This form of bus transportation provides one of the most common ways of getting around. The chicken bus travels over the major highways that connect cities and towns in Guatemala. Aside from the chicken bus, there are also camionetas or vans. Many of these vans are repurposed from Asia. The smallest form of common public transportation is the tuk-tuk or rickshaw. This small three wheeled vehicle is used for local trips within towns and can also be found in Thailand. However, despite these other various forms of transportation, when the smoke settles, the chicken bus is king of transportation in Guatemala!
When I first tried riding a chicken bus, I felt nervous because I had heard stories that this was not one of the safest forms of transportation in Guatemala. These chicken bus drivers can drive quite fast, even recklessly at times. I initially felt like I was riding a roller coaster because the bus turned on curves with such force and speed. The drivers seem determined to weave in and out of traffic as if to say they are more important than any other vehicle on the road. This can be a good thing if you want to get to your destination quickly, but it also makes some people squeamish!
It was hard to get used to the chicken bus. The etiquette and rules for riding the bus are very different from those required on the MTA buses in New York. As a tourist in Guatemala, you have to watch how people get on and off a chicken bus in order to learn what to do. First of all, the bus does not always stop completely at the bus stop, but instead rolls in at a low speed.
