Combis in Mexico

Introduction:

In Chetumal, most people get around the city by car, motorcycle or taxi. Sometimes people take bikes as well, but the streets often do not have sidewalks, and the drivers go really fast on the roads. The city is small enough to walk, but because it is usually extremely hot and humid, most people prefer to travel by car. In addition to cars and taxi, people also take combis. After living in the city for four months, I still do not understand the combi system within Chetumal, so I do not use them specifically here. Combis are notoriously hard to track down, and you need to know the exact spots to find them!

How do people get around?:

Combis are one of the most popular ways to travel around Chetumal, in Quintana Roo and in most of Mexico. They are pretty much shuttle vans that you might find when going on a group excursion in the United States. They fit about 13-16 people at a time, so they are very efficient for a slightly larger than the average-sized vehicle. Like I said earlier, they are a bit difficult to track down because there are no signs to indicate their stops; you have to be pretty familiar with the routes or ask people for help. Because of this, combis are almost exclusively used by locals. Within small cities, combis are definitely the cheapest option. When I traveled to Merida, all of the rides (including rides up to 30 minutes) were six pesos. 

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