[hammock]

Sure. I’m not really an expert in how they work but if you speak Spanish they’re easy enough to use.

Most cities have private bus companies that run their own routes. Where the bus is going is posted in the front on a piece of paper and you just hop on when you see one. The companies compete with each other so the routes often change, the prices are low and supply always meets demand.

Colectivos are a different phenomenon. In certain meeting places there are combi buses (12 pax vans basically) each one going to a different place usually a suburb or a neighboring town or a landmark outside of town or somewhere within commuting distance. You pay a small fee and the driver will sit there until all the seats are full, and then drive to the destination. Sometimes you sit 5 min before departing, sometimes 30 min. But usually it’s not so bad and it’s far and away the cheapest way to get these longer distances reliably.

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I like that. The certainty that the bus will only travel while full helps with planning, in a way. And of course keeps the cost down.