Mexico City City Guide - Getting There By Road

Mexico's motorways, although not up to European, Canadian and US standards, are fairly well maintained. They fan out from Mexico City and most large cities can be bypassed. There are more then 6,000km (3,700 miles) of cuota (toll) roads in Mexico. These are often four lanes and in much better condition than the via libres (free roads), which have dangerously large potholes, as well as wandering children, livestock and drunks, to contend with. Cuotas (tolls) vary but are generally expensive. The high cost means they are often empty and are generally much safer. Banditry is a problem in parts of Mexico and drivers of foreign vehicles are particularly targeted, the risk is far greater when driving at night which is not recommended.

Speed limits are usually 100kph (62mph) on motorways and 30kph (19mph) or 40kph (25mph) in cities. A valid driving licence from the driver's home country is required and an International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended. Insurance is not mandatory but is very strongly advised; note that Mexican law only recognises Mexican seguros (insurance). The minimum age for driving in Mexico is 18 years. There is no legal limit for blood/alcohol levels, however drunk driving is taken seriously and is punishable with heavy fines.

SECTUR, the Mexican Ministry of Tourism, has teams of Angeles Verdes (Green Angels) (tel: (55) 5250 0123) who patrol most of Mexico's main roads and provide free assistance to motorists in trouble. It's appropriate to tip the mechanic if they help you.

Emergency breakdown service:
Angeles Verdes (55) 5250 8221 patrol the roads looking for broken down vehicles, it's appropriate to tip the mechanic if they help you.

Routes to the city: The 57/57D motorway links Mexico City to the north and Querétaro, San Luis Potosí and Monterrey, with 45D branching west at Querétaro to reach León, Aguascalientes and Zacatecas. Route 150D heads east to Veracruz and Puebla (with branches to Oaxaca and Villahermosa) while 15/15D goes west to Toluca and Guadalajara. To the south, 95D links Mexico City with Cuernavaca and Acapulco, with a branch going to Taxco.

Coach services: The country's coach services provide an efficient and cost-effective alternative to air travel, with direct buses connecting Mexico City with most cities in Mexico. The buses vary considerably from non-stop, luxury, air-conditioned services to rickety, second-class affairs.

There are four main long-distance bus terminals in Mexico City, as listed below. All have left-luggage facilities, pay phones and telephone booths (casetas) where you can make long-distance telephone calls, post offices, ATMs, cafeterias and a safe taxi rank. Only Terminal Norte and TAPO have casas de cambio (bureaux de change).

Terminal Norte (north), Avenida de los Cien Metros 4907 (tel: (55) 5719 1201; Metro Autobuses del Norte), is served by 30 different bus companies linking Mexico City to the north of the country, Guadalajara, Colima and Puerto Vallarta. Terminal Oriente (east), Calzada Zaragoza 200 (tel: (55) 5784 3077; Metro San Lázaro), is better known as TAPO and serves destinations east and southeast of Mexico City, such as Puebla, Veracruz, Oaxaca and the Yucatán Peninsula. Terminal Central de Autobuses del Sur (south), Avenida Tasqueña 1320 (tel: (55) 5336 2321; Metro Tasqueña), offers southward services, including Acapulco and Zihuatenejo. Terminal Poniente (west), Avenida Sur 122 (tel: (55) 5272 8816; Metro Observatorio), handles westbound services, including frequent shuttles to Toluca.