,
taxi service, and restaurants. The station is under-lit (dark
as a cave) and this makes it difficult to use the ATM machines.
Taxis and transportation are just at the front of the station.
Trip
km/Miles and Time
1994
Km, 1239 miles, 28 hours
 |
Mexico City's Norte bus terminal, 28 hours from
Agua Prieta/Douglas Arizona.
|
Notes
- This is a difficult trip unless you can sleep on the bus.
- Chihuahuenses Bus does not consistently stock paper in the lavatory. Bring your own. The other bus services serving similar routes, Omnibus, ETN, and Futura do put paper in the lavatories. (Find Omnibus just across from the Agua Prita bus station)
I
usually stop in cities along the way for a tour and a hotel stay.
Colonial cities such as Zacatecas, Aguascalientes, and San
Luis Potosi make
great touring.
If you do make a direct trip to Mexico City, anticipate your arrival. You are apt to be quite tired and will want a plan for lodging or have an onward bus in mind once you reach Norte Station in Mexico City.
Wishing you a good trip.
Related LinksTeotihuacan Ruin Bus, Norte Station
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