Bus Riding Tips for South America
Molly Bridgestreet
- Published Content: 9
- Total Views: 6,770
- Favorited By: 0 CPs
As a Peace Corps volunteer in Ecuador, I traveled mostly by bus. I also traveled in Peru a bit. Traveling by bus has certain dangers which cannot be minimized, such as the danger that the bus will be hijacked by bandits, or the danger that the crazy driver will wreck (you know the driver is scary 
and you're not just a paranoid gringo when the little old ladies who've ridden these buses their whole lives start crossing themselves and praying), but there are certain risks that can be minimized, and certain things that you can do to make your ride a more enjoyable one.
Bus hijacking is not unheard of, but neither is it rampant. In two years, neither I nor anyone I knew was on a bus that was hijacked. If it really worries you, the safest bet is to go in a group with a chartered tourist bus that doesn't stop to pick anyone up. And there are certain areas of the provinces where it is more common. Don't be afraid to ask around and check the guidebooks and online travel message boards for info.
First rule of theft prevention: watch your stuff. Don't put anything in the cargo areas under or on top of the bus if you can help it. But if you have a large backpack or bag, you will probably have to put it under there. If possible, sit at a window seat overlooking the cargo areas so that when the bus stops, you can see if someone is trying to make off with your luggage. Keep small expensive items like cameras or portable CD players in a smaller bag or backpack with you, along with your money, passport, a snack, some water, some toilet paper, and maybe aspirin and Pepto Bismol. Do not put your wallet or your camera in the outside pockets of your backpack, as these are the easiest pockets for someone to slip things out of without you knowing it.
Put this smaller bag in your lap or between your feet. Don't put it in the rack over your head, because if you fall asleep, someone can grab it as they exit the bus and you won't know it until you get to where you are going. On your lap is actually the best, as I have known people who had things taken out of a bag between their feet while they were sleeping, or even while they were awake. Many thieves are so highly skilled it seems almost supernatural.
Bus hijacking is not unheard of, but neither is it rampant. In two years, neither I nor anyone I knew was on a bus that was hijacked. If it really worries you, the safest bet is to go in a group with a chartered tourist bus that doesn't stop to pick anyone up. And there are certain areas of the provinces where it is more common. Don't be afraid to ask around and check the guidebooks and online travel message boards for info.
First rule of theft prevention: watch your stuff. Don't put anything in the cargo areas under or on top of the bus if you can help it. But if you have a large backpack or bag, you will probably have to put it under there. If possible, sit at a window seat overlooking the cargo areas so that when the bus stops, you can see if someone is trying to make off with your luggage. Keep small expensive items like cameras or portable CD players in a smaller bag or backpack with you, along with your money, passport, a snack, some water, some toilet paper, and maybe aspirin and Pepto Bismol. Do not put your wallet or your camera in the outside pockets of your backpack, as these are the easiest pockets for someone to slip things out of without you knowing it.
Put this smaller bag in your lap or between your feet. Don't put it in the rack over your head, because if you fall asleep, someone can grab it as they exit the bus and you won't know it until you get to where you are going. On your lap is actually the best, as I have known people who had things taken out of a bag between their feet while they were sleeping, or even while they were awake. Many thieves are so highly skilled it seems almost supernatural.
