Chicken Buses

What appears to be the most popular method of transportation in Guatemala is the Chicken Bus. They are old school buses from the states, probably sent down after they didn´t pass the emission standards anymore. They let out huge clouds of exhaust as they go by!

The drivers are also somewhat reckless. They turn corners like they are driving a sports car. Which means you can´t really ever get comfortable. Some of the drivers drive as if they are playing Mario Kart. We were sitting in the back seats of one Chicken Bus, going a cool 70 MPH on the winding roads of Guatemala and another Chicken Bus is tailgating us, honking it´s horn trying to pass us.

The seats are also uncomfortable, but are even less comfortable for someone 5´9¨or taller. I have had a tough time sitting straight for too long. And, because the buses are old, Ami and I watched a seat collapse two rows in front of us, while the two passengers sitting on the bench held on for dear life since seats are hard to come by once the bus fills up. When the bus does fill up, people just squeeze themselves in as a third person in the row. And when that fills up, someone else will sit in the gap between the two benches in the same row.

Having said all of the above, the chicken bus system is very efficient. We have transferred a number of times, and everyone knows which bag belongs to whom. Oh yeah, bigger bags are tied to the roof. So a local will climb the rear ladder and pass your bag down to you and simultaneously tell you where to go to catch your next bus. And when you turn around, there is usually a bus headed where you need to go. So, you just hop onto the next bus.

It's a backpacker's way to travel!