Intercity Bus Service

Several companies offer connections between Northern and Southern Baja towns. It takes about 30 hours to complete the journey from Tijuana to Cabo San Lucas by bus with Autotransportes Aguila (tel. 612/122-4270, www.autotransportesaguila.com, US$148) or Autotransportes de Baja California (ABC, tel. 800/025-0220, www.transportes abc.com, US$142). Many travelers divide the trip into two parts by stopping overnight in La Paz.

Transportes Norte de Sonora (TNS, tel. 664/688-1979) operates buses in Northern Baja, connecting Tijuana, Ensenada, Tecate, and Mexicali with the mainland state of Sonora.

Buses are modern, comfortable, and usually air-conditioned for longer trips. Schedules vary (this is not Switzerland), and prices are reasonable. You don’t usually need reservations (stop by the day before just in case), and in many cases, it’s not possible to make them.

The Spanish word for ticket is boleto. Fares are usually posted on the wall inside the depot.

Municipal Buses

Tijuana, Ensenada, Mexicali, San Quintín, La Paz, and San José del Cabo have city bus systems that cost a dollar or two per trip (pesos only). The route or destination (a street name or district) usually is posted on the front of the bus.