Independent traveler : Chicken buses, local fare in Guatemala

Independent traveler

Love to travel, but hate tours? This blog offers insight on how to go it alone, from safe accommodations to seeing the best, and maybe the worst. After all, independent travel is an adventure. Flexibility and traveling on a budget are critical. No five-stars or all-inclusives. So hop aboard. Learn to enjoy travel at your own pace and price. Meet other adventurers like yourself and mingle with the locals. Remember: You may travel alone, but you wonʼt be lonely. gloria.independenttraveler@gmail.com

Gloria Maschmeyer

I've been a traveler since I can remember. I spread my wings as a flight attendant at age 20, then married a traveling man and we've never stopped. While based in Anchorage, we've ventured to India, Peru, Bali, Morocco, Burma, Tunisia Singapore and Ecuador. I love ferreting out places off the beaten path. And when things don't go quite as planned, that's just part of the adventure.

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Floating England's Llangollen Canal

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Divot snorkeling at the confluence of Brook's River.

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Divot at the Falls and Ted cavorting at the mouth flowing out to Naknek Lake.

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TRAVEL INSURANCE

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Web site that compares costs of travel insurance between companies.

Chicken buses, local fare in Guatemala

Posted by indietraveler

Posted: March 2, 2010 - 7:54 am

Chicken buses employee a driver and scout to watch for passengers, load luggage and signal stops.

Ever wondered where America's used school buses end up. One place is Guatemala where they are revamped into public transportation buses called Camionetas and nicknamed Chicken buses.

Occasionally I've spotted a school bus in its original state with the school district blackened out. More commonly the buses are pimped out with flashy chrome and bright paint.

Here two Chicken bus drivers play chicken on a corner that doesn't allow room for both to turn at once.

They are bought at auction in the States and driven to Guatemala where their transformation begins. New manual engines replace automatics, air brakes replace hydraulic, wider bench seats are installed to accommodate more people and luggage racks inside and out are a few of the changed amenities.

But watch our if you are a pedestrian. The drivers roar though the countryside and cites belching black smoke.