Guatemala like many Central American Countries has an interesting transportation system. A Chicken bus which is a colloquial English name for a colorful, modified and decorated bus that transports goods and people between communities foremost in Guatemala.
The base vehicle is usually a retired North American school bus on a light or medium truck chassis. The word “chicken” refers to the fact that rural Guatemalans occasionally transport live animals on such buses–a practice that visitors from other countries often find remarkable.
Often two young men will partner in the operation of a bus, one of whom will have his license, while the other dubs himself the Ayudante or “helper”.
Some buses sport vibrant paint including the bus’ name and permanent route. Such forms of transport are completely stuffed with passengers (whenever possible) and then hard-driven to their destinations at top speed.
Having lived in Central America and Guatemala for a number of years I have found that a Chicken Bus is an inexpensive and safe form of Transportation within most of Guatemala. One will find on line a number of reviews, reports and concerns about the Idea of using a Chicken Bus as a primary form of transportation within Guatemala. Tripadvisor, Lonely Planet are travel review sites and those that seek information about riding a Chicken Bus will find in some cases reviews that do not always clearly explain the facts of a travelers experiences, meaning that some travelers find this form of transportation not acceptable.
First of all I have taken Chicken Buses for travel over most of Guatemala. My experiences cover 3 years of in most cases weekly and some times daily required this form of Transportation that is reliable and safe. I have found that with every outing on a Chicken Bus in Guatemala the ayudante or “helper” made sure I knew where my stop was and made sure I knew when I departed the direction I should take from that point.
For some a ride on a Chicken Bus is either an adventure or for some that have written reviews on-line not so much of an adventure. Stories of wild rides, out of control drivers and un safe practices appear all over review sites. Well that is just the point of view of Travelers that perhaps should not be in Guatemala.
I often leave on my Chicken Bus adventures from Antigua Guatemala main market. There all you have to do is yell out the name of the Village or destinations and you will find the Ayudante or “helper” at the front of the line of Chicken Buses whom will kindly direct you to the right bus. That is when the fun begins if you like an adventure.
Prior to departure a slew of different vendors selling stuff will enter the Chicken Bus and offer everything from medicine to ice cream and candy. Then you know you are about to depart.
Upon departure the bus may not be loaded to capacity, enjoy the room you have in your seat because that will be short lived as the ayudante will be calling out the route as the Bus leaves the terminal in Antigua and heads to its destination. Along the way the driver will stop at what appears to be random locations and continue to pick up passengers. Soon you will find yourself packed in 3 to a seat and on sitting in the middle isle of the bus.
This is a very orderly process without a lot of shoving or pushing. Guatemalans are accustomed to this and everyone gets along without any directives, it just works. What amazes me the most of this experience is how the ayudante collects fares or in my case how he remembers who paid and who has not. As the Chicken Bus moves along its route to my final destination passengers come and go on this now packed to capacity well over capacity bus yes the ayudante know who had paid and who has not.
Yes the drives appear to be driving FAST. Then again we are not on 4 lane freeways we are on 2 lane roads some with narrow passages with what appears to be building just inches from the Chicken Bus windows. All this makes for what appears to be a wild ride. 30 mph can appear like 60 mph when one is in a confined area.
Some have said Chicken Buses are unsafe to ride for many reasons. Having spent hours on Chicken Buses I disagree. A Chicken Bus is the pride of the owner and or family that scraped together enough money to convert this old yellow school bus into this colorful and highly decorated work of art and pride. One will see the ayudante at ever stop and chance washing, cleaning and servicing the bus making sure the bus is in perfect condition.
A Chicken Bus ride is different then any form of North American Transportation one has ever experienced. Remember you came to Guatemala to have an experience be patient have some respect and you will have a safe and enjoyable Chicken Bus ride like millions do every day in Guatemala.