Mexico City to Oaxaca (buy, college, to live)

[charolastra00]

I was recently accepted into a program based in the city of Oaxaca from September 2nd to December 25th. It's an experiential learning college study abroad program so we'll be traveling around a bit- but mostly focusing on a Oaxaca, Chiapas, and a brief stay in Mexico City. I would really like to go down a few days early and travel by myself (or with a few people in the program if I can convince them to follow some girl they've never met before around a foreign country :P) before taking a bus to Oaxaca.

I know I would like to go to Puebla and Cuernavaca and that there is pretty decent bus services to each one from Mexico City as well as between each other. Which would be the best to get to Oaxaca from? What places that are bus accessible should I see in between Mexico City and Oaxaca?

Also, how safe is it? I've always heard that the Mexican bus lines are great but I need reassurance. :P I've taken Greyhound from Chicago to Boston and have never been more in fear for my life and possessions. I wouldn't necessarily be taking the first class buses though even those aren't really too out of my price range. For the record, I'm a 20 year old student who has never left the country who has a reasonable grasp of Spanish though after 8 years I still have a fear of speaking it. :P Before I go to Mexico, I'll have been to Iceland with the same study abroad group for 6 weeks over the summer- but let's face it, the US is a cesspool of violence and filth compared to Iceland. That makes Mexico like a warzone in comparison, so I know that won't prepare me for traveling alone. But lots of people do it, right? And many tourists don't even speak a smidge of Spanish!

Any advice would be awesome.. thanks!

[Travelling fella]

Originally Posted by charolastra00

I was recently accepted into a program based in the city of Oaxaca from September 2nd to December 25th. It's an experiential learning college study abroad program so we'll be traveling around a bit- but mostly focusing on a Oaxaca, Chiapas, and a brief stay in Mexico City. I would really like to go down a few days early and travel by myself (or with a few people in the program if I can convince them to follow some girl they've never met before around a foreign country :P) before taking a bus to Oaxaca.

I know I would like to go to Puebla and Cuernavaca and that there is pretty decent bus services to each one from Mexico City as well as between each other. Which would be the best to get to Oaxaca from? What places that are bus accessible should I see in between Mexico City and Oaxaca?

Also, how safe is it? I've always heard that the Mexican bus lines are great but I need reassurance. :P I've taken Greyhound from Chicago to Boston and have never been more in fear for my life and possessions. I wouldn't necessarily be taking the first class buses though even those aren't really too out of my price range. For the record, I'm a 20 year old student who has never left the country who has a reasonable grasp of Spanish though after 8 years I still have a fear of speaking it. :P Before I go to Mexico, I'll have been to Iceland with the same study abroad group for 6 weeks over the summer- but let's face it, the US is a cesspool of violence and filth compared to Iceland. That makes Mexico like a warzone in comparison, so I know that won't prepare me for traveling alone. But lots of people do it, right? And many tourists don't even speak a smidge of Spanish!

Any advice would be awesome.. thanks!

You might try ADO, or Estrella Blanca, there is ADO UNO which is first class and very nice if you can afford it, is not THAT expensive, and is well worth it, don't worry too much about your trip, I'm sure you will find Mexico great and will enjoy it very much, just keep your eyes and attention open, but don't be nervous, everything will be just fine!!

If you want drop me a message once you get to Mexico city, I'll be more than glad to show you around if you want hehehe, well welcome to Mexico señorita, I hope it's all you've ever dreamed and more!! Ajua!!!!!!

[starlight.mx]

There is a new road from Mexico City to Oaxaca that is wonderful ! On the way you should stop at Cuernavaca, Tlaxcala ( a small diversion from the main road ), Puebla and Tehuacan - all four well worth the visit.

As to danger while traveling - the best suggestion is to wear a vest with inside pockets ( you can buy one with two outside pockets and then sew then down inside to make inside pockets also ) - there you keep your passport , all important papers and $$. A back pack with the other stuff you can put under your feet if you will be sleeping or as a pillow. Your luggage is better off under the bus than up on the rack inside. Always travel with bottled water, you can buy another at every stop, and some thing to eat in the back pack. Mexico in general is NOT dangerous - people are very friendly and helpful. Mexico City is the most dangerous place on Earth IMHO - I have had to live there for serval years twice in the last 38 years and now I will pay not to go !!!

The only other thing I can think of is do not use ATMs after banking hours - only when there are lots of people around and when you are out at night in a bar or similar only drink from a bottle you opened yourself and then chugalug it - but that is the same advise for the US.

Mexico is very safe apart from Mexico City and Tijauana - unless you are a drug lord.