Tucson, AZ to Oaxaca Mexico by Bus

Phoenix/ Tucson through Chihuahua to Oaxaca By first Class Bus
Updated December 2014

    For travelers to Mexico from the Southwest USA there are several ways to get from Tucson, AZ  and cross into Mexico.  The two most commonly used bus routes, because of their transportation services, are the crossing at Nogales and the one at Douglas Arizona/Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico.    If you are vacationing in the USA and want to visit Mexico, these bus and shuttle services make it possible.
     The route into Mexico could depend on where you are going in Mexico. On the trip described here, the route is direct to Mexico City and beyond to Oaxaca City, so the Douglas, Arizona route is the shortest. This is a distance of 1,600 miles and is a little more direct than the coastal route through Nogales to  Mazatlan and Guadalajara.
The route through Douglas will take you to Chihuahua, Zacatecas, and into Mexico City, and a whole lot of great Colonial Cities in between if you wish to tour.
        The first leg of this trips starts with the shuttle from Tucson to the border. The Douglas shuttle starts trips in the early am, 7-8 am. There are a few Douglas shuttles all located on or near South 6th Street in Tucson.  The Douglas Super Shuttle and others cost $25-$30 USD.
If you are going deep into Mexico you will need to get a six-month tourist card (Permission to visit Mexico)  at the border crossing. You can change money at the bank ATM in Agua Prieta
     You might pass through the border at Agua Prieta without a check of any papers, or luggage. Nogales is a different story; they have the red light/green light system and you might be checked by US and Mexican officials or you might just pass through.
     In the Agua Prieta crossing and the Nogales crossing, apply for the tourist card and pay 280 Pesos at the nearby (same building) bank.
On walking out of immigration at Agua Prieta look for the ATM a short distance down the street at the crossroads, or find a casa de cambio to change some money. The bus station will take USD but you are better off to have Pesos. They do have the figure in their head to make a currency change, however.
As you travel beyond the border you should use pesos.
      Catch a cab at the border for 70 pesos ($6 USD) and head for the Central de Autobus de Agua Prieta.  (Estrell Blanca Bus)
At the station you will find an Omnibus station on the same street.  Also find  Chihuahuenses service to Chihuahua.  The Omnibus station is across the street from the Central de Autobus, so you have options; they go to Mexico City Norte Station as well.  I prefer the Chihuahuenses Bus because I like their leg rests and deeply reclining seats for a long trip.
   
    If you are not fluent in the language, write your name, destination, and ticket price on a paper or note book and hand it to the ticket seller. Also be sure to pick a seat that will be comfortable for you;  towards the front is quieter and a smoother ride.

see Tips, destination and ticket price  

The buses are frequent and you could book directly to Mexico City (28 hours) or to an intermediate city such as Chihuahua, San luis Potosi, or Zacatecas for rest and and some great sightseeing.

Chihuahua/Copper Canyon .

Zacatecas Ruin Sites

San Luis Potosi photos

Oaxaca Guelaguetza Parade July Youtube

Bus, Douglas, AZ To Mexico City

Bus, Douglas, AZ To Mexico City

 Updated December 2013

Futura Bus runs bus routes from the US border to

 Mexico City Norte Station

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. 

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 

Douglas Shuttle

The Douglas Shuttle makes many daily trips to Douglas, AZ from Tucson. Several shuttle services run shuttle vans from the area of the 4000^th block of South 6^th Street in Tucson.  I took the Sahuaro Shuttle, 4202 South 6^th , 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.

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.

The first class buses use the

 modern,  high-speed

 roads 

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)

Paquime Ruin Site, Casas Grandes

I left Agua Prieta 1:45 pm on Chihuahuenses Bus. Ticket price, 1851 Pesos ($144.00 USD)

Arrivals:
Nuevo Casas Grandes, 5:00 pm  5 minute stop     (Paquime Ruin Site nearby)

Arrive, Rio Grande, Zacatecas State, 4:30 am 10-15 minute stop 

Fresnillo, 6:30 am  10-15 minute stop 

Zacatecas City, 7:30 am  10-15 minute stop      (On an extended trip, a good stop for  Sightseeing)

Aguascalientes, 9:00 am   10-15 minute stop    Aguascalientes-Sightseeing

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

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 

ADO Bus, service to Southern Mexico, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Yucatan

First Class Bus, Phoenix And Tucson Arizona to Mexico City

Bus routes follow high speed roads 

 Two routes are suitable to travel by bus from Phoenix and Tucson to the southern parts of Mexico.  One route follows the Pacific coast through Mazatlan and then swings inland to Guadalajara.  The other route is over the Alto Plano through Chihuahua and Zacatecas.
Both these routes will have a similar trip duration and cost, it will only depend on your desire to speed through or to stop along the way and visit some of the colonial cities or Pacific Coast beach towns.

Primera Plus Bus reaches Zihuatanejo (above) Mazatlan,
 and San Blas among other beach towns on the Pacific Coast

     I have made many trips on both routes and usually stop in various cities along the way. On the coast route, Mazatlan is a good beach stop. San Blas and Zihutanejo are other good beach stops although they require a detour. Guadalajara, Morelia, and Patscuaro are interesting colonial cities along this route.

The first class buses usually avoid the steep mountain roads when possible.

     On the Alto Plano route I have detoured to Copper Canyon from Chihuahua and also visited Zacatecas, San Luis Potosi, Aguascalientes, (link for info)  and Guanajuato  among others. You can, however, do a straight, 28-hour run to Mexico City from Agua Prieta.

Tucson Schedule And Bus Fares
Tufesa Bus is one of the options if you travel the Pacific Coast route through Mazatlan and Guadalajara. The Tufesa buses run from Phoenix through Tucson and cross the border at Nogales to run south to Guadalajara, Mexico. They leave Tucson four times daily, 11:00 am, 2:30 pm, 6:30 pm, and 8:00 pm. Trip cost USD $147. 00. (2013 prices)  Tufesa Bus offers free WiFi aboard and in the stations.

Tufesa runs bus route as far north as Ontario. The Phoenix /Tucson route at times starts in Las Vegas. Tufesa buses leave from 16 locations in California and four in Arizona as well as Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, and many other cities in the US. The Tucson route makes the border crossing at Nogales and reaches south to Guadalajara with several stops along the Pacific Coast including Mazatlan.

Futura Buses run direct from Agua Prieta to Mexico City

Guadalajara Bus Change
Tufesa Bus runs routes as far south as Guadalajara. Here you would change bus lines to continue south. Tufesa stops at two stations in Guadalajara, the second terminal (last stop in Guadalajara) is the most convenient for onward bus travel.

Guadalajara offers several bus terminals and is a major bus hub 

for Tufesa Bus and Primera Plus among many others.

Primera Plus Bus
Primera Plus Bus is a good option for continuing your trip to Mexico City. Cost of Primera Plus service to Mexico's Norte Bus Terminal will be around $50 USD  575-600 Pesos (half price for seniors) Primera Plus offers free WiFi with electrical outlets


Once in Mexico you will find that Mexico's Bus systems are extensive and modern.  Mexico's first Class buses have plush seat for sleeping, leg rests, air conditioning, (bring a sweater) lavatories, seat belts, deeply reclining seats, and video movies. (Bring ear plugs for sleeping)
First class buses use the larger hub cities to reach even the most distant cities for about 15 cents USD per mile. The first class buses use the modern, high-speed toll roads (quota) wherever possible.

Primera Plus runs route from a new station in Guadalajara

Alternate Bus Route Through Central Mexico
The other bus route mentioned here is the Alto Plano route through the highlands of Central Mexico.

On the high plains route from Douglas Arizona to Chihuahua

     Starting at Douglas, Arizona/Agua Prieta, Mexico at about 3000 feet above sea level you eventually reach 7,400 feet above sea level in Mexico City.
This trip from Phoenix or Tucson starts with a van shuttle to the border town of Agua Prieta. You walk across through customs and immigration and cab to the bus terminal. Chihuahuenses Buses and Futura Buses (Estrella Blanca) run bus routes south through Chihuahua, Zacatecas, and several other cities for the 28-hour run to Mexico City's Norte Terminal.  Bus ticket price here is about $150.00 USD.
Just across the street from the Futura station, the Omnibus starts its trips over the same bus routes to Mexico City's Norte Terminal.

Guadalajara offer much to see in its museums and colonial 

architecture

Mexico City Norte Terminal
For those interested in touring all the way to Central America by bus , you could go from Guadalajara on a Primera Plus bus to Mexico City’s Terminal Norte. Then take an ADO bus to Tapachula, Chiapas and then a Tica Bus to Panama City, Panama.
For travelers going to Cancun, Chichen Itza, or Belize and Guatamala through Chetumal, the ADO buses from Norte Terminal in Mexico City cover all of southern Mexico.

Related links

Tikal through Palenque
Merida Bus To Chichen Itza
 Oaxaca To Palenque
Primera Plus Flecha Amarilla
Bus to Cancun

Futura Bus runs north and west of Mexico City reaching the

 US border at Douglas/Agua Prieta, Nogales, and Tijuana and 

Bus to Zacatecas

Cathedral and Cerro de la Bufa
 in the background

    Bus to Zacatecas

      From Aguascalientes I took a bus from the central Camionera north to Zacatecas, another colonial city built during the peak of silver mining activity.  Zacatecas is about 70 miles north of Aguascalientes and takes about two hours to reach.  Two ruin sites and a church were of particular interest to me, one ruin site is built directly on the Tropic of Cancer, the northern limits of what is deemed the tropics.
      ETN buses run regular service many times daily for 145 pesos for the 2-hour trip.  This works out to be two pesos per mile for high-quality, first class service.

      Zacatecas churches are of interest because of the opulent interiors built when gold and silver mining made the city rich.  The churches were built of pink stone, often pink volcanic cantera  which gives the historic center of Zacatecas a sense of cohesiveness, no building more impressive that the baroque cathedral in the center of the historic district.

     The Cerro de la Bufa and several other hills surround the old section of the city which is built in a low area within the surrounding gold and silver mines.  These eighteenth century mines provided riches for the construction of many now preserved buildings.
      Nomadic people lived in the area 10,000 years ago and at around 2000 BC built more permanent settlements in what is now called Zacatecas after the Zacateco Indians who among others such as Nahuatl speaking Chicamecas lived in the area when the Spanish arrived.

Santo Domingo Church

     The local indigenous people had been mining the area for years but the Spanish took that over soon after they discovered silver on Cerro de la Bufa.   By 1550 the town that grew around the mining operation  was well established.

      In the 1960s the city built a cable car called El Teleferico that runs from Cerro El Grillo to Cerro de la Bufa.  At the top of the la Bufa hill a statue commemorates a 1914 victory by Pancho Villa during the 1910 Revolution.  El Grillo, the hill opposite, is the site of the Eden Mine, one of Zacateca's most successful operations.  The mine started producing silver in the 1580s and continued to operate until the 1960s. The mine now hosts tours

     Two entrances to the mine are open for tours and one offers a short train trip to the gem museum, and the start of a walking tour into two levels of the mine.
The La Bufa hill at the opposite side of the Teleferico ride offers a museum that chronicles the battles fought in the area during the 1910 Revolution and the 1926 Cristero War.  The top of La Bufa offers a great view of the city of Zacatecas and can be reached by road, by a walking trail, or by the cable car. There is a zipline ride available at the top of the hill La Bufa.


     The cathedral, Zacateca's most notable building was first built in 1657 on the base of an existing indigenous ruin, as was the custom of the Spanish colonizers.  A second building was built in 1612 and in 1729-1754 the building now on the site was constructed.

     Another notable church with carved and gilt alter pieces is the Temple of Santo Domingo  built in 1746.  The eight side altars are carved wood in Churrigueresque style covered with gold leaf.  The nearby Pedro Coronel Museum houses the artists work and his collection which includes work by Picaso, Degas, Dali and others.
     From Zacatecas, the Chihuahuenses Bus, a division of Estrella Blanca Bus, reaches  the 40 miles to Somberete where a local bus serves to the town of Chalchihuites.  From there, cabs reach the ruin of Alta Vista, an intriguing ruin claimed by researcers to be a solar observatory built directly of the Tropic of Cancer.




Alta Vista Ruin Next