Getting to Puebla.
From Mexico City International Airport, Estrella Roja buses depart for
Puebla every half hour, with the last bus of the night leaving at 12:20
a.m. The fare was 150 pesos (= about US$ 15) in November 2005. From
Mexico City's TAPO, the eastern bus terminal, fares are slightly lower
and service is available almost 24 hours a day via Estrella Roja and ADO
(Autobuses de Oriente) bus lines. Buses depart every five minutes from
6:00 a.m. to midnight. Express, non-stop service with guaranteed seating
is available every 15 or 20 minutes. The departure time for your bus is
printed on the ticket, and tickets are non-refundable. Travel time
between Mexico City and Puebla by express bus is 1 hour and 50 minutes.
Buses arrive at Puebla's main terminal, the Central de Autobuses Puebla
(CAPU), in the northwest sector of the city. The Estrella Roja bus line
also makes a stop further south (at 4 Poniente, near 11 Norte), which is
closer to the Historic District.
Taxis and Buses in Puebla. At the CAPU
bus terminal and elsewhere in the city, kiosks sell
government-authorized taxi rides at flat rates to specific destinations.
Pay the attendant at the kiosk for your ticket. Pay no money to the
driver except for an appropriate tip (10% of the fare). A map at the
kiosk tells you the fare zone for your destination. Public buses are
plentiful and cheap (four pesos per trip in November 2005), but you
should carry exact change. If you need to hail a taxi in the street,
which is not recommended, use only marked cabs and negotiate
thethe driver before accepting the ride. Always write down the taxi
identification number for your protection
Tourist Information Centers. The
State of Puebla visitors center is one block south of the Zócalo, on 5
Oriente between 16 de Septiembre and 2 Sur. The City of Puebla visitors
center is on the north side of the Zócalo in the Palacio Municipal (City
Hall). Both centers provide basic guide maps at no charge.