Buenos Aires Bus System

I lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina for two years. If there's one thing that I became an expert in - it's the bus system.

The bus system in Argentina is similar to what you might find in the United States with a few exceptions.

For one, if you wait at a bus stop - don't expect the bus you want to just stop and pick you up. You need to flag it down by extending your arm and attracting the driver's attention.

It will then proceed to stop and pick you up. A lot of the roads in the suburbs aren't paved, so expect a bit of a rocky trip. I noticed that the shocks were not up to par with American buses. It will be bumpier than you're used to.

Most of the buses are older and not air-conditioned, but if you're lucky - you might run into a newer bus (like the one pictured above) - that is air-conditioned.

Driver's like to personalize their buses as well. I often found the front completely decked-out in whatever the driver liked best. One I rode on came complete with a disco ball and black lights.

You kind of have to learn the different routes of the buses to completely know where they all go. There isn't really a master list. A lot of the main stops are listed on the LED screen along with the bus number. I often found it easiest to ask the driver if it passed by where I needed to go. Often he/she would let me know the proper bus number if it wasn't his bus.

If anything, the biggest thing that I learned while taking the buses in Argentina is that you should be prepared for some trial and error. You might catch the wrong bus. You might get completely lost. It's bound to happen. Just learn to love the experience and you'll be able to make the most out of a challenging situation.