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Mrchipshahn
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| Joined: | Mon Dec 17th, 2007 |
| Location: | Weaverville, Ca. |
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Posted: Tue Dec 18th, 2007 03:16 pm |
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How is the bus travel(cost and time)?
Thanks, jh
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Dave
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| Joined: | Wed Oct 26th, 2005 |
| Location: | San Carlos, Mexico |
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Posted: Tue Dec 18th, 2007 03:31 pm |
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Check the TUFESA Bus site, they have complete info on cost and times of departure. TUFESA has very good Bus service.http://www.tufesa.com.mx
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Greg Gibson
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Posted: Tue Dec 18th, 2007 05:07 pm |
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I have used the Tufesa buses several times from Tuscon to SC. Trip is about 8 hours. Cost is (Last Year) $37.00 one way and the bus is more comfortable that a plane.
The trip North is more problematic as the schedule has you hitting the boarder in busy times so the wait is LONG. (4 hours on my last trip). If you are trying to connect with a plane go the day before if at all possible.
Last edited on Tue Dec 18th, 2007 05:08 pm by Greg Gibson
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Charlie
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Posted: Wed Dec 19th, 2007 01:21 am |
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There's also TBC, with more trips a day than Tufesa, but the fleet isn't quite as snazzy. They don't have a web site, unfortunately...at least not one I can find. The buses are clean, with big, comfortable seats and even "in flight" movies!
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Mrchipshahn
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Posted: Wed Dec 19th, 2007 04:51 am |
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thanks, good advice on northbound.
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rebeldog109
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Posted: Thu Dec 27th, 2007 01:02 pm |
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Last August, I flew in to Tucson, took a shuttle down to Nogales ($20.00), Walked across the border and took a taxi to TUFESA bus station ($8.00) caught a bus to Guaymas($27.00 I think) and took a taxi from Guaymas to San Carlos ($20.00). I do not speak spanish so I had some phrases translated by using Babel. Com and used those phrases by pointing at them. I did the same thing on the way back. One the way down I arrived in Tucson about 10-11 am and arrived in San Carlos at about 8pm. The bus was comfortable and clean, the people were all friendly and helpful. The only problem I had was the bus driver would not stop at Kilometer 21 to get a visa. I ended up with no visa for the entire trip. I have been informed that if I keep my bus ticket I can get a visa in Guaymas. The round trip was much cheaper then flying out of Kansas City and it did not take any longer---coming back I spent the night in a motel near the airport in Tucson as I was concerned that I would not get back in time to catch the KC flight the same day. Other than concern for the unknown it was an uneventful and pleasant trip. I plan on doing the same in the future. I rented a car at Budget across the street from Leys for about $50 bucks per day. If you can arrive in Guaymas befor 5 pm the car rental is open and you wont have to go back to Guaymas the next day to rent a car.
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El Pianista
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Posted: Thu Dec 27th, 2007 07:12 pm |
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Other Options for Northbound trip:
Take any bus line to Nogales. Take a taxi to the border ($7/8 USD). Walk across to the Greyhound bus station (which is less than half a block from the crossing) and take a bus, or there are also shuttle vans just past Greyhound that operate (only during daytime) and drop you off at your address in Tucson or Phoenix.
This avoids the long wait at the border going north for vehicle traffic and if traffic line is long, this way can save several hours.
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jaysjoint
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Posted: Sun Dec 30th, 2007 11:20 am |
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| The buses do not stop at km21 for visas because you are supposed to get your visa at the Nogales border crossing when you take the bus. The office is right beside customs where they check your luggage. The driver will wait for you but you should have lots of time while all the other passengers are having their bags checked. Once the bus has cleared customs, the door is sealed from the outside with a sticker. As long as that sticker is in tact when the bus passes through the customs at km21, the bus does not have to stop. But, if the driver was to stop at km21 for you to get a visa, the sticker would be broken in order for you to get off the bus and then all people would have to be rechecked again. When taking a bus to San Carlos........GET YOUR VISA AT THE BORDER IN NOGALES.
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Charlie
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Posted: Sun Dec 30th, 2007 04:38 pm |
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I took Tufesa from Guaymas to Tucson 12/22, departing at 2 PM. The ticket cost $432p. We arrived in Tucson at 10:20 PM. The wild card for time is, as always, the US border crossing at Mariposa. There are 10- to 15-minute stops in Hermosillo and Nogales where they clean the on-board bathroom.
Check your ticket carefully, as the bus number shows up there as well as your seat assignment. Four movies enroute, comfy reclining seats...
If there's any issue it's with the location of Tufesa's station in Tucson...not a great area of town. It's in a strip mall on South 12th Avenue.
As noted, the bus doesn't stop for Mexican immigration, so you can't turn in a tourist card northbound or pick up one southbound, nor can you get your FM3 stamped in either direction.
Beats the drive hands down!
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rebeldog109
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Posted: Sun Dec 30th, 2007 06:23 pm |
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Jayjoint--your response pre-supposes that one is taking the bus from Tucson. I walked across at the downtown Nogales crossing and caught a cab to TUFESA---I never thought about stopping when I went through the border and asking for a visa and no one stopped or asked me any questions---I would suspect that if one stops and asks one can obtain a visa by stopping and asking for one---well duh, I should have thought on that, oh well I have an excuse I am old. Nest time I will try that approach.
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JudySnight
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Posted: Mon Sep 15th, 2008 06:04 am |
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| So, we are traveling from Tuscon to San Carlos this fall by bus, with friends, end of Oct. Do we need to get Visas in Tuscon or skip it and hope for the best. I am confused, we usaully travel the Baja. Thanks for you helps
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rebeldog109
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Posted: Mon Sep 15th, 2008 01:09 pm |
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There are basically 2 ways:
1. Catch a TUFESA bus out of Phoenix or Tucson I have been able to get my visa at the border when the bus stops or when you get to Guaymas there is a local office you can get your visa---it is just past the TUFESA bus station in Guaymas--make sure you keep your bus ticket and they will give you a visa.
2. I prefer to fly in to Tucson take the Nogales shuttle to the border and walk across--you could probably get your visa at the border. Take a cab over to TUFESA bus station--there is a taxi stand just after you walk across the border and they charge 7-8 dollars to take you to the bus station. buses leave southbound about every hour. The last time I did this I left Kansas City about 8 am arrived in Tucson around ll am---took the shuttle down to Nogales, walked across the border, cab to TUFESA and caught a but around 1 pm and arrived in Guayman around 8:30, took a cab to San Carlos. Total cost for buses and cabs was less than $100.
I do not speak spanish at all---I had some phrases that I translated on ALTA VISTA BABEL.COM--and I would just point to them
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odwyerpw
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| Joined: | Fri Feb 24th, 2006 |
| Location: | San Carlos, Mexico |
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Posted: Mon Sep 15th, 2008 06:00 pm |
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I take the 'red-eyes' (depart ~ @ 10:30 pm...either direction). eliminates long border crossing waits (never waited more than 30 minutes). seats are comfortable, so I take advantage of the opportunity to sleep at least 4 hours or so of the trip.
the busses are always a little cold, summer or winter, so bring a light blanket or wear jeans and a long sleeve t-shirt. (maybe I'm just climatized now?)
the onboard movies usually have an occult/slasher theme, which I find bizzarre as there are always young children on board. not my tazo de te. so I bring sunglasses and headphones to zone it out.
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Flaco
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| Joined: | Tue Nov 1st, 2005 |
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Posted: Mon Sep 15th, 2008 07:05 pm |
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The Tufesa EJECUTIVO is definetely the best way to go. It's 490 peso's from Guaymas to Tucson. It leaves everyday at 11:30 at night. It only has large three seats per row. It only stops in Hermosillo, Nogales and then Tucson. You even get a snack.
You do not have to switch buses at the border! It is faster because you do not have the little stops. There is the same style bus that leaves Tucson at the same time (11:30). You can buy your tickets and pick the seats online.
If you are able to do it this way you do not lose a travel day as you sleep while you are coming or going.
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pturner
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Posted: Sat Nov 15th, 2008 05:09 am |
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| I have planned to take Tufesa bus back to Tucson to catch a flight out of there back home on a Tuesday. I was under the impression from postings here that the late evening bus would be available every day. However, when I accessed the Tufesa website, they do not show that bus available. As a matter of fact, the last bus they show leaving Guaymas is at 5 PM and my flight leaves at 9 AM. Anybody know about the Tufesa schedule for weekdays?
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maxagoli
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Posted: Sat Nov 15th, 2008 06:05 pm |
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PT - here is the link for tufesa schedules, buses run north every couple hours, all night long. http://ventas.tufesa.com.mx/apw/tufesa_en/Default.aspx
Here is a link for TBC bus - http://www.tbcconexionphoenix.com/home.htm
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Current time is 11:27 pm | |
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